Captivating discoveries around Sarce, Sarthe, Pays de la Loire

The Thouet Valley is discovered at the rate of cycling thanks to a marked route on small roads and farm tracks or bike paths. Affluent of the Loire, the Thouet is a discreet river which hides many treasures. Along its 150 km, it meanders through varied landscapes and authentic villages. This bike route is accompanied by loops that complete the discovery of Thouarsais, vineyards to the plains. More information on www.valleeduthouet.fr Le Thouet by bike is one of the sections of the Vélo Francette, a route linking Normandy to the Charente coast, via the Thouarsais. www.lavelofrancette.com So do not hesitate to ride your bike for unexpected and preserved discoveries! New: order online your picnic prepared by local restaurateurs with local products !!! All information on www.lebonpicnic.com

On the borders of Poitou and Anjou, Saix offers visitors its Poitevin hamlet, marked by the memory of Sainte-Radegonde. This path allows views on castles or wine estates, with beautiful panoramas on the North of Poitou where the vine and the tuffeau are married.

At the exit of the village of Saix, the path introduces you little by little in a forest environment. Come and live a pleasant moment in contact with these majestic trees. The views follow one another: dovecotes, vineyards or the chapel in memory of Sainte-Radegonde. Beautiful discoveries in perspective.

Beuxes, a small village with a thousand discoveries: ponds, streams and castles offer you beautiful panoramas and stories of the Nord-Poitou and Touraine regions... a trip to the country where the cultivation of truffles was invented!

This path will allow you to appreciate the remarkable troglodytic heritage of the picturesque villages where the troglos were dug in the local blacnhe stone, the tuffeau. It will lead you to the heart of the vineyards, where famous grape varieties such as Cabernet Franc or Pinot Blanc de Loire are grown.

A short, signposted route through the Poitou vineyards at the gateway to Anjou. Within a small area, the historic and built heritage is incomparably rich: picturesque villages, troglodytic sites, mills, dolmens, wash-houses and dovecotes form an uninterrupted string of secret nuggets.

Our gîtes are ideally situated at the confluence of 3 départements: Indre et Loire, Sarthe and Maine et Loire, and 2 regions: Centre and Pays de Loire. We love nature and garage sales, so we're always on the lookout for unusual and everyday objects, and enjoy the produce from our garden. We want to do our bit for our planet and our beautiful country by growing our fruit and vegetables as naturally as possible, by eating our hens' eggs.... but also by sorting our rubbish, by being vigilant about our energy consumption and by giving everyday objects a 2nd life as often as possible. All the while enjoying life ...... We also offer on-site cocktail workshops. Today, we'd like to share our experiences... In the outbuildings of a farmhouse over 100 years old on our 7,000 m2 property, we'll welcome you as our guests and invite you to share part of our home.

The Chicaudière gite, located on the borders of Anjou and Touraine, overlooks the Maulne valley in a verdant setting of absolute peace and quiet. The gite is housed in the outbuildings of a 16th-century manor house. We welcome family groups all year round on a self-catering basis. The GR 36 is nearby and there are many sites to visit in the surrounding area.

"Les Granges d'Antan is a gîte in the countryside, ideally situated for discovering Anjou, Touraine and Sarthe. You can get to Angers (1 hour), Saumur (45 minutes) and Tours (55 minutes) and discover these superb towns in the Loire Valley. If you're an animal lover, La Flèche zoo is just 25 minutes from the gîte and will delight children. There are plenty of activities on offer, including walking and cycling, nature watching, visiting monuments or doing nothing at all and relaxing in the shade of the trees. In fact, a 7-hectare park gives you the chance to relax or fish in the pond...

Near La Flèche (zoo and lake) and Baugé, close to the forest, restored gîte in a former railway station. Surface area: 150 m². Ground floor: Living room, dining room, sitting room with TV. Independent kitchen with dishwasher. wc. Upstairs: 3 bedrooms: Bedroom "Yellow" 2 beds 90, Bedroom "Green" 3 beds 90, Bedroom "White" 1 bed 120x140. A bathroom with shower. wc. Enclosed courtyard and private garden. Another 3-person gîte on site. The Voie Verte passes behind the gîtes.

Ground floor: living room with kitchen area, dishwasher, dining area, sitting area with 1 x 90cm bed. First floor (access to bedroom by spiral staircase): 1 bedroom with 2 single beds - Shower room with wc. Enclosed courtyard and private garden. Green lane behind the gîte.

Awa and Samuel offer you a guest room on the 2nd floor of their large house, with a breathtaking view of Noyant church. Situated in the commune, on the road to Tours, you can stop off for a rest. The bedroom has its own shower room, and the toilet is on the 1st floor, to be shared with the family. If you want to stretch your legs or soak up the sun, a huge garden awaits you. If you want to explore the region, you are 35 km from Saumur and La Flèche zoo, and 55 minutes from Angers. Touraine is nearby, bordering Anjou.

The Monprofits gîte is located in Lasse, in the Anjou countryside, 40km from Saumur, 45km from Angers and 20km from La Flèche and the zoo. There's a fully-equipped gîte for 15 people, and an outdoor area with barbecue and terrace where you can enjoy a drink and a good meal. You'll also be able to relax around the 4x10 heated swimming pool, play tennis on the clay tennis court, or petanque, or play table football... and the children will have an ideal playground.

Situated in the heart of the Anjou region, surrounded by forests, vineyards and pastures, the former manor house of the Cour du Liège offers a range of peaceful accommodation, away from the market town of Clefs : - A charming renovated farmhouse with 4 bedrooms (3 doubles and 1 single), showers, bathroom, fitted kitchen, sitting room with adjoining garden. - A maisonette (2 double bedrooms upstairs, fitted kitchen, shower room, dining room/lounge) offers romantic comfort on the edge of the woods. - 2 independent romantic turrets, each with a double bedroom and shower room, La Fauconnerie and La Vigie, adjoin the manor's garden. Activities include bike rides, visits to vineyards and nearby châteaux, barbecues in the garden and walks in the forest. Breakfast and dinner are also available on request. An old cereal barn provides a communal space for workshops, artistic residencies, etc. (photography, plastic arts, ceramics). (photography, plastic arts, ceramics)

Discover two gîtes: La Bergerie for 3 people and La Moussette for 4. La Bergerie is available all year round, pets welcome, WIFI. Situated next to Lac de Rillé, a lake considered by the Council of Europe to be a special wetland for migratory birds, and adjacent to the mixed forest which extends into the Loire Valley. Payment by Pay Pal or credit card.

Set in 18 hectares of greenery, discover the Château de Grésillon. With a capacity of up to 60 people, the site is ideal for family reunions, tourist breaks and activities (heritage discovery, yoga, relaxation, hiking, etc.). The château and its outbuildings offer 25 bedrooms (washbasin and bidet in all bedrooms, showers and toilets in the corridors), 2 dining rooms, a professional kitchen (our chef can cater for you), a lounge, a library, several classrooms and activity rooms, and a large auditorium (seating for 80 people). Bed linen available for hire. WIFI. 2 table tennis tables available in the courtyard. Numerous walks in the park and direct access to the Voie Verte (green route), which makes it easy to walk or cycle to La Flèche Zoo (15 km of green route). Two rental options: the entire estate at a fixed rate (bookable on the Château de Grésillon website) or for group rental from Monday to Friday, rates per night per person (bookable on the Château de Grésillon website or directly online on this site). A PRM room with en-suite bathroom is available in one of the Château's annexes. This room can be booked via the calendar above. Please select "room in the Château annexe".

René I of Anjou’s "Château of Love " on its "emerald rock", the Château de Saumur played host to kings and prisoners and is one of the greatest and last untouched remnants of princely architecture from the Valois dynasty in the Middle Ages. The château appeared in all its glory in the Très Riches Heures du duc de Berry illumination and has had a turbulent past, narrowly avoiding demolition. The 11th century Romanesque tower was surrounded by four round towers before it was levelled off. Louis I of Anjou decided to transform the château into a palace. In the 15 century, his son, Louis II, made it look how you see it now. King René’s spirit may linger but, for a century after his death, it was left empty until the protestant Duplessis-Mornay moved in in 1589. Dark times came after the governor was forced into exile following Henri IV’s assassination. The château was pillaged by Louis XIII’s soldiers and saved from demolition by Napoleon I who turned it into a state prison. Saumur Council bought it in 1906 to restore it to house the municipal museum, approved by Musée de France, displaying notably Count Charles Lair’s collection. The first floor of the castle houses an exceptional collection of decorative arts including furniture, tapestries and ceramics from the 14th to the 18th century. As an international horse riding capital, Saumur collects harness equipment from Antiquity to the early 20th century. A selection from the Horse collection (saddles, bits, stirrups) is on display in the former abbey.

An original collection devoted to combustion engines of all types, you will observe real works of industrial art, restored by enthusiasts. This museum traces the evolution of the engine since its creation. The exhibits allow a historical, technical and educational approach to the development of mechanical energy. Automotive, airplane and even rocket engines will no longer hold any secrets for you! Be sure to observe the Baltard-style architecture of the building.

Heir of a prestigious military history, the Cadre noir has a mission of training and outreaching equitation in the French tradition. Visits through the great indoor arena, the stables and the tack room will take you on a voyage of discovery of the history of the Cadre Noir since its creation in 1815. You will discover a place where the relationship between man and horse becomes magical. The public performances allow you to watch the ecuyers of the Cadre Noir at work in the Grand Manège. The commentary provided by an ecuyer will give you an appreciation of the work involved in training the horse, jumping, in long reins, the airs above the ground, and classical riding.

Installed in a Chateau of the Loire, a museum of contemporary art with an exceptional collection. The 30 meter high terraces of the castle offer exceptional views of the Loire, the confluence of the Vienne and the Loire and the village of Montsoreau. Since 2016, the Château de Montsoreau has been home to Philippe Méaille’s collection of contemporary art. Displayed over three floors (2500m2 of exhibition area), this collection is the world's largest art fund of works by the Art & Language movement, a collective of artists who created Conceptual Art. Throughout the year, concerts, conferences, performances and temporary exhibitions put the spotlight on important international artists.

Lieu ouvert sur l’environnement et l’écologie, le muséum développe et expose de précieuses collections, témoins de la diversité.

Located in the heart of Angers, this popular city park is a delightvwith over 20,000 plants on display. Originally created in the 17th century and then redesigned in 1859 to be more ‘à la Française’, it is a great place for all the family and includes a fountain and bandstand for summer concerts.

In the 19th century, during the industrial revolution, bricks and mortar were replaced by concrete as the premier building material. Against this potentially bland construction form, the artist Isidore Odorico sought to bring a decorative style that on the ‘Maison Bleu’ included elaborate mosaics… characteristic of art deco!

You cannot help but smile at the carvings of the young women that adorn the façade of 38 rue St. Laud. Dating back to 1892, when it was a café and concert hall called the 'Alcazar', it is one of the oldest examples of art nouveau in Angers.

Just off the Voie Verte, discover traditional French cuisine and themed evenings: couscous/paëlla/sauerkraut/cassoulet. Group bookings only

Discover the creaminess of freshly prepared vegetables and fruit served with their delicacies. Let yourself be taken in by the tastes, flavours and colours, some of them surprising. L'Atypique is located at the start of the magnificent Vaulandry biodiversity trail. Just a few kilometres from La Flèche zoo and close to the Vélobuissonère, where you can quench your thirst in the peace and quiet of the Bauge countryside.

Enjoy traditional French cuisine in Auverse.

Enjoy a pleasant, gourmet lunch break in an 18th-century farmhouse. The chef will delight your taste buds with seasonal dishes.

Traditional cuisine and set-price workday menus.

Workers' lunch from Monday to Friday

On the spot or to take away, discover all the fast food classics: kebab, hamburger, panini, pasta, salads. Couscous to order.

La ferme de Nat is located in the village of Broc en Anjou, on the borders of the Sarthe and Touraine regions. Sleeps 22.

For camping in the great outdoors, the Broc youth hostel can accommodate 50 people.

Our gîtes are ideally situated at the confluence of 3 départements: Indre et Loire, Sarthe and Maine et Loire, and 2 regions: Centre and Pays de Loire. We love nature and garage sales, so we're always on the lookout for unusual and everyday objects, and enjoy the produce from our garden. We want to do our bit for our planet and our beautiful country by growing our fruit and vegetables as naturally as possible, by eating our hens' eggs.... but also by sorting our rubbish, by being vigilant about our energy consumption and by giving everyday objects a 2nd life as often as possible. All the while enjoying life ...... We also offer on-site cocktail workshops. Today, we'd like to share our experiences... In the outbuildings of a farmhouse over 100 years old on our 7,000 m2 property, we'll welcome you as our guests and invite you to share part of our home.

The Chicaudière gite, located on the borders of Anjou and Touraine, overlooks the Maulne valley in a verdant setting of absolute peace and quiet. The gite is housed in the outbuildings of a 16th-century manor house. We welcome family groups all year round on a self-catering basis. The GR 36 is nearby and there are many sites to visit in the surrounding area.

In the heart of the countryside, 800m from the little village of Broc, we welcome you to an isolated site with 4 independent single-storey rooms with private bathrooms and WCs. Two of the rooms are family rooms. Large grounds and private swimming pool. Breakfast included. Table d'Hôtes by prior arrangement; kitchenette available in summer on request.

As a family or with friends, you'll appreciate the comfort and privacy of the four independent bedrooms, each with its own private bathroom and toilet and direct access to the garden. Two are on one level and two are duplexes. Bed linen and towels are provided and beds will be made on arrival. On request, we can provide a BB bed and add a child's bed in one of the bedrooms. Bedroom 1 for 3 people ( 1 double bed and 1 single bed ) Bedroom 2 for 2 people ( 1 double bed ) Bedroom 3 for 5 people ( 1 double bed and 3 single beds ) Room 4 for 4 people ( 1 double bed and 2 single beds ) WIFI in all rooms A large living room with sitting area, games, TV, dining area and fully equipped kitchen. A large wooded park with dining area, barbecue, relaxation areas, table tennis, boules, football goal, games... and secure, lockable swimming pool. The property forms a small hamlet in a secluded village 800 m from the village centre and is completely private to you. We live in a separate house at the entrance to the property and take care of pool maintenance. We are very discreet, but at your disposal whenever you need us, and the whole site is eco-labelled. We can accommodate a maximum of 15 people. Free parking for 6 cars and free wifi. Independent arrival and departure possible Bicycles are available on request. To order and depending on availability, we can also prepare a table d'Hôtes meal or breakfasts. Meals served in our house at the entrance to the property. Meals at 25 euros per person, drinks included. Children's rates from 10 to 15 euros. Breakfasts at 8 euros per person

Enjoy a contemporary Yurt with 2 bedrooms: 1 with 1 double bed and 1 with 2 bunk beds, with its fully equipped kitchen, dining room / lounge area with sofa bed, bathroom with hydromassage shower - wc. Chalet (relaxation area with TV, table football) and summer kitchen (barbecue...), games for children, linen provided. SPA for 7 people, open all year round.

"Les Granges d'Antan is a gîte in the countryside, ideally situated for discovering Anjou, Touraine and Sarthe. You can get to Angers (1 hour), Saumur (45 minutes) and Tours (55 minutes) and discover these superb towns in the Loire Valley. If you're an animal lover, La Flèche zoo is just 25 minutes from the gîte and will delight children. There are plenty of activities on offer, including walking and cycling, nature watching, visiting monuments or doing nothing at all and relaxing in the shade of the trees. In fact, a 7-hectare park gives you the chance to relax or fish in the pond...

Welcome to the gîte de la Bardinière, separate from the main house. The gîte can accommodate 5 people in 2 bedrooms. It is fully equipped to make you feel at home, in a totally peaceful natural setting. You'll be close to the Lande et cours d'eau cycling circuit.

2 adjoining gîtes each sleeping 9. They can be rented separately or together. A large room completes the accommodation.