La gare des Moutiers-en-Retz

In 1866, the Pays de Retz was not yet included in the Nantes regional service, so the Prefect commissioned a study of a route that would run from Nantes to Les Moutiers. It followed the route taken by stagecoaches three times a day in both directions (via Sainte-Pazanne, Saint-Hilaire-de-Chaléons, Bourgneuf-en-Retz, Les Moutiers-en-Retz, La Bernerie-en-Retz and Pornic). Work began in 1872, and the line was established in 1875.

The line was initially run by the Compagnie des Chemins de fer nantais, before being taken over by the State. To get from Paris, passengers took the train at Orsay station, then arrived at Nantes-Orléans station, where a shuttle bus took them to Nantes-État station. There they boarded the Nantes-Pornic train. The journey took around 8 hours!

Les Moutiers station was completed in 1896, and was extended in 1906 to include a small hall, an arbi for goods shipped in: wine and wheat produced in the commune.

Thanks to the railways and the paid holidays of 1936, the seaside resort took off: campsites were built and furnished rentals became very popular. For a time, around 1960, the line only ran in the summer, but regular traffic resumed all year round in September 2001.

In 1992, the station was sold by the SNCF to a private owner. It is now a private home. Les Moutiers is now a railway station.

*Excerpts from the book "Flâneries aux Moutiers-en-Retz" by Monique Albert.