Places to See

L'Abbaye Royale Fontevraud Since the 12th century, the abbey had been a double order for monks and nuns, always under the direction of a woman - the Abbess. It is of particular interest to English visitors as the Plantagenet Kings of England were important patrons of the abbey. From the nineteenth to the twentieth century the Abbey was a prison, one of the most severe in France. Since the 1960s the Abbey has been restored and is now the Cultural Centre of the West. Some of the last prisoners stayed on to help with the renovations.

Cunault Abbey is situated on the south side of the Loire near Gennes. A Gregorian Chant Mass is held here each Sunday at 11.15am from Easter until October. During the summer Music Concerts are held here in the evenings.

Chateaux

There are many castles and stately homes within easy reach of Parçay-les-Pins. Among them: Amboise, Angers, Azay-le-Rideau, Chambord, Chenonceau, Chinon, Langeais, Villandry, Saumur and Ussé.

The photos show the Châteaux of  Langeais (left) and Chenonceau (right)

The nearest chateau is the Château of Gizeux, a family home, open to the public in the summer.

 

Local Markets...   Local markets are held in the surrounding villages and towns, usually in the morning   The size and extent of each market is dependent on the size of the village or town. The photo shows 'Le Puce' at Montsoreau which is held on the second Sunday of each month

Day Town   Monday Chateau la Valliere   Tuesday Bourgueil   Wednesday Vernantes Savigné/Lathan Thursday Chinon   Friday Noyant Avoine Saturday Saumur   Sunday Chinon Langeais

and local wine...The area is close to many important wine producing regions and local wines include: Bourgueil, St Nicholas de Bourgueil, Saumur Rouge, Saumur Champigny, Chinon, Anjou and wines from the Touraine.

Each year on 15 August a 'Foire aux Vins' is held in Bourgueil, when it is possible to taste and buy a variety of wines from the region.

 You can also buy direct from the 'Cave' of the producer, after a 'Degustation' or tasting.

These photos were taken at the Bourgueil Wine Festival on 15 August 2004

Sparkling Wines While only the region of Champagne can use this name for sparkling wine, some experts believe that the Loire wines come close in quality at a much lower price. Local sparkling wines include: Cremant de Loire, Saumur Brut, Montlouis, Vouvray, Ackerman, Gratien-Meyer, Veuve Amiot and Louis de Grenelle.

SAUMUR the nearest large town, is a 30 minute drive away.

The town has a Tourist Information Centre, a range of shops and a good choice of cafés, restaurants and bars.

Apart from the Château, other attractions include the Tank Museum (Musée des Blindés) and Mushroom Museum, or you can tour the town on the little train, or enjoy a boat trip on the river.

In the summer there are extra events, during July and August, such as musical concerts and jazz evenings.

Horse drawn tours of Saumur start from the Place de République between 15 May and 15 September