To discover in Maine-et-Loire, Anjou and Loire valley

Visiting medieval cities and castles

Do not hesitate to discover our magnificent cities :
– Saumur and its castle housing the Tank Museum is less than 30 minutes away ;
– Angers and its castle housing the Apocalypse Tapestry is 40 minutes away ;
– Cholet is 45 minutes away ;
– Chinon is an hour away.

All the year, including winter (to benefit about Christmas illumination) why don’t you visit one of the fifteen castles nearby l’Oree du bois Gaubau (Bauge, Brissac, Montreuil-Bellay, Plessis-Bourre …), not to mention the most famous castles of the Loire Valley.

During spring and summer, take a walk in the most beautiful gardens in Maine-et-Loire.
For example, 7 million roses are growing in Doué-la-Fontaine.

Our region also count also numbers number of small towns with character, including “petites cités de caractères” telles que Savennières, Béhuard, Blaison-Gohier, Le Thoureil, Chênehitte-Trèves-Cunault, Aubigné-sur-Layon, Le Puy-Notre-Dame, Montreuil-Bellay and Le Coudray-Macouard.

Walking, cycling, unusual visits, experience a dog-hike or hot-air ballooning

There’s something for everyone !
Fancy a hike ?
Anjou is crossed by the GR3 (in French) and many other trails await you.
l’Oree du bois Gaubau is close to two local GR : Coteaux du Layon and Loire and Saumur Loire Valley.
At 1 mi de Gaubau you find also a hiking loop of 10 mi and other loops close to Martigné-Briand (5 mi away).

Looking for the unusual ? The troglodytic sites of Maine-et-Loire will surprise you, perhaps even more during Christmas time. The castle of Breze is considered as a must, without forgetting the troglodyte village of Rochemenier.

Dog-hiking is not only in th mountains : from April to December, you can experience it, for example, with Husky Dream.

Looking for height ? Experience the unique calm of a hot-air ballon flight.

Tasting Loire wines

The wines of Anjou Saumur along with those of Touraine , Nantais and Centre-Loire make the IGP of Val de Loire.

They are particularly diverse: dry, sweet and syrupy whites, rosés, reds to drink young or to age : Coteaux du Layon, Saumur-Champigny, Cabernet d’Anjou and 24 other AOCs make up the Anjou-Saumur vineyard.

Several wines roads cross our region too.

Close to the Oree du bois Gaubau you drive on the Haut-Layon wines road and heritage (car loop of 39 mi).

Neighbour of the Anjou wines, the nearby Chinon appellation produces red wines that can be kept for a long time, or even very long depending on the vintage, as well as elegant rosés and lively whites.

Eat specialities and walk among food market in Maine-et-Loire

Take advantage of being in Anjou to discover some of the specialties of the region.

Fish from the Loire, meats, cheeses or desserts will brighten up your taste buds.

The french regional newspaper Ouest-France at Angers published the list of 152 food markets in Maine-et-Loire. There’ll sure be one on your trip !

In need of a stopover, this same newspapaer team has published the list of guinguettes to have a drink by the water.

Practicing golf, karting, fishing, swimming or sailing on the Loire?

Whether you’re a family, a couple or on your own, our bed and breakfast are near of 9 golf (Angers’ and Saumur’s golf are only at 30 minutes of l’Oree du bois Gaubau), plenty of fishing and swimming spots.
Winter and summer you can also enjoy day access to the water park at Center Parcs Le Bois aux Daims (half a hour by car).

You can also rent a canoe or make a cruise on the Loire river.

For tree climbing and other outdoor activities, go to Saumur Forest Aventures.

For karting or motorbikes riders, the PKS of Val d’Argenton circuit is less than 30 minutes aways.

Meet the wild nature in the greatest zoos and parks

You’re looking for an accommodation near of Bioparc or zoo de la Flèche or you want wild nature, enjoy the proximity of two exceptional zoos :
– the Bioparc – zoo of Doue-en-Anjou is 10 minutes away ;
– Terra Botanica is 40 minutes away ;
– also 40 minutes away, find 150 wallabies at the Jardin des kangourous;
– the Zoo of La Fleche is 1 hour away;
– the Zoo of Boissière du Dore is 1 hour and 10 minutes away.

Please note that The Bioparc – Zoo de Doue is located in a old troglodytic site. The caves are really specific to the park and form areas dedicated to each species.

Enrich yourself with major cultural events

Here are regular cultural events to enhance your trip in any season :
– A meeting of classical music and equestrian art, the Musicales du Cadre Noir (in french) takes place in Saumur in October, and for all horse lovers, the Saumur’s Cadre Noir also organizes many galas in Avril, June and September ;
– The Festival d’Anjou (theater) takes place in June ;
– In June and July, the 7th largest music festival in France, near Angers, the Trelaze Festival ;
– Probably the biggest metal music festival, the Hellfest takes place over 4 days at the end of June in Clisson, 1 hour and 15 minutes from l’Oree du Bois Gaubau.
– Every mid-July, the famous Rose Days take place : a colourful floral exhibition ;
– At the begining of August, the Track’n’Art festival ;
– The Christmas market of Doué-la-Fontaine takes place at the beginning of December, and is just one of the many highlights offers in the Saumur area, not to mention the agenda proposed by the city of Cholet (in french) or by the city of Angers (in french).

Cycling loops

Fan of cycling, why do not go on a portion of the 900 km of Loire by bike or take up mountain biking and discover the countryside ;

Please find also, other ideas of trip (loop), close to l’Oree du bois Gaubau, we selected for you :
– at 2 mi a bike loop of 12 mi through Doue-la-Fontaine ;
– few minutes away, several loops of any duration on Coteaux du Layon ;
– 32 mi by Brissac, through vineyards and Loire’s banks ;
– 40 mi by Doue-la-Fontaine and Saumur, between nature and heritage ;
– 47 mi by Doue-la-Fontaine, in the heart of vineyards ;
– 53 mi by Thouarcé, Loire’s banks and vineyard.

Enjoy the great spectacle offered by theme parks or exhibition

You’re looking for accommodation near of Futuroscope or of Puy du Fou or you want to take advantage of your presence in Anjou to visit its 2 major theme parks :
– Puy du Fou is an hour away ;
– Futuroscope is 1 hour and 20 minutes away.

From our accommodation (1h30) or during your trip, the 24 Hours of Le Mans Museum can be a stopover to remember.

Discovering fauna and flora of our region

Nature is taking an important place at l’Oree du bois Gaubau then why don’t you take few minutes to discover the detailed inventory of fauna and flora that was published (in French) by the state of Maine et Loire.
This beautiful website highlights the natural richness of our region.