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Out of inspiration!
Are you wondering what are the most beautiful places to visit around Doue-en-Anjou?
As noon approaches, are you looking for a restaurant specialising in Angers?
It’s going to be a beautiful day, the weekend is sunny, so what to do with the kids?
Follow the news of the Oree du bois Gaubau, you will certainly find an idea.
All Christmas markets in Maine-et-Loire
Really atypical, the Doué-en-Anjou Christmas market awaits you on December 7 and 8, 2024.
And he is not the only one, the french regional newspaper Ouest-France had identified 78 Christmas markets in Maine-et-Loire in 2023 ! For this year, see you from November 24, 2024.
The Echappées en Loire
An event particularly appreciated by hikers and lovers of wine-growing terroirs, Vignes Vins Randos is reinventing itself and becoming ” Les Echappées en Loire “.
See you on May 29 for registrations for the winegrowers’ walks at the beginning of September 2024.
The Saumur’s castle grape harvest festival
Every year, the Castle of Saumur celebrates the grape harvest and its long tradition of winemaking.
Stay tuned for the Sept.8th 2024 !
The air-ballon event of Brissac
Friday August 23 and Saturday August 24, 2024 will be two days of magic and an explosion of color, with 18 hot air balloons taking flight from the Brissac castle park for the 21st year (free event).
Behuard island
Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Béhuard is the only island in the entire course of the Loire to constitute a commune with its 120 inhabitants.
The village is bucolic and the tour of the island can be done on foot in about 2h30 or by bike (car forbidden but parking available at the entrance).
The stars of Fontevraud
During summer time, from July 16th to August 25th, 2024, as night falls, discover one of Europe’s largest monastic complexes enhanced by projected lights on a free walk.
All year round, the Abbey of Fontevraud, which is only 40 minutes from the Orée du Bois Gaubau, offers a range of exhibitions, concerts and family events: check the agenda (in French) !
Vintage cycling
After the 11th edition, which attracted over 9,000 participants, the next edition of Anjou Velo Vintage will be held from 28 to 30 June 2024.
Leaving from Saumur, there are several trip for cycling with the family, as a couple or with friends…
Casual or authentic clothing… the only rule is that it must date from before 1987 !
The largest rose garden in the Pays de Loire
From 29 April 2024, you will once again be able to enjoy colourful nature at the Chemins de la rose, the largest rose garden in the region located in Doué-la-Fontaine.
Several thousand rose bushes of 1000 varieties are showcased in this 4-hectare estate.
The Helice Terrestre from l’Orbiere
Jacques Warminski discovered this abandoned troglodyte village in 1960. Inspired by this place of stone, he erected a monumental work in just a few years, from 1988 to 1993.
The site has several facets : an underground world carved out of the rock and a concrete mould combining geometric and animal forms.
A famous oriental park
Just 30 minutes from l’Oree du Bois Gaubau and close to Cholet, it’s 20 hectares and 450 trees await you in this unique garden designed by an architect for the 1900 Paris Universal Exhibition and created between 1900 and 1913.
From spring to autumn, a festival of colours accompanies the changes in this generous natural setting.
The Oriental Park of Maulevrier can be visited day or night.
Folk art from 16th century
In the cellars of Deneze-sous-Doue, 15 minutes from l’Orée du bois Gaubau, you will discover strange creatures carved directly into the rock, sometimes deformed, sometimes provocative, with mysterious meanings.
Several hundred characters with satirical features make up this fresco of folk art, buried in the 18th century at the request of a parish priest and rediscovered by chance in the 1950s.
Focus on the Brissac castle
With its 7 floor and 48 m. high, the castle of Brissac is the highest castle in France. and it counts also 204 rooms in a series of galleries, salons, libraries, chapels, bedrooms and even theatre all richly decorated.
From Friday April 12 to Monday April 15, 2024, the “Floralies de salon” will be held, a competition of 25 talented professional florists taking place in the salons and galleries of the castle, on the theme of “Childhood Memories”.
On Saturday May 18 and Sunday May 19, for the 3rd time, the park, lounges and rooms will welcome actors in period costume for a great Venetian celebration.
The most beautiful egg hunts in Maine et Loire
For young and old, don’t miss the big Easter egg hunt on Sunday March 31, 2024 at the Château de Brissac: 50,000 chocolate eggs will be hidden in the undergrowth and gardens of the château park!
In Abbey of Fontevraud will take place a fun hunt to discover the bells of Fontevraud, also Sunday March 31, 2024 at 11 a.m.
From March 30 to April 1, at the Doué-en-Anjou BioParc, thousands of eggs will have been lost in a wild area of the park among the birds.
A town full of character with panoramic views over the Loire.
Just 1 hour from l’Oree du Bois Gaubau, you can discover the town of Saint-Florent-le-Vieil, classified as a petite cité de caractère, with its splendid church set on a rocky spur atop Mont Glonne. The view opens up to a wide panorama of the Loire, the commune of Varades, the old fortifications of the town and the fishing village of La Meilleraie.
The village is part of the Loire by bike trip.
If you have some time, don’t hesitate to go to the old medieval city of Champtoceaux (half an hour of Saint-Florent) with also a point of view on Loire on the site of Champalud.
The Saumurban trails and Marathon of Saumur
On March 9 and 10, 2024, the Saumurban Trail will be held for its 10th edition.
Several thousand runners, children and adults, take part in one of the 8 courses offered.
Indeed, children’s courses, Nordic walking, 3 miles challenge or 6 to 19 miles courses are proposed this Saturday and Sunday in urban or mixed road.
The Marathon de la Loire (full, half or combined canoe) will take place on May 5, 2024 in Saumur, an environment classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Cadre Noir
For lovers of horses and beautiful exhibitions, the 2024 season of the Cadre Noir runs from February 12 to November 2.
In addition to the simple visit, don’t miss the guided tours (2 hours), the morning sessions of the Cadre Noir (1 hour) and the three galas (2 hours).
To be booked well in advance!
Stills and liquors
In Saumur, 30 minutes from l’Orée du Bois Gaubau, don’t miss the Combier distillery, founded in 1834, with its gleaming copper vats and stills.
You will be able to taste 54 fruit syrups and liqueurs: absinthe, pastis of yesteryear, the real Guinolet d’Anjou and the house specialties such as Triple Sec and Royal Combier.
The visit is free for guests of the Oree du bois Gaubau.
Discover the mystery of Faluns
10 million years ago, the sea covered what would become the Maine-et-Loire. Under the effect of the tides, a dune was formed, sedimented and finally transformed into stone : the falun.
The caves and underground ways are the result of the quarrying of this stone. The Perrieres, in Doue-en-Anjou, proposes poetic and illuminating scenography to discover this heritage (architecture, geology, troglodytic dwellings and fossils).
To visit a mushroom farm
From begining of April to end of september, just 20 minutes from l’Orée du bois Gaubau, you can visit a working mushroom farm : the Cave vivante du champignon in Puy-Notre-Dame.
Wineyards wines hiking
For this 20th edition of the Vignes Vins Randos hikes, guided by the winegrowers of the vineyards they pass through, there are 13 family, solo or group hikes proposed.
The walks last between 2.5 hours (adapted for children) and 3 hours, punctuated by gourmet and fun breaks. The programme includes tastings and discoveries.
Unusual restaurant of specialities
ake the opportunity of your trip at l’Orée du bois Gaubau to eat a fouee, a typical Anjou’s speciality, in the restaurant Le caveau at Doue-la-Fontaine or Les Caves de la Genevraie at Rochemenier or les cathédrales de la saulaie.
When the prestigious past meets the modern art !
Just 45 minutes from l’Orée du Bois Gaubau, let yourself be surprised by this blend of modernity and history through the collection of contemporary paintings and sculptures shared by the castle of Oiron.
To see also, the Museum of Arts of Angers.
Accroche-Coeurs festival in Angers
The 23rd edition of this colourful festival, featuring exhibitions, dance, theatre, street art, concerts… and of course the not-to-be-missed picnic, is expected to attract around 250,000 people, as in previous years, and takes place on September, 13th to 15th 2024.
News from zoo La Fleche
Malaïka, a second yellow lioness comes in the zoo ! She joins Ebo et Malindi in their new 4.000 m² living space.
The Zoo de la Fleche is only 1 hour from our rooms and when you return our table d’hôtes will be perfect to complete your day