| Montreuil-sur-Maine is situated alongside three rivers, the Mayenne, Loire & l’Oudon. |
| Le Lion d’Angers is 3km (5 minute drive) and is the nearest village for all your amenities. The photograph above is the bridge over the River Oudon going into Le Lion d’Angers. |
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Le Lion d’Angers has a racecourse (Hippodrome du Lion d’Angers) which hosts regular horse racing throughout the summer and is fun day out for all the family. When racing isn’t taking place, the park is a popular place to run, walk or cycle around and even venture off into the wooded area. The Parc Départemental de l’Isle Briand (in the grounds of the racecourse) has a chateau which houses a large equestrian centre. Every October there is a 4 day event ‘Mondial du Lion’ which is a display of dressage, cross country and show jumping. Competitors come from all over the world to take part in this spectacular event. |
| Local markets nearby:
· Le Lion-d’Angers: Friday (5km) · Segre: Wednesday & Saturday (14km) · Chateau-Gontier: Thursday (20km) · Angers: Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday & Sunday (35km). |
| Other things to do: |
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Angers – 30 minute drive or a 25 minute tram ride, free parking is available for you to safely leave your car whilst you take the tram. The department of Maine et Loire (49) covers a territory to the north and south of the Loire. This is the heart of the region known as Anjou and its capital Angers is one of the great historic cities in the Loire valley. Anjou was the fief of the Angevins better known as the Plantagenets, who, starting with Henry II, ruled England for three centuries. Henry II, his wife Eleanor of Aquitaine, and their son Richard the Lionheart are buried at the Abbey of Fonevraud which is situated between Saumur and Chinon. The great chateau in Angers is one of the biggest medieval fortresses in Europe and is situated on a rocky ridge overhanging the River Maine. Originally the site of ninth century fortress, the enormous chateau dates from the early part of the thirteenth century. With 17 towers, the chateau spreads across nearly 7 acres of ground. At the end of the eighteenth century, it was used as a military garrison and a military academy was established to train young officers. Arthur Wellesley, First Duke of Wellington, best known for his defeat of Napoleon Bonaparte at the Battle of Waterloo, was trained here. The Chateau now houses a museum with the oldest and largest collection of medieval tapestries in the world, including the 104m long fourteenth century Apocalypse Tapestry. Angers also has one of the greatest liqueurs, the famous orange liqueur known as Cointreau, this has been produced in Angers since the middle of the nineteenth century. The cointreau recipe is still a closely guarded secret. http://www.cointreau.com |
| Anjou Golf and Country Club, Champigné – 20 minute drive is an 18 hole golf course, reservations can be made online. http://www.anjou-golf.com |
Anjou Sport Nature, La Jaille Yvon – 15 minute drive for a day’s adventure – http://www.anjousportnature.com
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Chateaux – dans le département de Maine et Loire:
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| La Mine Bleue, Noyant-la-Gravoyère – 30 minute drive for a guided tour to 126 metres underground of a slate mine. http://www.laminebleue.com |
La Petite Couere, Châtelai – 25 minute drive, enjoy a day out and experience the following: http://www.lapetitecouere.fr
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| Musée des Blindés, Saumaur – a 1h 15 minute drive, this tank museum is now one of the world’s largest tank museums. http://www.museedesblindes.fr |
| Musée Paysan du village Troglodyte de Rochemenier – a 1h drive – Interesting and informative of how our ancestors lived, many real artefacts and tools, including photographs of former inhabitants.
NATUR’O LOISIRS, Pouancé – a 25 minute drive to the heart of the Lake at Saint-Aubin near the Medival Fortress. The inflatable park offers a circuit/course of friendly duels and jousts, races. Jump, climb, swing, run, slide, dive or be catapulted. Also on site is a swimming pool, stand up paddle, Canoe-Kayak. Food truck, ice-cream and drinks. http://www.naturoloisirs.com |
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Refuge de d’Arche, Chateau Gontier – 15 minute drive, this is a pet-friendly local wildlife of sick or wounded, animals and after being treated, are released into the wild, only the animals that are too dependent on humans are kept. It also hosts domestic and exotic animals that have become too big for their owners to keep. http://www.refuge-arche.org |
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Terra Botanica, extraordinary gardens, Angers – a 30 minute drive to enjoy a day out at a plant themed amusement park. Terra Botanica reveals the secrets of six centuries of history, beginning with King René and his famous floral gardens. Gaze upon the riches of Anjou, the plant capital and the ancestral homeland of multiple cultures, and discover the world through the 275,000 plant species and exceptional collections of orchids, roses, palm tree. From giant greenhouses to lush gardens, paddy fields to marshes, generous kitchen gardens to dark primary forests, Mediterranean scenery to Oriental lands, set off for an unusual and colourful adventure. Terra Botanica is also a fabulous playground full of games and entertainment: the Elves’ Island with its hanging towers, dynamic 4D film screenings, rides in a tethered balloon or up in the treetops, scenic boat ride. Between fun adventures and botanical discoveries, with family or friends, children and grownups alike will find plenty to enjoy at the first theme park in Europe devoted to plant life. http://www.terrabotanica.fr |
| A little further afield, but not too far…. |
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PUY DU FOU, 85590 Les Epesses, Vendée – Approximately 1h 20 minute drive, a full day is needed and if you’re staying for the evening show, then it will be long one. Puy du Fou is a historical theme park with epic, period-specific shows, including the Vikings & Ancient Rome and well worth a visit. http://www.paydufou.com |
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FUTUROSCOPE, avenue René Monory, 86360 Chasseneuil-du-Poitou – a 2 hour drive, requires a full day. Parc du Futuroscope is a theme park based upon multimedia, cinematographic futuroscope and audio-visual, well worth a visit, a fun day out. http://www.futuroscope.com |
Gites vallees oudon-mayenne 