The best walks and hikes around Souzay-Champigny

A castle-palace of the Dukes of Anjou in the 19th and 19th centuries, the Château de Saumur, where King René resided, is the last example of the princely palaces built by the Valois dynasty. It served as the residence of the city's governors, a prison, and later an arms and ammunition depot. It was purchased by the city in 1906 to house the municipal museum, now the Musée de France. Today, we discover the rich collections scattered throughout the former apartments of the Dukes of Anjou in an educational museography. Want to know more? Click here: https://www.ot-saumur.fr/en/castles-and-country-houses/Saumurcastle-5261718/

The Place Saint-Pierre in Saumur has traditionally been a haven for bistros. This is where social life meets. Sit down and enjoy the bustling life.

Behind the classical 17th-century facade lies a magnificent building that combines both Romanesque and Plantagenet Gothic styles. Saint Peter's Church is a representative example of Plantagenet Gothic (12th-13th centuries), particularly due to its strongly curved vaults. Among the furnishings is a remarkable set of 15th-century choir stalls. (Organ concerts are regularly held here). Restoration of the west facade began in November 2008. A team of stonemasons consolidated and restored this classical facade in a "composite" style. This facade had closed off the nave since the 17th century following the collapse of the first Gothic facade. The building was then completely restored! Source: https://www.ville-saumur.fr/patrimoine-architectural/l-eglise-saint-pierre-2

History: In 1454, while ploughing his field, a farmer discovered in the "ardille" (clay, a word that according to legend gave its name to Notre-Dame-des-Ardilliers) a stone statuette about thirty centimetres high representing a Pietà. The farmer took it home. Twice he discovered that the Pietà returned to its place of discovery, near a fountain that was already known for its healing properties. From that moment on, devotions developed around this statuette, which was placed in a niche under a stone arch. Jean Olivier, Bishop of Angers, laid the foundations of the Notre-Dame-des-Ardilliers chapel. Bishop Gabriel Bouvery, Bishop of Angers, opened the new church on 30 July 1553. It was a place of pilgrimage. The fountain was said to perform miracles. In 1614, thanks to the support of Marie de Medici, the management of the sanctuary was entrusted to the Order of Oratorians. In 1619, they settled in Ardilliers and founded a royal college in 1624. Louis XIII granted it the status of royal chapel and, from 1628 to 1643, the Oratorians built the buildings to the east of the chapel that would house their community, the classrooms and the students' dormitories. From 1634, Richelieu had a chapel built on the north wall of the chapel for votive and funeral purposes. The chapel was closed during the Revolution. The Oratorian house became a barracks and the rotunda was converted into an ammunition store. In 1796, the Sisters of Sainte-Anne-de-la-Providence opened a hospice there for the expelled. In 1798, the hospice became the property of the city of Saumur. The chapel was put back into use in 1799, but was damaged by damp. From 1849, architect Charles Joly-Leterme began restoring the building. ​​The Sisters of Sainte-Anne-de-la-Providence became the owners of the former Oratorian House in 1866. During the Battle of the Cadets, in June 1940, the bombing destroyed the roof structures of the chapel and the Oratorian House. The vault of the nave collapsed. The buildings were restored between 1947 and 1957. The oak frame of the dome was replaced by a concrete shell to reduce the pressure on the walls. The Oratorian House was converted into a school in 1953. In February 2025, a fire broke out. Source Wikipedia

History: In 1454, while ploughing his field, a farmer discovered in the "ardille" (clay, a word that according to legend gave its name to Notre-Dame-des-Ardilliers) a stone statuette about thirty centimetres high representing a Pietà. The farmer took it home. Twice he discovered that the Pietà returned to its place of discovery, near a fountain that was already known for its healing properties. From that moment on, devotions developed around this statuette, which was placed in a niche under a stone arch. Jean Olivier, Bishop of Angers, laid the foundations of the Notre-Dame-des-Ardilliers chapel. Bishop Gabriel Bouvery, Bishop of Angers, opened the new church on 30 July 1553. It was a place of pilgrimage. The fountain was said to perform miracles. In 1614, thanks to the support of Marie de Medici, the management of the sanctuary was entrusted to the Order of Oratorians. In 1619, they settled in Ardilliers and founded a royal college in 1624. Louis XIII granted it the status of royal chapel and, from 1628 to 1643, the Oratorians built the buildings to the east of the chapel that would house their community, the classrooms and the students' dormitories. From 1634, Richelieu had a chapel built on the north wall of the chapel for votive and funeral purposes. The chapel was closed during the Revolution. The Oratorian house became a barracks and the rotunda was converted into an ammunition store. In 1796, the Sisters of Sainte-Anne-de-la-Providence opened a hospice for the expelled. In 1798, the hospice became the property of the city of Saumur. The chapel was put back into use in 1799, but was damaged by damp. From 1849, architect Charles Joly-Leterme began restoring the building. ​​The Sisters of Sainte-Anne-de-la-Providence became the owners of the former Oratorian House in 1866. During the Battle of the Cadets, in June 1940, the bombing destroyed the roof structures of the chapel and the Oratorian House. The vault of the nave collapsed. The buildings were restored between 1947 and 1957. The oak frame of the dome was replaced by a concrete shell to reduce the pressure on the walls. The Oratorian House was converted into a school in 1953. A fire broke out in February 2025. Source Wikipedia

Built by Antoine Cristal in 1894, this "between walls" enclosure is a unique plot of vines in the world. It belongs to the Château de Parnay and has been classified as a historical monument since 2010. Antoine Cristal was the inventor of a unique and at the same time extravagant process. Indeed, the vines grow through a hole in a low wall. It is the principle of "cool feet, belly in the sun". Source: https://chateaudeparnay.fr/histoire/le-clos-dentre-les-murs/

Located in the heart of the best terroirs of Saumur-Champigny, the Château de Parnay offers you the opportunity to experience privileged moments by visiting and then tasting the vintages, in particular the famous "Clos d'entre les Murs", a historic Antoine Cristal plot. Regularly awarded medals at international fairs, the Château de Parnay passionately cultivates 35 hectares of vines that are now organically certified. The vineyard, consisting of 4 groups of plots, is a place steeped in history since Antoine Cristal was its illustrious owner at the time. It is also he who is at the origin of the Clos d'Entre les Murs, a unique plot of 0.56 ha and classified as a Historical Monument. This enclosure is complex in structure and consists of 11 parallel walls that stand proudly inside, allowing the vines to flow through the hollow... Come and discover the curiosities of the Château de Parnay during its events! Want to know more? Click through to https://www.ot-saumur.fr/nl/verkoop-van-wijnen-bij-de-accommodatie/kasteel-van-parnay-5353089/

From this location you have beautiful views of the Loire. Definitely worth a visit at sunset.