Places to Visit
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The region is famous for its chateaux, wine, troglodyte houses and mushroom caves. Saumur, about 20 kilometres away, is a beautiful city on the River Loire. There are several beautiful chateaux within easy reach. Futuroscope near Poitiers is about an hour's drive away. Parcay is proud of its small sculpture museum which contains the works of Jules Desbois who was born in the village.
Chateaux
There are more chateaux to visit than possible in one holiday! Within an hour's drive are Angers, Azay Le Rideau, Bauge, Breze, Chinon, Giseux, Langeais, Montgeoffrey, Montsoreau, Saumur, Usse (also known as Sleeping Beauty's castle) and Villandry.
Gardens
Le Mans — Jardin d'horticulture. One part laid out in formal French style and linked by an underground rocaille to an informal 'English' style garden.
Villandry — the famous ornamental chateau garden laid out in vegetables. The garden also has a maze, which children of all ages will enjoy!
Doue Le Fontaine — Wonderful rose gardens.
Chaumont-sur-Loire — The avant-garde garden festival (June—September) is great fun. Non-gardeners will enjoy the chateau, the stables and the Mediterranean style lunch.
Locally — a plant nursery with a lovely garden and some of the more unusual perennials. Plants may be taken back to England.
Musée Jules Desbois
Jules Desbois (1851-1935) was born at Parcay Les Pins. He was a contemporary, colleague and friend of the famous sculptors Auguste Rodin and Camille Claudel. Over sixty of his works are displayed here within the authentic surroundings of his very birthplace. This village museum benefited from EU funding and has won National status. Rodin's tribute to his talent is that he said, should he himself pass away, “you still have Desbois”.
Abbeys and Churches
Fontevraud Abbey is the largest surviving complex of monastic buildings in Europe, with grand medieval kitchens. It is steeped in history of the Plantagenet Kings and symbolises the Royal connections with the area and long association with England.
Further north is the Abbey de Solesmes where you can hear the Gregorian chant.
…and of course the vineyards and caves of the local wine producers.