In Geneston, you can explore several chapters of local heritage, from the former abbey and the present-day church to the Château de Geneston. A heritage trail brings these themes to life with eight information panels. Marked circular walking trails and the municipal lake offer different points of interest. When planning your stay, you can decide whether to focus on history, a walk or leisure by the water.
Explore the heritage trail
The heritage trail includes eight information panels about churches, a war memorial, the abbey, the château and other heritage sites. Its particular appeal lies in the different aspects of local heritage covered by the panels. You can choose the trail as a themed introduction to Geneston, rather than focusing on just one building.
A map of the heritage trail is available to download. When planning your visit, check whether it is available and use it to find your way around the trail’s themes. This is particularly helpful if you want to connect the different stops with the history of Geneston.
The abbey, church and historical details
Only the 17th-century entrance pavilion, bearing a coat of arms, and part of the choir of the former church remain of Sainte-Marie-Madeleine Abbey. A notable detail has also been preserved at the entrance to the former cloister: a niche topped with a shell. A statue of Sainte Marie-Madeleine once stood there. The niche and the statue belong to different periods: the niche is still there, while the statue was part of the former furnishings.
The present-day Sainte-Marie-Madeleine Church in Geneston is a neo-Gothic building. Construction began in 1869, and the church replaced the former abbey church. Its retable was listed as a historic monument in 1962. These details illustrate the sequence of religious buildings: the surviving remains of the former abbey stand alongside the later church, with its own architectural character and documented heritage listing.
The château and arboretum
The Château de Geneston was built in 1852 on the site of the south wing of the former abbey. The château is therefore linked to the abbey by its location, as well as by the surviving remains of the former complex. The date places the building within local history and adds another chapter to the story of the older abbey remains.
The château grounds include an arboretum featuring notable trees. Alongside the buildings and their history, trees and the park offer another facet of the local heritage and a distinct theme to explore.
Circular walking trails and the lake offer other points of interest
If you’re looking for a marked walking route that returns to its starting point, Geneston Randonnées offers circular trails. The heritage trail and these walking routes have different stated focuses: the former centres on eight panels about local heritage sites, while the latter offer a marked circular route back to the start. You can choose the type of walk that suits you, depending on whether you’re more interested in the local themes or the route itself.
The municipal lake covers 0.5 hectares and is accessible from the town centre. At Plan d'eau de Geneston, you can go for walks, relax and enjoy leisure activities; fishing is also available. There is a fishing platform accessible to people with disabilities. The lake’s size and its access from the town centre give you two useful points of reference when planning a visit.
Different activities take centre stage by the water than on the heritage trail: here, you can walk, relax or fish, while the eight information panels provide a structured introduction to local heritage. A stay in Geneston therefore offers a clear choice between historical discoveries, marked circular walks and leisure by the lake.
Discover more destinations: La Baule-Escoublac, La Bernerie-En-Retz, Saint-Mars-La-Jaille, Mouais, Missillac, La Plaine-Sur-Mer, Blain, Montoir-de-Bretagne.
For the broader travel guide: Loire-Atlantique.
