Les Moutiers-En-Retz brings together the shores of Bourgneuf Bay, the medieval district of Prigny and a salt-making tradition that continues to shape the town’s identity. When choosing a destination, these different attractions offer distinct experiences: coastal scenery, architectural history and insights into salt production.
Coast and trails
For safety reasons, the coastal promenade is reserved for pedestrians. It offers year-round access to the shores of Bourgneuf Bay. The Sentier littoral des Moutiers offers a different perspective: it runs from the wild coast to the rocky headlands of La Bernerie, giving walkers and those seeking exercise opportunities to explore the landscape. This means you can choose between year-round access to the bay’s shores and a coastal route through a variety of landscapes.
The bay can also be viewed from Port du Collet. A footbridge, which replaced the former lock, offers views over the water. Today, the port is a picturesque oyster harbour with a few berths for pleasure boats. If you would like to combine a walk with a cultural destination, you can visit Église Saint-Pierre along the Le circuit de la campagne hiking trail.
Prigny: medieval village and chapel
In the Prigny district, narrow lanes and historic masonry define the old medieval village of Les Moutiers-En-Retz. High walls dating from the 14th and 15th centuries line the streets. The architectural history is evident not only in a single building, but also in the course of the lanes and the walls that enclose them.
Chapelle de Prigny is also known as Église Saint-Jean-le-Baptiste and was the first church in Les Moutiers-En-Retz. It dates from the 11th century; four round-arched openings reveal its early Romanesque style. Its features include 17th-century Baroque altarpieces and a Viking anchor. The two choir bays containing three altarpieces were classified as historic monuments by decree on 22 October 1913. Since November 2016, the chapel has been fully protected as a French historic monument.
The chapel reopened in 2025 after two years of construction work and two years of closure. It is described as one of the last surviving examples of early Romanesque architecture, in a remarkable state of preservation. Check the current visiting arrangements before planning a visit.
A monument rooted in local tradition
The Lanterne des morts has been classified as a historic monument since 1913 and is the last of its kind still in operation. According to local tradition, it is lit whenever someone in the community dies. The monument thus connects a specific architectural history with a custom that is still observed in Les Moutiers-En-Retz today.
Salt as part of local life
Salt production is one of the community’s oldest activities and continues to shape its identity. Visits to the “Tenue de Mareil” salt marsh offer insights into its history and how it works, as well as into salt production. Salt produced on the salt marsh is sold there. Check visiting and sales hours in advance.
To decide what to focus on during your stay, compare the different themes: the promenade provides year-round access to the shores of the bay, the Sentier littoral runs from the wild coast to the rocky headlands near La Bernerie, and Prigny brings together medieval lanes, walls and sacred architecture. The salt marsh adds the long tradition of salt production to these experiences. This makes it easier to choose what to explore in Les Moutiers-En-Retz based on your interests before looking for suitable hotels for your stay.
Discover more destinations: Sainte-Luce-Sur-Loire, Pont-Saint-Martin, Corsept, Saint-Joachim, Boussay, Teillé, Le Croisic, Carquefou
For the broader travel overview: Loire-Atlantique.
