Several distinct themes come together in Nozay: Pierre Bleue and its role in the landscape, crosses and the Menhir de Couëbrac, as well as outdoor activities. When planning your visit, you can therefore start by choosing the focus that interests you most: Would you like to explore slate, view crosses with information panels, or focus on leisure activities? The following places and activities offer concrete starting points.
Slate between rock and landscape
Pierre Bleue de Nozay is a bluish slate. Compared with ordinary slate, it was subjected to less pressure and consequently has a softer grain. The Sentier des manoirs presents the history of slate, a rock characteristic of the region that has shaped the landscape of Nozay. This offers two distinct perspectives: the geological features of Pierre Bleue and the history of slate as a theme in the landscape. The former Carrière du Parc quarry adds a specific place of extraction to this picture: Pierre Bleue was quarried there.
Carrière du Parc is open for free visits from Friday to Sunday. As access arrangements may change seasonally, please check the conditions before your visit. This keeps both the stated visiting period and the possibility of seasonal changes in mind when planning.
Outdoor activities
La Ville-au-Chef brings together a range of outdoor activities: around twenty orienteering markers that are freely accessible, a permanent mountain bike trail and a natural slate climbing wall. The activities offer different focuses—navigation, mountain biking and climbing. The climbing wall also returns to slate as a local theme, while the trail and orienteering markers add other forms of activity.
The Jean Guyon leisure area offers a different emphasis. Wakeboarding, water skiing and kneeboarding are available there, and the site also includes three fishing ponds. They provide a natural setting for a relaxing break. Compared with the activities at La Ville-au-Chef, the focus here is on water sports and the ponds. The mix of activities and seasonal opening arrangements may change. So check before your visit which activities will be available on your chosen date.
Crosses and other local themes
The Les Croix de Nozay trail draws attention to crosses: 25 information panels are located at crosses of particular interest. The number of crosses still standing also offers a specific point of reference: of the 43 crosses, 40 were restored by José Teffo in 2019. The trail and its panels, along with the restoration details, offer different ways to explore the subject—through information along the way and through the preservation of the crosses.
Another local point of interest is the Menhir de Couëbrac. It is located in Nozay, in the Lande de l'Etang Neuf. Together with the slate and crosses, it broadens the choice of topics to visit, without suggesting a particular tour or order.
Discover more destinations: Bouguenais, Treffieux, Vay, La Bernerie-En-Retz, Pont-Saint-Martin, Saint-Aignan-Grandlieu, Petit-Auverné, Soudan.
For the broader travel overview: Loire-Atlantique.
