Get to know Rougé through its landscape and long history. The red soil comes from clay coloured by abundant iron ore. Celtic and Gallo-Roman metalworkers probably processed the iron ore. The Sentier Les Pierres Rouges runs through the varied landscapes around Rougé, offering a direct way to experience the area’s natural surroundings.
Circular Trails and Landscapes
The car park at Rougé’s former railway station is the starting point for a circular trail; follow the signs to the Voie Verte. Parking arrangements may change, so check the situation before your visit. The Sentier Les Pierres Rouges is 12 kilometres long. The hike is listed as taking three hours and is classified as easy. The circular route is also considered easy for mountain biking and horse riding. The three-hour estimate applies to the hike.
The trail passes through the Brutz Valley, as well as heathland, bocage and long stretches of woodland. This makes it possible to understand the route not only by its length but also by the landscapes it traverses. The area around the circular trail in Rougé also has a leisure complex, a picnic area and a skate park. These facilities may change; check in advance whether they will be available during your visit.
At the former Moulin de la Rouelle is a 1.5-hectare departmental nature site with a pond and its surrounding area. The 16.8-hectare Bois de la Houssaye, also known as St-Joseph, is connected to the pond and bordered by the Brutz stream. Fifteen bat species have been recorded at the Bois de la Houssaye nature site. The hazel dormouse is of ecological importance there; in Loire-Atlantique, it is considered a rare species.
Cultural Sites and Local History
The 16th-century Manoir de l’Orgerais, with its chapel, is located behind the town hall in the centre of the village. The estate is private, but the chapel can be seen from the road. View it from there and respect the private nature of the estate. The Notre-Dame de la Salette site consists of an altar and an oratory. A depiction of Notre-Dame de la Salette, surrounded by children, is housed in a glazed niche.
The Notre-Dame de la Salette calvary was formerly visited during processions, rogation days and on Ascension Day. A statue of Saint Joseph stands in the Bois de Saint-Joseph, north of Rougé, showing him holding the infant Jesus in his arms. The de Rougé family has been documented in the region since at least the 12th century. They shaped the area by building a castle and making donations to the nearby abbeys of Melleray, Béré and Teillay. Two paintings were made in 1856 for the former church of Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul.
More Activities
Swin Golf des Grées has an 18-hole swin golf course in Rougé. Other activities on offer include paintball, bicycle hire, archery, footgolf and disc golf. Some activities may be subject to conditions set by the operator. Alongside the landscapes and cultural sites, there is also a range of leisure activities to choose from.
The Centre équestre de Rougé offers group or individual lessons, horse or pony rides, riding treks and holiday courses. Visitors can also tour the stable, groom horses and use the indoor riding arena; these visitor activities may require prior arrangement. The options vary according to the activity you are looking for, from rides or lessons to leisure activities such as swin golf, paintball and disc golf.
Discover more destinations: Notre-Dame-Des-Landes, Mesquer, La Rouxière, Ligné, Guenrouet, Issé, Abbaretz, Château-Thébaud.
For the main travel overview: Loire-Atlantique.
