Étang de Clégreuc gives Vay a distinct natural character. This sensitive natural area covers 113 hectares and belongs to the Loire-Atlantique département. It is open to the public and offers a circular walk of about four kilometres through natural habitats. If you are considering a stay in Vay, it offers a concrete opportunity to observe nature and enjoy outdoor activities; local trails, historical landmarks and a weekly market cater to other interests.
Nature and Birdlife at Étang de Clégreuc
Since the 1980s, 150 bird species have been recorded at the Étang, including 14 species recognised as being of particular heritage interest. Which birds you can observe varies by season: the total number recorded is not a fixed list of what you will see on a single visit. If you plan to visit the Étang, check access conditions and restrictions beforehand. This helps ensure the publicly accessible circular walk is understood within its actual limits.
Hiking Trails with Different Starting Points
The Sentier des Belles Contrées starts at the car park at Étang de Clégreuc. Another option is the Ancienne Voie Romaine: this 4.5-kilometre hiking trail starts at the Croix des belles contrées in Vay. If you use distance as a guide, you can compare this trail with the roughly four-kilometre circular walk at the Étang. The circular walk is a loop through natural habitats; the two trails have different stated starting points. Conditions on the Ancienne Voie Romaine may change. Check them before setting out.
Traces of a Priory, Mining and a Mill
The Chapelle Saint-Germain was attached to a priory founded at the end of the 12th century, probably between 1155 and 1188. For a long time, the priory was among the holdings of the Abbaye de Saint-Germain d’Auxerre outside its diocese. This approximate founding period gives local history a medieval connection without assigning it a single specific year.
Excavations are still visible at the Fosses Rouges, considered traces of a long mining and metallurgical past. The watermill Moulin de Clégreuc offers another perspective on local history: its components date from the 15th, 18th and 19th centuries. The Seigneur de la Cineraye had the mill built along with its pond. It was used to grind buckwheat, black wheat and animal feed, and now stands in ruins.
The Menhir La Pierre qui tourne is also one of Vay’s historical landmarks. By decree dated 5 November 1928, it was designated a historic monument. Along with the history of the priory and traces of mining and milling, this monument provides another point of reference in time: its designation in the early 20th century.
Weekly Market in Vay
The Marché de l’ESAT takes place on Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. It offers seasonal organic fruit and vegetables produced by ESAT Val de Vay. If you plan to visit the market, check the latest information before relying on the opening hours; market details may change. This makes the weekly market an activity that can be included in your plans at a clearly specified time.
Discover more destinations: Mouzeil, La Chapelle-Saint-Sauveur, Pontchâteau, Chéméré, Campbon, La Meilleraye-De-Bretagne, Guémené-Penfao, Mésanger.
For the broader travel overview: Loire-Atlantique.
