Faveraye-Mâchelles brings together a clearly measured circular route and a local history spanning several centuries. The Circuit de Faveraye starts and ends in Faveraye-Mâchelles and is 7.1 kilometres long. Walks through the streets and countryside reveal old stone walls and traces of the past. Alongside the landscape, the church, cemetery, statue and private estates offer various historical points of interest.
The Circuit de Faveraye
The circuit is designated for hiking, mountain biking and horse riding. The estimated times are two hours on foot, 30 minutes by mountain bike and one hour on horseback. The longest of the three times is for walking and the shortest for mountain biking; the riding time falls in between. This comparison makes the mode of transport a practical part of planning your time. The route combines views of the hillside with vineyards, woodland and a rich, varied and well-preserved architectural heritage. Here, landscape and architectural history are both part of the circuit. As the route has been changed, check the individual route sheet before setting out.
Church, Cemetery and Pietà
The oldest parts of the Église Saint-Pierre-Aux-Liens date back to the 12th century, while the choir dates from the 15th century. In 1851, the church became a simple chapel after services were moved to a new church in Mâchelles. Medieval building elements thus meet a later change in religious function.
The medieval cemetery of Faveraye dates from the 14th century and was added to the supplementary list of historic monuments in 1975. A Vierge de pitié, or Pietà statue, is part of the local cultural heritage restoration programme; it dates from the 15th or 16th century. The cultural references have different points of emphasis: the church’s building phases and changes of function, the cemetery’s medieval origins and heritage listing, and a sculpture dated to a particular period and included in the restoration programme.
Private Châteaux and Different Construction Dates
The Château de l'Assay is privately owned. Its origins date back to the 12th century, while the present building dates from 1856. The Château de Chandoiseau is also privately owned; its present building dates from 1872. The estate includes an English landscape park and an octagonal kitchen garden. The dates serve different purposes: for l'Assay, the origins and the present building are both noted; for Chandoiseau, 1872 dates the present building. This helps distinguish the history of the site from the dating of the buildings that stand there today.
Two different points of reference can help with planning: the circular route is clearly defined by its length and estimated times, while the local history spans several periods and types of heritage. Consider whether you would like your stay to focus more on the designated route or on the history of the church, cemetery and buildings.
Discover more destinations: Tigné, La Daguenière, Montsoreau, Saint-Jean-Des-Mauvrets, Corné, Parçay-Les-Pins, Clefs-Val D'anjou, Brissarthe.
For the broader travel overview: Maine-Et-Loire.
