Neuvy-en-Mauges offers two distinct themes for planning a trip: architectural and commemorative heritage, and hiking and nature observation. The options range from a neo-Gothic church with stained-glass windows depicting 36 scenes to a natural area with meadows, forests, and wetlands. La Morosière offers another perspective: a bocage landscape that can be explored partly on foot.
Architecture and history
The Church of Saint-Pierre was built between 1871 and 1875 by the architect Tessier. Its neo-Gothic structure has three naves. The stained-glass windows depict the life of Saint Peter in 36 scenes. The layout of the church and the imagery depicting Peter are two distinct features of the building.
The Château de la Morosière was built in 1869 from stone and tuff. For Château Le Lavouër, the heritage-protection details refer to different parts of the property: the facades and roofs of the château and its associated outbuildings have been listed as historic monuments since 25 April 1969. The park has been classified as a protected site since 28 January 1946. The two dates and protection designations therefore apply to different parts of the property.
The Manoir de l’Aunay Gontard dates from the classical period of the 17th and 18th centuries and was not destroyed during the Wars of the Vendée. The wayside crosses also each have their own historical connection. The Croix Bourreau marks a crossroads of old routes, which, according to oral tradition, date back to the Wars of Religion. The Croix Mercier was erected in memory of the murder of a travelling salesman named Mercier.
Places of remembrance
Built in 1844, the Notre-Dame-de-Grâce Chapel serves the community as a war memorial. It names those who fell in both world wars, as well as 38 residents of Neuvy-en-Mauges who were shot in Avrillé in 1793. The memorial therefore commemorates both world wars and an event from 1793. The people and dates named give this place a clearly defined historical significance.
La Morosière and the hiking trails
The Domaine de La Morosière in Neuvy-en-Mauges is designated an Espace Naturel Sensible (ENS). The 295-hectare area includes 21 hectares of the Domaine. Its landscapes include meadows and arable land, as well as forests, woodland, and wetlands. The La Morosière area is partly open to the public and can be explored on foot through its bocage landscape. Take its partial accessibility into account when planning your visit, and check the current conditions before you go.
In the forest of La Morosière, an observation post offers a place to watch songbirds and larger birds. This adds a specific focus on nature observation to the opportunity to explore the landscape on foot.
One starting point for the local hiking trails is the car park at the salle de loisirs. The “La Croix Bourreau, la Brosse et l’Aunay Gontard” route consists of three loops for walking. Check the route details again before setting off. The “Les Cabournes” trail passes through Neuvy-en-Mauges and is part of a route through five communes: Jallais, La Chapelle Rousselin, Saint Lézin, Neuvy-en-Mauges, and La Poitevinière. When choosing between these formats, you can compare a route with three loops with a trail passing through five communes.
Discover more destinations: Saint-Hilaire-Saint-Florent, Varennes-sur-Loire, Parçay-Les-Pins, Vivy, Chazé-sur-Argos, Bauné, Fontevrault-L'abbaye, Champtocé-Sur-Loire.
For the wider travel overview: Maine-Et-Loire.
