Two themes provide clear starting points when planning a stay in Saint-Georges-des-Sept-Voies: the Le chemin des vieilles pierres circular walk and the area’s architectural and megalithic heritage. Church architecture and windmill technology are also among the things to discover. Before looking for a holiday rental, you can decide whether you would rather spend your stay walking through hilly terrain or exploring historic buildings.
The circular walk and its landscape
The Le chemin des vieilles pierres circular walk starts at La Sansonnière, near the town hall, and is 14.5 kilometres long. It passes through a rural, hilly and partly wooded landscape in a region with a strong megalithic heritage. Another perspective on the surroundings is offered by 350 hectares of woodland spread throughout the territory of Saint-Georges-des-Sept-Voies, providing residents and walkers alike with a distinctly rural setting. The route and the woodland refer to different scales: 14.5 kilometres describes the circuit, while 350 hectares refers to the woodland across the entire area.
Church and windmill technology
The parish church of the Prieuré de Saint-Georges, in its present form, features architectural elements dating from the 12th and 13th centuries. One of its defining features is a two-storey Romanesque bell tower. A classified wind-powered installation dating from 1888 and 1889 is also located at the Prieuré de Saint-Georges. The church is characterised by its historic architecture, while the installation at the priory is defined by its classification and date.
In the Gennes-Val-de-Loire area, the Moulin de la Lussière is one of two surviving Cavier-type windmills that are still operational and open to visitors. The mill dates from 1836 and has an underground cellar set in a tuff-stone cavity. Its rotating roof has regained its sails, covered with white boards that can be opened using the Berton system. The mill brings together architectural details of its underground cellar and the described technology of its roof and sails.
Megaliths: dimensions and historical context
The capstone of the Dolmen de la Bajoulière measures more than seven metres on each side and is 70 to 90 centimetres thick. Its weight is estimated at 70 tonnes. Its side length, thickness and estimated weight give a sense of its scale from different perspectives. The dolmen may have served as a chapel in the 12th century; this remains a historical possibility.
The area around the villages of Saint-Georges-des-Sept-Voies, Le Thoureil and Gennes is notable for its density of Neolithic menhirs and dolmens. The view thus extends beyond a single monument to a megalithic landscape around these three villages.
For historical context, it is worth comparing the dates: the parish church’s architectural features date from the 12th and 13th centuries, while the dolmen may have been used as a chapel in the 12th century. The former dates architectural features; the latter is a cautious interpretation of its earlier function.
Discover more destinations: Saint-Sylvain-Dʼanjou, La Ménitré, Artannes-Sur-Thouet, Chigné, Saint-Macaire-en-Mauges, Rochefort-Sur-Loire, Beaucouzé, Champtocé-Sur-Loire.
For the broader travel overview: Maine-Et-Loire.
