Saint-Macaire-en-Mauges is best explored through its shoemaking industry. An interactive trail shares not only the history of the businesses, but also the memories of employees and factory owners. Other points of interest include a Neolithic menhir, the history of church architecture and organs, a public green space and a fishing spot. Together, these offer distinct ways to explore cultural history and spend time outdoors.
Shoemaking industry: businesses, products and railways
The SARL “Repussard-Chupin” was founded in 1925 by Auguste Repussard and Georges Chupin. A second building for the Repussard-Chupin shoe factory was built between 1933 and 1934 and equipped with one of the region’s first assembly lines. Its founding, the construction of the additional building and its manufacturing technology mark different stages in the company’s history. Pasquier reflects a different focus: the shoe factory evolved from making and selling wooden clogs and galoshes to manufacturing slippers. From 1927, it had lasting machines on Rue Pasteur and shifted its focus to making leather shoes and sandals.
Transport history is also part of industrial change. The narrow-gauge Beaupréau–Cholet railway, “Le Petit-Anjou”, opened in 1889, contributed to the industrialisation of Saint-Macaire-en-Mauges and was closed in 1948. It adds another historical dimension to the stories of the shoemaking businesses.
Menhir, chapel and church
The menhir “La Grande Pierre Levée” dates from the Neolithic period. The oak structure of the Chapelle de la Bernardière probably dates from the late 15th century; in 1771, the chapel was blessed under the patronage of Saint John the Baptist. The present-day Saint-Macaire church is designed in the Neo-Gothic style. It received a significant organ in 1925; the Gloton organ was restored in 2019.
The dates span from prehistory through a probable late-medieval date to the church’s 20th-century furnishings. In the case of the chapel, the date of the oak structure and its blessing refer to different aspects of its history. At the church, Neo-Gothic design and organ history can likewise be considered as two distinct topics.
Green space and fishing spot
Parc Marie Claire Coiffard is a public green space in Saint-Macaire-en-Mauges. At Étang de la Croix Verte, there is a fishing spot with several fishing jetties. Its picnic area includes tables, benches, toilet facilities and children’s play equipment; parking is also available. The two outdoor amenities are therefore quite distinct: the Parc is described as a public green space, while the Étang offers a fishing spot with specific facilities.
Plan your time on the trail
In Saint-Macaire-en-Mauges and Saint-André-de-la-Marche, the interactive Baludik trail “Sur les traces de la chaussure” (In the Footsteps of Shoemaking) shares the history of the shoemaking industry as well as memories from employees and factory owners. The Saint-Macaire section is 2.4 kilometres long and takes about 1 hour and 45 minutes. This approximate duration can help you plan the section as a separate activity and avoid treating the time as an exact figure when planning the rest of your day.
If you are considering Saint-Macaire-en-Mauges as a place to stay, choosing a theme can help guide your decision: the trail provides a thread through the history of shoemaking, the menhir and religious buildings offer other cultural highlights, and the Parc and fishing spot provide different ways to spend time outdoors. First consider which of these aspects matters to your stay, then look for a suitable holiday rental.
Discover more destinations: Brain-Sur-Allonnes, Chalonnes-sur-Loire, Marigné, Le Puy-Notre-Dame, Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Beaucouzé, Saint-Pierre-Montlimart, Le Fuilet.
Return to the regional travel overview: Maine-Et-Loire.
