La Bouëxière: Nature and the Middle Ages in Chevré

The Chevré site is located in La Bouëxière and brings together natural and historical heritage. The Étang de Chevré is known for its lakeside landscape and local flora and fauna; the medieval village of Chevré is a historic focal point. The site also offers recreational activities, regional routes, and cultural events. When planning your trip, you can focus on nature by the water, medieval buildings, or both.

Nature and activities at the Étang de Chevré

The 24-hectare Étang de Chevré is considered a protected nature reserve for fauna and flora. A walking trail runs along its shores. Educational signs around the pond tell children and adults about local plants and animals. The Chevré site also offers a fitness trail, medieval games, and hiking and mountain biking trails. Each activity has a different focus: the signs and reserve are about nature, the fitness trail and paths encourage physical activity, and the medieval games reflect the site’s historical setting. Check local trail conditions before setting out; facilities may also change over time.

Medieval buildings in Chevré

The medieval village of Chevré preserves a feudal motte, topped by the remains of a stone keep. The village also has a Romanesque bridge with seven arches, dating from the 13th century. A Frairienne chapel dates from the 11th century. The different structures and dates show that the historic focus is not limited to a single building or period. The historic ensemble of Chevré is also a stop on the La Campagne buissonnière tourist route. The chapel is therefore older than the bridge.

Landscape and trails in La Bouëxière

La Bouëxière features a well-preserved bocage landscape with wooded areas, a Roman road, and the GR 37 and GR 39 hiking trails. Both GR trails are suitable for hiking and cycling. When choosing a route, note the difference between the path along the Étang, which follows the water, and the GR trails, which are suitable for both activities. This lets you choose based on whether you prefer a waterside path or a route suitable for hiking and cycling.

Cultural event dates

The cultural events also offer different experiences. Ton’Eire de Bouex’ is a Celtic and Irish music festival, usually held around March. Les Festoyes is a medieval festival at the Étang de Chevré, held in September. The festival features crafts, costumes, performances, and historical reenactments. While music is the focus of Ton’Eire, Les Festoyes combines crafts and medieval performances. Plan your trip around the specific event dates.

Discover more destinations: Montreuil-Le-Gast, Argentré-Du-Plessis, La Chapelle-Aux-Filtzméens, La Nouaye, La Ville-Ès-Nonais, Essé, Bruz, Sainte-Anne-sur-Vilaine

For the regional travel overview: Ille-Et-Vilaine.