Discover Malville: Hiking Trails and Château du Goust

Malville offers several practical points of reference when planning a stay: hiking trails with specified route profiles, the ruins of Château du Goust, and culture at the Café-Théâtre de l’Espace Thalweg. Its location on the RN165 and its equal distance from Nantes and Saint-Nazaire also help put it in perspective. If you’re looking for a hotel, you can plan your days around the activities that genuinely interest you: hikes, walks through the marshes, or a cultural event. The distinctions below can help you estimate how much time to allow and what to focus on during your trip.

Compare hiking trails by duration and difficulty

The Sentier du Bois Renard is an easy hiking trail covering 6.5 km, with a stated duration of 1 hour 30 minutes. It follows shaded paths and farm tracks, passing cultivated fields and pastures as well as a small, preserved wooded area. Its route therefore combines open fields and pastureland with a wooded section. If you plan to take this trail, check local conditions before setting out, as route details may change.

The Sentier du Tertre is of moderate difficulty, is 11.4 km long, and has a stated duration of 2 hours 50 minutes. It starts at the Chaillereaux car park, at the junction of the D17 and D90 in Malville. By direct comparison, the Tertre, at 11.4 km and 2 hours 50 minutes, is longer than the Bois Renard, at 6.5 km and 1 hour 30 minutes; it is also rated more difficult: moderate rather than easy.

The Sentier des Cigognes offers a different experience: it is an out-and-back route between the plan d’eau de la Côte in Cordemais and the ruins of Château du Goust in Malville. Marsh wildlife can be found along the trail. Unlike the other two routes, which are described by difficulty, length, and duration, this trail focuses on connecting the named places and on marsh wildlife.

Ruins and culture in Malville

The ruins of Château du Goust can be discovered on a walk through the marshes at any time of year. Visible remains include a drawbridge, a defensive tower, ditches, the main courtyard, an impluvium, and an imposing main building that is still standing. The ruins are listed in the register of historic monuments; visitors are not permitted to enter the interiors.

The Café-Théâtre de l’Espace Thalweg offers music, conferences, film screenings, and object theatre. The venue hosts four cultural highlights each year. The program and dates change, so check the current calendar on the Malville municipal website for specific dates. This lets you include a cultural event in your travel plans without assuming that it is a permanent fixture of the program.

Getting there and finding your bearings

The RN165 runs through Malville; the town is also equidistant from Nantes and Saint-Nazaire. When planning your trip, please bear in mind that road conditions and journey times can vary. This will help you consider the hiking trails, the ruins, and the cultural program as different points of reference for your stay in Malville.

Discover more destinations: Louisfert, Saint-Herblain, Saint-Père-En-Retz, Vallet, Casson, La Limouzinière, Châteaubriant, Treffieux

For the broader travel overview: Loire-Atlantique.