Discover Montbert: Nature, Trails and Local History

Discover Montbert through its river landscape, routes and local history. The Ognon flows through the town and then empties into Lac de Grand Lieu. As you explore Montbert, you can choose between shorter and longer routes, or include natural and cultural points of interest in your plans. The different routes offer practical guidance on how much time to allow for the trails.

Routes by duration and landscape

The Circuit du Patrimoine in Montbert is 2.8 kilometres long and takes about an hour. It is a fun, straightforward route that is accessible to everyone. The Circuit La Foye is a longer hiking route: allow about three hours for the 12 kilometres. It passes through Geneston and Montbert, as well as typical bocage landscapes with wooded paths, working meadows and a pond. As a guide to timings, the Circuit du Patrimoine takes about an hour, while La Foye takes about three hours. The Circuit « Passerelle » also passes through the countryside around Montbert. The Circuit de Chantemerle runs around the centre of Montbert.

The Ognon and nature

The Ognon is part of Montbert’s landscape and routes: the river crosses the town and continues on to Lac de Grand Lieu. The Circuit La Foye hiking route crosses the Ognon, follows it for several kilometres and passes through the village of Montbert. So on this route, the river is not just a single crossing point; it accompanies the trail for several kilometres.

The changing river landscape is also part of the area’s natural character. Following restoration work on the Ognon in 2018, common frogs, grass snakes and dragonflies returned, along with yellow water lilies, ash trees and alders. These specific animal and plant species add to the picture of the bocage landscapes and wetlands, which also feature along Boucle vélo n°2. The cycling route passes through bocage landscapes, agricultural areas and wetlands alongside the Redour and Ognon rivers.

Local history and cultural points of interest

A form of quartz arenite specific to Montbert was found along the Ognon. Local history also includes the Pas-Chalène workshop, discovered in 1878. Both details give the river landscape a connection to the town’s history as well as its present-day significance.

The parish church of Notre-Dame-de-L’Assomption in Montbert is notable for the number of portraits depicted in its stained-glass windows. The sights along Boucle vélo n°2 also include the stained-glass windows in Montbert church dedicated to the soldiers of the First World War. This means the cycling route connects its landscapes with a specific cultural attraction.

The Plan d’eau de Chantemerle

The Plan d’eau de Chantemerle has several recently installed play structures for children. In 2018, the site received the « Parcours famille » label. The facilities and the award it received at the time are two separate points to consider when thinking about possible outings here.

Getting to Montbert

Nantes-Atlantique Airport and Nantes railway station are about 30 minutes from Montbert; journey times may vary depending on traffic. The Nantes–Bordeaux motorway is about five kilometres from Montbert. These approximate figures can help you plan your journey. For your specific trip, allow extra time depending on traffic conditions.

Discover more destinations: Saint-Molf, Couffé, Marsac-Sur-Don, Monnières, Saint-Hilaire-De-Chaléons, Teillé, Saint-Étienne-De-Mer-Morte, Nozay.

Go to the main travel overview: Loire-Atlantique.