Orvault: Art, heritage and trails in the Cens Valley

Orvault combines a cultural tour through the urban landscape with historic buildings and nature activities in the Cens Valley. When planning your stay, you can choose from a range of options: public art, insights into architectural history, and trails for hiking and wildlife watching. Whether you would rather visit cultural sites or spend time outdoors, Orvault offers different experiences to suit your interests.

Art and culture in many forms

The «L’art dans la Ville» tour features around thirty urban murals, stickers and sculptures. You can explore it on foot or by bike by following the black QR codes. The different types of artwork give the tour a broad artistic scope; you can fit the choice between walking and cycling into your personal itinerary.

The Château de la Gobinière houses a theatre in its former stables. Exhibition spaces are located both in the château and in the greenhouse. The theatre and exhibitions are therefore found in different parts of the buildings and offer a range of cultural themes to consider when planning your visit.

The Church of Saint-Léger is neo-Gothic and has no bell tower. Its notable features include an organ built by Auguste Tolbecque towards the end of the 19th century and stained-glass windows depicting the life of Saint Léger. The architecture, organ and imagery each offer a distinct way to explore the church’s heritage.

The chapel and its views are among the Calvaire du Bourg’s most notable features. The small chapel stands on a high platform bordered by a balustrade, accessible by two side staircases. From there, panoramic views extend across the town centre, the Étang de la Fabrique and the Cens Valley.

The chapel of the Château de la Tour also preserves an older work of art: it houses a stained-glass window from the first half of the 16th century, classified as a historic object in 1988. It dates from a notably different period than the organ in the Church of Saint-Léger, which was built towards the end of the 19th century.

Trails and nature in the Cens Valley

The Cens Valley crosses Orvault for a distance of nine kilometres. Parts of the valley are designated as ZNIEFF (Zone naturelle d’intérêt écologique, faunistique et floristique). The valley has observation areas as well as information panels about its fauna and flora. Alongside hiking, nature watching and learning about local plant and animal life are also ways to enjoy the area.

The circular trail through the Cens Valley is six to seven kilometres long and takes an average of about an hour and a half. Its length and average duration can help you estimate the time needed for this particular hike.

Another outdoor option is the orienteering course at the Domaine de la Tour. It has 20 marked courses for schools, groups, individuals and families. Access to the orienteering course is free of charge; when making specific plans, check locally for any temporary restrictions.

For a green retreat, Parc Michel Baudry, also known as Parc de la Gobinière, is another destination in its own right: it covers seven hectares of green space open to the public. Together with the trails in the Cens Valley and the orienteering courses, it expands the range of nature and outdoor activities available in Orvault.

Discover more destinations: La Turballe, Saint-Julien-De-Concelles, Soulvache, Le Gâvre, Saint-Fiacre-Sur-Maine, Saint-Sébastien-Sur-Loire, Gorges, Rouans.

For the overview of the wider region: Loire-Atlantique.