Touvois: Chapels, Manor Houses and Walking Loops

Touvois brings together historic buildings, memorial sites and local circular walking trails. Notable destinations include the Chapelle de Fréligné, two manor houses from different periods and the William Judson Stele. A spring with an unusual natural phenomenon is also among the places described. These locations and route details offer several points of reference for planning a stay in Touvois.

Chapel and History

The Chapelle de Fréligné lies between Touvois and Falleron and has Romanesque origins. The building dates from the 13th century; its features include a baptismal font and a three-lobed credence table. The chapel was altered in the 16th century and restored in the 19th century. The stained-glass windows date from 1885. The chapel is open daily throughout the year; residents of the hamlet oversee it. If you are planning a visit, you can confirm the visiting arrangements in advance.

A pilgrimage on 8 September, the Feast of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, attracted 1,000 to 1,500 people until the 1960s. This historic tradition adds another dimension to the area's history; it does not imply that the event is currently held again.

The Fontevrault Abbey founded a nuns' priory on the grounds of the Manoir du Val-de-Morière in 1150. It was known as Bademorière or Bademoreria. The present manor house dates from 1870. The priory and the manor house therefore represent two distinct periods: the medieval foundation and the construction of the present residence in the 19th century.

The Manoir de La Foresterie is considered the oldest residence in the Touvois Forest. Features attributed to the estate include moats and a wolf pit. Together with the Manoir du Val-de-Morière, it offers another historical point of reference, although the two estates do not share the same building history.

Stele and Special Places

North of the commune, in the hamlet of La Revarderie, the William Judson Stele commemorates an RAF airman who lived from 1922 to 1994 and took refuge in La Revarderie in 1944. The stele is near the D72 between Le Val de Molière and La Benâte. From the centre of the hamlet, a path leads off to the left. At the end, it stands behind an agricultural shed on the left. Check local path conditions before setting out.

The Fontaine Bouillonnante is about one kilometre from the Chapelle de Fréligné, in the direction of Touvois. Bubbles sometimes rise to the surface from the shallow spring. This makes the spring a specific landscape feature associated with an occasionally visible natural phenomenon. The approximate distance and direction provide a guide for planning; the information does not indicate an exact boundary or route.

Circular Walking Trails and Time Planning

A 2020 tourist map shows two local circular walking trails. It lists Le Douavit as 4.2 kilometres long, starting at the Jardin des sports, with an estimated duration of one hour. The La Fontaine (Grand Parcours) loop starts at the Chapelle de Fréligné; the map gives its length as 12 kilometres and its estimated duration as three hours. Check local path conditions before your walk.

The details make it easy to compare the two loops by distance and planned time: Le Douavit is the shorter walk, while La Fontaine, at 12 kilometres and three hours, takes more time. The durations are estimates. Starting points, distances and durations help with day planning, but do not replace checking local path conditions before setting out.

Discover more destinations: Vay, Casson, La Grigonnais, Nozay, La Chapelle Sur Erdre, Louisfert, Corsept, Pornichet.

For the wider travel overview: Loire-Atlantique.