Vay: Discover Nature and Local History

If you’re looking for a hotel in Vay, you can plan your stay around a range of interests: nature at Étang de Clégreuc, hiking trails, local history or the Wednesday morning market.

Nature at Étang de Clégreuc

Étang de Clégreuc is located in the commune of Vay. The 113-hectare site is a sensitive natural area owned by the Loire-Atlantique département and open to the public. Its natural habitats and birdlife give your visit a focus on nature, distinct from the town’s historical themes.

Since the 1980s, 150 bird species have been recorded at the Étang, including 14 species recognized as having particular heritage value. Sightings vary depending on the season. The species count reflects records made over an extended period; specific observations may differ depending on when you visit. So if you’re particularly interested in birds, the time of year is a practical consideration when planning.

Hiking trails and distances

At Étang de Clégreuc, an approximately four-kilometre circular trail passes through natural habitats. The 4.5-kilometre Ancienne Voie Romaine trail begins at Croix des belles contrées in Vay. The two routes are similar in length: when choosing, you can consider both the circular route through the habitats and the starting point at the Croix. The Sentier des Belles Contrées begins at the Étang de Clégreuc car park in Vay. Check access conditions before your visit and trail conditions before setting out.

Ecclesiastical and mining history

Chapelle Saint-Germain was attached to a priory. The priory was founded at the end of the 12th century, probably between 1155 and 1188, and for a long time was among the possessions of Abbaye de Saint-Germain d’Auxerre, outside its diocese. The connection between the chapel and the priory offers a glimpse into Vay’s ecclesiastical history.

Visible excavations remain at Fosses Rouges, regarded as traces of a long mining and metallurgical past. Alongside the history of the priory, mining and metallurgy are therefore also themes in the town’s history. These two historical references concern different subjects, but both reach far back into the past.

The watermill Moulin de Clégreuc is now in ruins. Its structural elements date from the 15th, 18th and 19th centuries. The Seigneur de la Cineraye built the mill together with its pond. It was used to grind buckwheat, black wheat and animal feed. Here, the mill’s present-day ruined state, structural elements from several centuries and its former use as a mill come together.

Marché de l’ESAT in Vay

The Marché de l’ESAT takes place every Wednesday morning from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. It offers seasonal organic fruit and vegetables produced by ESAT Val de Vay. If your stay includes a Wednesday, you can plan the market as a specific morning activity. As market details can change, check the times before your visit.

Discover more destinations: Saint-Philbert-De-Grand-Lieu, Ruffigné, Treffieux, Saint-Étienne-De-Mer-Morte, Brains, Asserac, Le Landreau, Saint-Mars-Du-Désert

For the broader travel overview: Loire-Atlantique.