Chênehutte-Trèves-Cunault on the Loire

Chênehutte-Trèves-Cunault combines Loire scenery with traces of architecture, navigation, and past uses. The three main villages and several hamlets lie mainly at the foot of the slope on the left bank of the Loire. This settlement pattern is considered typical of the Loire villages of Anjou. White Tuffeau stone and slate are the traditional building materials of the area. The landscape and architecture thus offer two perspectives on the character of the region.

The Loire riverbank and hillside on the circular trail

The “Entre Loire et coteaux” circular hiking trail runs between Trèves and Chênehutte. It is 9 km long, with a stated duration of 2 hours and 15 minutes. Hilly terrain and woodland characterize its route along the Loire and up the hillside. The starting point is a car park on the banks of the Loire, opposite the Tour de Trèves. The distance, duration, and starting point provide practical guidance when planning the walk as part of your stay. Check the trail markings and local conditions before setting out.

At the Cale de Trèves, the Loire’s remarkable wildlife and plant life can be seen. House façades and weather vanes preserve symbols from the time when boatmen used flat-bottomed gabare boats on the Loire. Those interested in life along the river will find two distinct traces here: the wildlife and plant life along the banks, and signs of the former navigation in the village streetscape.

The local caves also tell of past uses. They bear witness to the once-important, now-discontinued quarrying of Tuffeau stone and the later cultivation of mushrooms. The caves thus add the history of extraction and agriculture to the architectural traces in the area.

Buildings and heritage

The Tour de Trèves is the only surviving remnant of a fortified castle built in the 15th century. The Prieurale Notre-Dame de Cunault offers another view of the area’s architectural history: it was built from Tuffeau stone between the 11th and 13th centuries. Inside, visitors can see a polychrome stone Pietà dating from the 16th century. The castle remnant and church building offer a view of different periods; the Pietà adds a later work of art to the picture of the priory church.

Notre-Dame de la Prée des Tuffeaux also has its own connection to local history: it houses two wooden votive offerings, one donated by stonemasons and the other by boatmen. The different donors point to two aspects of the area’s crafts and occupations, although the objects themselves are not architectural features.

The heritage trail includes further stops. The remains of the Temple du Villiers can be seen along the route; the Gallo-Roman temple dates from the 2nd century. The trail passes along Rue A. Sarazin to the Ermitage Saint-Jean. Near La Fouchardière are remains of a Gallo-Roman settlement dating from around 30 AD. Together, these sites show that the history of the area is not limited to a single period or building.

For planning your outing, the two routes differ mainly in their details and focus: “Entre Loire et coteaux” has a specified length and duration and leads through the landscape along the Loire and hillside. The heritage trail draws attention to named historical sites such as the Temple du Villiers and the Ermitage Saint-Jean. Depending on your plans, you can therefore include either a landscape walk or a tour of cultural sites in your time in the area.

Discover more destinations: Villedieu-La-Blouère, La Chapelle-Saint-Florent, Saint-Rémy-En-Mauges, Saint-Barthélemy-d'Anjou, La Salle-De-Vihiers, Chazé-sur-Argos, Brain-Sur-Allonnes, Saint-Sylvain-Dʼanjou.

For the broader travel overview: Maine-Et-Loire.