Cizay-La-Madeleine: Abbey, Church Building History and Hiking Trail

When looking for hotels in Cizay-La-Madeleine, three specific interests provide a guide: building history, a tasting at a historic farm and a hike with a stated distance and walking time. The historic buildings span different periods: the Sainte-Madeleine Priory was founded in 1097, while a nave was reconstructed in the 19th century. The hiking trail provides its own timeframe. Before booking, you can therefore weigh up whether building history, local tastings or outdoor activity should be the focus of your trip.

Abbaye d’Asnières: History and Building Complex

The Abbaye d’Asnières is located in the valley of the Gravelle stream. The Abbaye Notre-Dame was founded in 1129; Bernard de Tiron had already established a small religious community there around 1114. The two dates mark different events: first the establishment of a community, then the founding of the abbey. The surviving complex includes a church with an adjoining chapel, remains of the chapter house, part of the abbot’s residence, a hostel, a monastic barn, a dovecote, agricultural buildings, a cellar and a wine press. A chapter house served as a meeting room for a monastic community. A wine press is used to process fruit; a dovecote is a dedicated building for pigeons. In this ensemble, sacred spaces stand alongside residential, guest and agricultural areas.

Churches and Priory: Different Building Phases

The parish church of Saint-Denis shows several building phases. The bell tower and choir date from the 13th century; the nave was reconstructed from 1863 to 1865 under the direction of architect Charles Joly-Leterme. In church architecture, the choir is the liturgical area, while the nave is the main space for the congregation. These dates distinguish the history of individual parts of the building from that of the church as a whole: not every element belongs to the same period. The Sainte-Madeleine Priory can also be placed in context using two dates. It was founded in 1097 and was under the authority of Saint-Aubin Abbey in Angers; its church dates from around 1100. The foundation, institutional affiliation and construction date are separate facts: together, they provide a chronological and organizational context for the priory’s history.

Château d’Epinats: Listed Features

At the Château d’Epinats, the façades, roofs, interior staircase with its wrought-iron railing and the dining room fireplace are listed as protected features. The listing dates from December 27, 1973. The selection includes both exterior features and specific details inside the building.

Tasting and Hiking Trail

Visitors can sample goat’s cheese and wine at the historic Ferme de l’Abbaye d’Asnières in Cizay-la-Madeleine. If you plan to visit for a tasting, contact the farm for the latest practical information. The “Autour de l’abbaye d’Asnières” route is listed as 11 kilometers long, marked in yellow, rated easy and taking approximately three hours to walk. This walking time gives you a concrete framework for planning your day. Check the latest trail information before setting out if you are planning around the duration.

Discover more destinations: Saint-Clément-des-Levées, La Cornuaille, Méon, Antoigné, Brain-Sur-Allonnes, Contigné, Jarzé, Courléon.

For the overview of the wider area: Maine-Et-Loire.