Clefs-Val D'anjou: Heritage and Cycling Routes

Clefs between local history and cycling routes

Clefs-Val D'anjou brings together two clearly defined interests for planning a trip: the architectural heritage in Clefs and cycling routes associated with the area. Clefs lies on the D938, which connects La Flèche and Baugé. These two place names provide a specific geographical reference. When looking for a hotel, you can first consider whether you would like to focus your stay more on historic buildings, cycling, or both.

Manor house and church: two points of reference in time

The Château de Clefs manor house, also known as Manoir de Toury, was listed as a historic monument on 24 September 1998. This date refers to the listing, not the year it was built. This distinction is useful for planning your trip, as it separates the date of the monument listing from the building's history. Both names refer to the same manor house, so you can understand them as alternative names for one building. This gives you a clear point of reference if you are interested in Clefs' architectural heritage.

The parish church of Notre-Dame in Clefs provides another point of reference in time. It dates from the 11th, 12th and 19th centuries. Its dating therefore spans several centuries rather than referring to a single listing date. Together, the manor house and church offer two different ways of understanding local history: for the manor house, the date it was listed as a historic monument is given; for the church, its association with three centuries is noted. This directs your attention to the monument's history when visiting the manor house and to a long span of time when visiting Notre-Dame.

Cycling routes with different points of interest

The cycling routes differ in their specific points of interest. “Entre pierres & Marais” follows a former railway line that has been converted into a greenway. The route runs from La Flèche to Clefs and then reaches Saint Quentin les Beaurepaire. Its route is defined both by the sequence of places mentioned and by the conversion of the former railway line. If you are interested in the history of a route and the direction through these three places, you will find those themes directly reflected in the route described here.

The “Landes et cours d'eau en Baugeois” cycling route offers a different connection to Clefs: cyclists can see the Manoir de Chandio in Clefs along the way. The focus here is therefore on a named manor house, while “Entre pierres & Marais” is characterized by the former railway line and the sequence of places. This comparison can help you choose: you can decide whether you would rather follow the theme of the converted railway line or include the route featuring the Manoir de Chandio in your plans.

Discover more destinations: Auverse, Neuillé, Maulévrier, Saint-Rémy-La-Varenne, La Pommeraye, Loiré, Genneteil, Saint-Clément-des-Levées

See the wider travel overview: Maine-Et-Loire.