Neuvy-en-Mauges: Architectural Heritage, Memorial Sites and Nature

Neuvy-en-Mauges offers several distinct themes to help you plan your trip: buildings from different periods, memorial sites, nature watching and hiking trails. The area’s history includes, among other things, the Church of Saint-Pierre, chapels and crosses, as well as the Château de la Morosière. The La Morosière area adds a bocage landscape and a birdwatching post to these cultural points of interest. You can therefore shape your stay around architectural history and places of remembrance, or around nature and outdoor activities.

Architectural History and Places of Remembrance

The Château de la Morosière was built of stone and tuff in 1869. The Church of Saint-Pierre was built a few years later, from 1871 to 1875, under the direction of the architect Tessier. It is designed in the Neo-Gothic style and has three naves. Its stained-glass windows depict the life of Saint Peter in 36 scenes. At Saint-Pierre, the Neo-Gothic interior and the life of Saint Peter told through the windows come together.

The Notre-Dame-de-Grâce Chapel was built in 1844 and serves as the commune’s war memorial. It names those killed in both world wars and also lists the names of 38 residents of Neuvy-en-Mauges who were shot in Avrillé in 1793. The memorial site thus spans several periods, from the world wars to the events of 1793. The reason for the Croix Mercier is more specific: it was erected in memory of the murder of a travelling merchant named Mercier. The Croix Bourreau, by contrast, marks a crossroads of old routes. The claim that these routes date back to the Wars of Religion is explicitly passed down through oral tradition.

At Château Le Lavouër, the façades and roofs, along with the associated outbuildings, have been listed as historic monuments since 25 April 1969. The park has a different protected status: it has been classified as a protected site since 28 January 1946. The information therefore concerns different features and dates: the architectural elements and outbuildings on the one hand, and the park on the other.

The Manoir de l’Aunay Gontard is also part of the historic sites to visit. It dates from the classical period of the 17th and 18th centuries and was not destroyed during the Vendée Wars. Its historical period and its survival during wartime offer two distinct points of connection with the area’s history.

Landscape and Hiking

The area of La Morosière, designated an Espace Naturel Sensible (ENS), covers 295 hectares, 21 hectares of which belong to the Domaine. Its varied natural landscapes include meadows, farmland, woodland, copses and wetlands. The area is partly open to the public and can be explored on foot through its bocage landscape. Check local access conditions before visiting. In the forest of La Morosière, a birdwatching post allows you to observe songbirds and larger birds.

The hiking options are described in different formats. The “La Croix Bourreau, la Brosse et l’Aunay Gontard” route consists of three circular walking trails; you should check the details again before setting out. The “Les Cabournes” hiking trail passes through Neuvy-en-Mauges and forms part of a route through five communes: Jallais, La Chapelle Rousselin, Saint Lézin, Neuvy-en-Mauges and La Poitevinière. The difference matters when choosing a route: one description refers to three loops, while the other describes a route through five communes. One starting point for the local hiking trails is the car park at the salle de loisirs.

Discover more destinations: La Jaille-Yvon, Le Longeron, Chaudefonds-Sur-Layon, Le Puy-Notre-Dame, Saint-Clément-des-Levées, Saint-Martin-du-Bois, La Boissière-Sur-Èvre, Vernantes.

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