Discover Villedieu-La-Blouère

Villedieu-la-Blouère brings together historic churches and a distinctive chapel with walking trails that appeal to different interests. During your stay, you can focus on architecture and history or plan a hike. Notable places include the Église Saint Christophe de la Blouère, the Église Saint-Jean-Baptiste, and the Chapelle Saint Joseph du Chêne. The Lourdes Grotto on the outskirts of La Blouère is also among the religious sites in the municipality.

Architecture and history in the churches

The Église Saint Christophe de la Blouère was built in 1860 by Albert Tessier, an architect from Beaupréau. Its pointed window arches and the foliage decorations on the small columns reveal its Neo-Gothic features. These forms offer concrete architectural details to look out for during your visit. The church also contains ten medieval tombstones, known as the “Cénotaphes des Chevaliers de Malte.” This brings the building’s design and a distinctive historical designation together in one church.

Access to and visits of the Église Saint Christophe are subject to a clear condition: both are available by request only. Visits are led by historian Yves Naud. Keep this arrangement in mind if you would like to include the church in your stay.

The Église Saint-Jean-Baptiste offers another historical point of interest. Its foundation stone was blessed on 29 August 1894 by Mgr Pessard, who was Vicar General and Prelate of the Household of His Holiness. Inside, crosses of the Knights Templar and the Order of Malta appear on two vault bosses and in the floor patterns. When comparing the churches, note the precisely dated foundation ceremony and the order crosses here alongside the Neo-Gothic details and the designated tombstones at the Église Saint Christophe.

Chapelle Saint Joseph du Chêne and the Lourdes Grotto

The Chapelle Saint Joseph du Chêne was built between 1866 and 1869 with the support of the residents of Villedieu-la-Blouère and consecrated on 30 August 1899. Part of the chapel is built in the crown of a pedunculate oak. A remarkable oak stands beside the chapel, estimated to be 2,000 years old. This figure is an estimate, describing an assumed age rather than a precise measurement.

Inside the chapel, you can see a statue of Saint Joseph carved from white stone. It depicts the infant Jesus sleeping peacefully. A visit thus brings together the unusual construction in the oak’s crown and a specific detail inside. The Lourdes Grotto offers a different focus: it lies on the outskirts of La Blouère. After the war, every family in La Blouère donated work time toward its construction, which aimed to preserve Mary’s protection permanently.

Hiking and biodiversity

The “Des chênes et des landes” route starts in Villedieu-la-Blouère, is ten kilometres long, and is marked in yellow. Along it, you can discover several wooded areas in the municipality. Its length and trail markings give you a clear framework if you would like to include a hike in your stay. The wooded areas add a distinct focus to the historic sites, without making the route revolve around a single building.

The Sentier de l'Étang des Lavandières offers a different activity: as you walk the trail, you can submit biodiversity observations. The two walking routes therefore differ in their explicitly stated features. “Des chênes et des landes” is described by its length, markings, and starting point; the Sentier invites you to contribute observations. Which route better suits your stay depends on whether you prefer a marked trail of a set length or want to focus more on observing biodiversity.

Discover more destinations: Roussay, Brion, Neuillé, Châteauneuf-Sur-Sarthe, Chanzeaux, Fontevrault-L'abbaye, Montilliers, Daumeray

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