Tourism in Montreuil Bellay
Montreuil Bellay is very special in that it has retained a strong 15th century identity. As soon as you arrive, the Porte Nouvelle, surrounded by its two keeps, is a reminder of its past as a stronghold. The château, still inhabited, boasts frescoes, sculpted beams, a fine medieval kitchen and a well-preserved vaulted wine cellar. The 13th-century Moulin de Boëlle still adjoins the château, and only ceased operating in the 20th century.
The Nobis priory, one of the oldest monasteries in the Loire Valley, is a must-see, while the Saint-Jean hospital, listed as a Monument Historique, welcomed the sick and pilgrims before they entered the town as early as 1484. Today, the hospital houses interesting temporary exhibitions.
Montreuil Bellay, which has been awarded the "Station Verte" label and is bordered by a botanical trail, can be explored on foot. Its narrow streets are home to numerous craftspeople, including potters and bookbinders. Its river, the Thouët, is popular for canoeing and other water sports, and the village is on the border of several cycle routes. From the campsite, the Thouet can be quickly reached.
A few kilometers away, a fun and instructive visit awaits you at Puy-Notre-Dame in the Cave Vivante du Champignon. You'll learn all about the history, production and taste of the mushrooms picked that very day.Some of the region's emblematic wines can also be tasted nearby, or at the campsite restaurant, but before being the valley of the vines, the Pays de la Loire is above all the valley of the Loire castles. Between 2 visits to the Loire castles, don't forget to visit the Doué la Fontaine Biopark or the small villages of Concourson sur Layon and Saint Georges sur Layon, to come back with vacation memories in your head!
