Balzac Park in Angers: a new balance between city and nature

Slow Village, your open-air hotel in Les Ponts de Cé, just outside Angers, invites you to explore the Parc de Balzac, an area in the heart of the city where nature is reclaiming its rights. A former wasteland transformed into a beautiful natural landscape, this site combines marshes, meadows and shared gardens in perfect harmony. Here, time slows down: strollers follow the canals, meet herons and peaceful cows, and discover a preserved biodiversity. More than just a green space, the Parc de Balzac in Angers is a real invitation to disconnect and get back to basics.

A beautiful natural park in the heart of Angers

A wasteland transformed into a green setting

In the early 1990s, the Parc de Balzac site in Angers consisted largely of a controlled landfill and flood-prone alluvial meadows. Its transformation marked a turning point: rather than erasing its history, the city chose to reveal its full ecological potential. The marshes were landscaped without the need for fill, the waterways were redesigned and themed areas were created to accommodate both local flora and species from elsewhere. This metamorphosis illustrates Angers' determination to reconcile its natural heritage with urban life.

This urban anchorage, combined with its ecological wealth, makes it a popular place to stroll for Angevins and travellers alike.

The natural wealth of Balzac Park

Restoring and protecting ecosystems

Angers' Parc de Balzac is more than just a place to stroll: it's also an open-air laboratory for environmental conservation. Here, water is an ally: flood meadows regulate the flooding of the Maine River, while a reedbed naturally filters rainwater. What's more, no weedkillers are used, and differentiated management allows local plants, as well as forgotten species, to take root again. This respectful choice is based on a delicate balance, in which every element of the landscape - trees, waterways, soil - plays a part in the life of the park.

An abundance of biodiversity

The 50-hectare Parc de Balzac in Angers is home to an astonishing diversity: over 150 plant species, some of them protected, and a rich fauna ranging from butterflies and amphibians to 66 species of birds. Highlands Cattle,Cotentin donkeys and Poitou baudets take part in ecological grazing, promoting a gentle cohabitation between man and animal. Herons, corncrakes and greenfinches testify to a successful return to the wild, making every walk an experience punctuated by the songs and sounds of nature.

Beautiful landscapes to discover through the seasons

Balzac Park can be discovered step by step, like a large open garden where every nook and cranny tells a story. Marshes, meadows, oak groves or orchards: these landscapes evolve with the rhythm of water and the seasons, always offering a new facet to contemplate.

Marshes, meadows and living canals

At the heart of the park, water creates a landscape in motion. The marsh, criss-crossed by wooden footbridges, invites you to take a stroll along its canals and wetlands. Depending on the season, you'll discover a crackling ground, a mirror of water or a green expanse. Not far away, the meadows come alive with the peaceful presence of Highlands Cattle and Cotentin donkeys, familiar silhouettes that give the park its bucolic atmosphere. Together, these contrasting landscapes make each walk an ever-renewed experience.

Oak grove, flower fields and bird orchard

Walkers can also be surprised by more colorful and changing landscapes. In autumn, the great oak grove, composed of varieties from the four corners of the world, blazes with golden and glowing hues. In summer, the fields in bloom present an ephemeral tableau of poetry and vitality. Finally, the bird orchard, designed to encourage local avifauna, offers the chance to observe blackbirds, finches and greenfinches in search of berries. Each of these spaces offers a unique atmosphere, transforming the visit into a succession of sensory discoveries.

Allotment gardens in the heart of the park

The Parc de Balzac is not just a beautiful natural setting: it's also a place for living and sharing. Over one hundred and twenty allotment garden plots have been laid out and entrusted to residents, in conjunction with local associations. These kitchen gardens, surrounded by flowering pergolas and fruit trees, add a touch of conviviality and scenic beauty. They enable families to grow their own vegetables, but above all to reconnect with the land and pass on a simple, precious skill to their children.

A civic and educational space

Since its creation, the park has been designed with the participation of Angevins, through public surveys and consultations with associations of fishermen, gardeners and bird conservationists. Today, this collective involvement continues through educational initiatives: raising awareness of biodiversity among the youngest visitors, birdwatching and learning about water cycles. Balzac is much more than an urban park: it's a place where we learn to live in harmony with our environment, respecting the rhythm of life.

An invitation to contemplation

Parc de Balzac is more than just a place to stroll: it reveals vistas and atmospheres conducive to relaxation and observation, allowing you to reconnect with nature and yourself.

Footbridges over the marsh

The wooden footbridges that cross the marsh allow you to walk above the water and observe the play of reflections and water movements. It's an ideal place to slow down, listen to the lapping of the water and enjoy the discreet ballet of the birds. Seasonal variations offer a different sight each time you visit: water mirrors in winter, spawning grounds and wild grasses in spring, expanses of trees in summer.

Open meadows and clearings

As they wind their way along the paths, the clearings and meadows create large, open spaces where the eye can wander. Here, walkers can sit back, admire the changing landscapes or simply enjoy the light and calm.

Shady paths and bird orchard

The tree-lined paths and bird orchard inviteyou to stroll in the shade, observe the subtle movements of the leaves and listen to the birdsong. These areas provide a soothing contrast to the open spaces, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in an environment that is both sensory and serene.

A stroll through the Parc de Balzac in Angers is a well-deserved moment of calm and contemplation. Thanks to Slow Village, your open-air hotel in Les Ponts de Cé, ideally located just a few minutes from Angers, you'll have access to a beautiful haven of nature and serenity throughout your stay in the area.