Montsoreau - Montsoreau

Montsoreau is a city in the Loire Valley in the area FrenchPays de la Loire, in the department of Maine and Loire. The village itself is classified among the most beautiful villages in France and its castle, located in the UNESCO "Val de Loire between Sully-sur-Loire and Chalonnes", is one of the oldest Renaissance-style buildings in France.

To know

Background

The history of the village of Montsoreau is linked to a geological anomaly in the form of a limestone rocky peak located in the bed of the Loire (which is a river of sand), at the confluence of the Vienne and Loire rivers. This configuration gives the old village the shape of a circus facing the Loire.

This rock, still bitterly coveted, has seen the installation of various buildings over the past 2000 years. It was the first seat of an administrative building or a place of worship in the Roman period of the city; a carved column was found at the foot of the castle during partial excavations. Around the year 1000, the Count of Blois will build a fortress, immediately besieged and taken over by Foulques Nerra Conte d'Angiò. It will modify it and it will remain impregnable for more than 150 years, until Henry II Plantagenet besieged it in 1154 and took it to William IV of Montsoreau. He will return it a few years later and will never be returned. At the end of the 100 Years War, Charles VII gives permission to his most loyal lords to build pleasure castles, and so Jean II de Chambes, his first adviser, acquires the fortress of Montsoreau, owned by his brother-in-law. Ambassador of Venice and Turkey, captain of the main French ports, this wealthy man undertakes to destroy the fortress, to build one of the most modern buildings in France. This is how the Renaissance took shape in the Loire Valley, with the construction of the Château de Montsoreau, one of the very first French pleasure castles. It will remain the only one of all the Loire castles to have been built in the same bed as the Loire, on the rock of Montsoreau.

How to orient yourself

How to get

By plane

Montsoreau is served by five airports, Nantes, Angers, Tours, Poitiers, Rennes and Paris Charles de Gaulle less than two hours. These airports allow you to easily connect international destinations. The connections between the airports and the village can be made by TGV, TER or car trains.

1. International Airport Nantes-Aéroport.
2. St-Hilaire-Saint-Florent aerodrome (municipality belonging to the Saumur agglomeration community) - It accommodates tourist aircraft, without control tower.
3. Tours Airport-Loire Valley: connection to the airport of London-Stansted.
4. Angers Airport - Marcé Airport (25 minutes from Saumur)
5. Rennes Airport - National and International Airport.

By car

From Paris A10, Tours take the A85 to Langeais, then the banks of the D952 to Montsoreau. About half past two.

From Bordeaux A10, Tours take the A85 to Langeais, then the banks of the D952 to Montsoreau. About half past two.

From Nantes A10 direction Angers, A85 to Saumur then follow the banks of the Loire to Montsoreau. About 1 hour and 30 on the highway.

From Rennes Take the D173 to Janzé, the D41 to Martigné-Ferchaud, the D41-D49 then the D775 to Angers, the A85 to Saumur then follow the banks of the Loire to Montsoreau. About 1 hour and 45 by car and then on the highway.

From Caen A88 towards Alençon, A28 to Le Mans, A10 towards Angers, A85 to Saumur then follow the banks of the Loire to Montsoreau. About 3 hours on the highway.

From Lyon A89 towards Clermont-Ferrand, A71 to Vierzon, then take the A85 to Langeais, then the banks of the D952 to Montsoreau. About 5 hours on the highway.

From Montpellier A75 towards Clermont-Ferrand, A71 to Vierzon, then take the A85 to Langeais, then the banks of the D952 to Montsoreau. About 5 hours on the highway.

On boat

Croisières Saumur Loire, 5 rue Bonnemère 49400 Saumur, téléphone 33 6 63 22 87 00, courriel: [email protected] - départ de Saumur, arrivée à Candes Saint-Martin.

On the train

The two stations of Saumur and Port-Boulet are located near Montsoreau.

From Saumur: TGV - TER- Saumur train station is 10 minutes by car and is accessible from Paris, Tours, Angers, Nantes, Le Croisic.

Saumur station connects Tours and Saint-Nazaire. It is accessible from Paris-Montparnasse, Bordeaux, Lyon or Lille.

From Port-Boulet: Port-Boulet station is a 10-minute drive from Montsoreau and connects Tours and Saint-Nazaire. Tours train station, which is 25 minutes away, is accessible from Paris-Montparnasse, Bordeaux, Lyon or Lille.

Tours Station: 1 place du Général-Leclerc- Monument National Monument or registered as a Historic Monument in France.

Saint-Pierre-des-Corps station: 67 Fabienne Landy Street, 37700 Saint-Pierre-des-Corps.

A regular train shuttle system connects the Tours and Saint-Pierre-des-Corps train stations (5 minutes, bus ticket price).

By bike

Montsoreau is a privileged path of the Loire to Bicycle and is accessible from most major cities and railway stations by bicycle.

How to get around

Most of the village is within easy walking distance, and you can easily go from one end of Montsoreau to the other along the banks of the Loire.

By car

Festive days are numerous and Montsoreau is famous for its traffic jams. It is therefore advisable to park your car in the parking lots at the village entrances. The streets are also famous for offering some of the most beautiful views of the Loire, the river landscape and the castle.

On boat

Montsoreau offers the particularity of being able to move by boat, both to go to nearby towns and to take a tour.

What see

• Montsoreau Castle-Museum of Contemporary Art, Passage du marquis de Geoffre, ☎ 33 2 41 67 12 60, @[email protected]. The only Loire château built in the bed of the Loire, the Château de Montsoreau-Museum of Contemporary Art manages the world's largest collection of Art & Language works. 
• Mill of the Tranchée. 
• Dolmen of the Pierrelée. 
• St. Peter's Church. 

Events and parties

What to do

On the mainland

• Boule de fort. 
• Tennis. 
• Spa La Marine of Loire. 
• The Champignonnière of Saut au Loup. 
• Saumur Bowling. 

On the water

• Confluence beach (Swimming is allowed in Vienna. Very busy place in the summer, it is advisable to arrive early.). 
• Water ski. 
• Canoes (departure from Montsoreau). 
• Canoes (departure from Chinon). 
• Fishing. Day tickets or holiday cards available. 

Shopping

• Montsoreau Flea Market. 

How to have fun

Shows

• Cinema the Grand Palace of Saumur. 

Where to eat

Average prices

Traditional cuisine

• JEAN2, Passage du marquis de Geoffre, ☎ 33 2 41 67 12 60, @[email protected]. from 12 €. Château de Montsoreau-Museum of Contemporary Art restaurant serving pork slate and local cheeses. Specialties: natural wines and fried hamburgers. 
• La Marine de Loire, 9 avenue of the Loire, ☎ 33 2 41 50 18 21. 
• The Saut aux Loup, 81 avenue of the Loire, ☎ 33 2 41 51 70 30. 
• The P'tit Bar, 3 square of the Mail. 
• Campsite of the Isle Verte, avenue of the Loire, ☎ 33 2 41 51 57 60. 
• The Golden Lyon, 1 square of the Mail. 
• The Fleur de Sel, 4, quai Philippe de Commines. 
• La Dentellière, 15, quai Philippe de Commines. 
• The Mail, 15 square of the Mail. 
• ^{[link not working]}The Montsorelli, 5, rue Jehanne d'Arc. 

Gourmet restaurant

• Diane de Méridor, 12 Quai Philippe de Commines, ☎ 33 2 41 51 71 76. 

World cuisine

• Indian restaurant Le 2, 2 square of the Mail. 

On the Loire

• Amarante bateau, Quai Philippe de Commines, ☎ 33 2 47 95 80 85. 
• The Aigue Marine, Quai Alexandre Dumas, ☎ 33 2 41 38 12 52. 

Where stay

It is not always easy to stay in Montsoreau, especially on holidays, which was almost impossible in the days of Puces de Montsoreau. Do not hesitate to consult the B & Bs around the village or at the level of Turquant, Candes-Saint-Martin, Fontevraud, Parnay, Souzay-Champigny, Bourgueil, Chinon or Saumur

Moderate prices

• Camping de l'Isle verte, avenue of the Loire, ☎ 33 2 41 51 67 60. 

Average prices

• Le Bussy, 4 Rue Jehanne d'Arc, ☎ 33 2 41 38 11 11. 

High prices

• Hotel and Spa La Marine de Loire, 9 avenue de la Loire, ☎ 33 02 41 50 18 21. 

Safety

How to keep in touch

Around

• Chambord: the city is built around the castle of Chambord, one of the largest of the French Renaissance. The huge park is home to many wild animals.
• Amboise: Royal Castle of Amboise (where the tomb of Leonardo da Vinci is located) and Castle of Clos Lucé - Parco Leonardo da Vinci (last home of Leonardo da Vinci).
• Saumur
• Angers
• Tours

Useful information

The city does not have its own tourist office, but it is one of the interested parties of the tourist office "Saumur - Loire Valley" which one of the information points is in Montsoreau in the local Maison du Parc. The tourist point is open from March 1st to the first Sunday in November.

Other projects

• Wikipedia contains an entry concerning Montsoreau
• Commons contains images or other files on Montsoreau

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