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Le Bignon is
located in the historic
'pays Baugeois' region of the Pays de la
Loire. This is peaceful,
moderate and gentle countryside with many
wooded areas lying just to the north of
the river Loire. Less than 10 minutes
drive away lies the 'Reserve Naturelle de
Chambiers' , a mixed forest with miles of
gentle paths and a beautiful lake- the
perfect place for relaxing throughout the
seasons..
Leisure facilities nearby
include a number of golf courses
including the fabulous 18 hole course at Bauge-Pontigne
, the
photo on the right is the 3rd(15 minutes)
and the excellent riding
stables/school La
Landelle
(20 minutes).
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Our nearest
village is Jarze, a fifteen minute walk
away. It is a typical mixed
farming and small business commune and
has a post office, pharmacy, small
supermarket, 2 bakers, a butcher/grocery
and a bar/cafe..
Some 9 kilometers to the east is the
larger, old town of Bauge
- an attractive, bustling little market
town with a larger supermarket, small
shopping "High Street" and a
number of cafes and restaurants. Slap in
the centre of town is the main square
overlooked by the town chateau which now
houses the tourist information office. In
July/August each year, Bauge is host to
the fabulous Opera
de Bauge.
A similar distance to the north is Durtal,
set on the River Loir, with its imposing
chateau and a choice of cafes and
restaurants. |
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Also close by
to the south west is the major
university city of Angers, the
capital of the historic province of
Anjou, and considered to be one of the
most beautiful cities in France. This
sophisticated city offers theatre, music,
ballet and art exhibitions as well as
great shopping, a vast range of cafes,
restaurants and bars and an unforgettable
market every Saturday. Perhaps the two
most famous sites are the magnificent
twin spiralled Cathedral of
Saint Maurice, 12th and 13
century, and the massive Castle
of Angers, early 13th
century, with its moat and 17 round
towers. The castle grounds are
beautifully laid out and planted and
offer a quiet place in the middle of the
city - local rumour has it that in days
gone by the grass moat surrounding the
castle was home to lions and antelopes
but today you are more likely to spot a
small group of peacefully grazing deer!
The castle is also home to the oldest and
largest tapestry in the world - the Tapestry
of the Apocalypse
- it is 140 metres long and a 'must see'.
A stroll through the ancient narrow
streets of the mediaeval quarter is the
perfect way to either work up an appetite
or walk off a lunch! Click
here.
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Twenty five
minutes drive to the south of
Le Bignon and you are on the north bank
of the wonderful river Loire -
the longest and only remaining natural
river in France. The river and its
sandbanks provide a perfect environment
for an array of wildlife and fish. The
area is a nature lovers paradise, a
casual glance around and you could see
herons, egrets, cormorants, gulls, terns,
lapwing, and many small wading birds, as
well as coypus, wild boar and deer. Many
local restaurants serve river caught
fish, such as Zander, as a speciality of
the region.
The sunsets over the river can be
breathtaking and there are a number of
cruises available, including an
ornithological cruise, which set off from
Saumur.
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This is one of our very favourite
places. The buildings made of
the local tuffeau stone glow in the
sunshine and gleam in the moonlight! The
town is dominated by the fantastic
chateau on top of the hill and the view
of the bridge and the chateau lit up at
night is one to remember. The town is
home to the famous Cadre
Noir, the elite of the
French cavalry and each year in July they
stage a spectacular show, Carousel, in
the grounds of the Cavalry School in the
centre of town. There are a number of
excellent restaurants and cafes, a
mushroom museum, troglodyte caves and
just south at Doue la Fontaine,
the centre of the rose growing area, a
small but wonderful zoo which has the
proud reputation for successfully rearing
more babies from endangered species than
any other zoo in the world.
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Le
Bignon, 49140 Jarzé, France
Tel: +33 (0) 2 41 33 88 38 | Email:
wendyandpeterchapman@lebignon.com
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