Chateau de Saumur in France: a monastery, an impregnable fortress, a palace and a luxurious prison. Chateau de Saumur in France: monastery, impregnable fortress, palace and luxurious prison Where to stay in Saumur

The city itself was once a stronghold of Protestantism in the region, which allowed the city to flourish during the Edict of Nantes on religious freedom.

Of all the comfortable towns along the Loire, Saumur is the most elegant, with its graceful castle, refreshing sparkling wine and 250-year-old military connection. The city still preserves the aristocratic French Cavalry Academy and its successor, the Academy's Tank Corps, so that from time to time in Saumur you can see officers in uniform walking. Once you've seen the Chateau de Saumur and its sparkling wine cellars, there's not much to do here. But Saumur itself - comfortable spot to drive around the beautiful province in the west, or head east towards the province.

Saumur weather:

History of Saumur:

Saumur reached its valerian apogee during the reign of King René, and later, in the 16th century, earned itself notoriety as a Protestant fortress - a frightened Louise of Bourbon, abbess of the Fontevraud monastery, called Saumur a "second Geneva" - as a potential rival to this stronghold of Calvinism in Switzerland. Henry IV's ruler of Saumur and "Protestant Pope" Philippe Duplessis-Mornay helped issue the Edict of Nantes, which granted freedom of religion. He also founded the Protestant Academy in Saumur, whose students and teachers supported the miniature economy and cultural boom in the city: the riding school at the academy attracted Protestants from even England and Holland.

When the Edict of Nantes was revoked in 1685, the Protestant population was forced to leave the city, and Saumur itself survived only through river trade.

In 1767, Minister Choiseul moved the national riding school to Saumur, ensuring the preservation of the city's equestrian tradition. The school was expanded in 1824 and renamed the "Royal School of Cavalry" (École Royale de Cavalerie); it is now a military college with the full name École d'Application de l'Armé Blindée et de Cavalerie, or Academy Tank Corps. Saumur's current elite riding school, the École d'Équitation, is a civic institute located in the suburbs.

In the 19th century, local merchants became rich thanks to the textile industry. Balzac's satirical heroine, reflecting the provincial-bourgeois society of Saumur, "Eugenie Grande", left not the best mark on the city's reputation, but the heroic defense of the Loire in 1940 returned the city's prestige.

Today, Saumur's prosperity rests on its thriving wine industry, tourism and horse riding.

Getting to Saumur:

Saumur train station:

• Gare SNCF Avenue David d'Angers 49400 Saumur
• Opening hours: Mon - Sat 4:30 - 23:00, Sun and holidays. 4:30 - 00:15
• Ticket offices: Mon - Sat 5:55 - 20:00, Sun and holidays. 8:05 – 21:45

Train schedule to Saumur:

• Travaux Ligne 14 Les Sables d Olonne - La Roche sur Yon - Bressuire - Saumur du 20-11-19 au 15-12-19 (PDF, 331.66 Ko)Mise à jour le 21 November 2019.
• Horaires Ligne 14 Les Sables d Olonne - La Roche sur Yon - Bressuire - Saumur du 06-07-19 au 14-12-19 V2 du 17-07-19 (PDF, 307.91 Ko)Mise à jour le 17 juillet 2019.
• Mise à jour le 22 August 2019.
• Horaires Ligne 26 Le Mans - La Flèche - Saumur du 06-07-19 au 14-12-19 V1 du 03-07-19 (PDF, 1.7 Mo)Mise à jour le 07 August 2019.
• Affiche Horaires Ligne 14 Les Sables d'Olonne - La Rochr-sur-Yon - Bressuire - Saumur du 15-12-2019 au 12-04-2020 V2 (PDF, 439.68 Ko)Mise à jour le 02 December 2019.
• Horaires Ligne 26 Le Mans - La Flèche - Saumur du 15-12-19 au 03-07-20 (PDF, 1.65 Mo)Mise a jour le 28 November 2019.

Train Saumur - Angers:

• Travel time: 21 - 33 minutes
• Ticket: standard ticket - 9.10 €.
• Schedule:
  • Horaires ligne 19 Nantes - Angers - Saumur du 09-09-19 au 14-12-19 (PDF, 277.23 Ko)Mise à jour le 22 August 2019.

Train Saumur - Nantes:

• Travel time: 1:05 - 1:21
• Ticket: standard ticket - 22.90 €, non-refundable - 15 €.
• Schedule:
  • Horaires ligne 19 Nantes - Angers - Saumur du 09-09-19 au 14-12-19 (PDF, 277.23 Ko)Mise à jour le 22 August 2019.
  • L19 Nantes - Angers - Saumur du 15-12-19 au 05-01-20 (PDF, 426.46 Ko)Mise a jour le 28 November 2019.

Getting around Saumur:

Arriving at the Saumur station, you will find yourself on the northern bank of the Loire. Turn right onto avenue David d'Angers and either take bus #30 to the center or cross the bridge and head towards Île d'Offard on foot. From the island old bridge Pont Cessart will take you to the center of Saumur, located on south coast rivers. There is also a bus station here gare router, a few blocks away, at place St-Nicolas. Tourist office Saumur is located next to the bridge at place de la Bilange.

The old quarter is located in the lower part of the city, between the castle and the Hôtel de Ville - the city hall, which is impossible to miss - a few steps east of the Pont Cessart.

You can rent a bicycle at Détours de Loire, 2 ave David d’Angers, near the station.

Saumur map:

Sights of Saumur:

In addition to the magnificent castle, you can stroll through the tiny quarter of the old city, described by Balzac in his novel Eugenie Grande. Unfortunately, the historical cavalry school, now called École d'Application de l'Armé Blindée et de Cavalerie, is closed to the public. But in Saumur you can admire many churches built in different eras. Many tourists head straight to the suburbs, where, surprisingly, some of Saumur's most interesting attractions are located.

Castle of Saumur

Château de Saumur towers over the entire city. The castle houses a collection dedicated to decorative arts, painting, archeology and natural sciences. The museum - Musée des Arts Décoratifs - presents one of the best collections of porcelain in France, tapestries from the 15th to 18th centuries, and items related to horse riding. Entrance € 6, in high season (July 1 - August 31) - € 7.

The castle was originally built in the 10th century, but the current structure was erected mainly in the second half of the 14th century by Louis I, Duke of Anjou, who was trying to compete with his brothers Jean, Duke of Berry, and Charles V. Threat of looting from the English soldiers forced the masons to give it their all - they were not allowed to stop even on holidays. After the death of Rene of Anjou in 1480, the castle came into the possession of the French crown and gradually began to fall into disrepair, being used for various needs: as an arsenal, prison and ammunition warehouse.

The castle's forbidding appearance suffered in April 2001 when a large piece of the star-shaped fortifications added by Philippe Dupdessy-Mornay collapsed down towards the river. The castle itself was built on a stronger foundation, but the local authorities decided to carry out a large program to restore the castle.

Visit Saumur Castle:

LOW SEASON: From April 1 to June 14 and from September 16 to November 2 from Tuesday to Sunday and on holidays 10 - 13 / 14 - 17:30.

• Full price: € 6
• Reduced: € 4
• Family ticket (2 adults and 2 children or more): 18 €
• Group ticket (from 12 people): 4.5€
• Preferential group (from 12 people): 3.5 €

• Full price: € 7
• Reduced: 5 €
• Family ticket (2 adults and 2 children): €20 (+ €1 for each additional child)
• Groups from 12 people: 5.50 €
• Free for children under 7 years old

Lower town of Saumur:

The oldest and most atmospheric quarter of Saumur is located around place St-Pierre, an ancient crossroads and the heart of the city. A pair of half-timbered houses have been preserved here from the 16th century, one façade of which is decorated with very life-like figures.

Tour Grenetière

On Rue Fourrier and the streets running south from rue Dacier, here and there there are houses from the 16th century and earlier. On rue des Païens, tower Tour Grenetière preserved from the city's 15th-century fortifications. Later it was used as a prison for those who tried to evade paying the salt tax. You can climb to the top of the tower and admire the view of Saumur from above (July and August, except Tuesdays, 10 - 13 / 14 - 17:30, 2 €).

Church of Saint-Pierre

The Church of Saint-Pierre (église St-Pierre), just to the side of rue Haute St-Pierre (9 - 12 / 14 - 17) stands out with its Counter-Reformation façade. It was built in Saumur to force the stubborn Protestant inhabitants to obey. Its unusual half-Romanesque, half-Gothic interior is quite modest, although the choir seats are lavishly carved, and a 16th-century tapestry features a colorful depiction of St. Petra.

River embankment

The river embankment was once located outside the fortress walls, bustling with river trade. These days there are only cars here, although you can stroll along the river under the fortifications.

City Hall of Saumur

Saumur City Hall (Hôtel de Ville), partly built in the 16th century, located on quai Lucien Gautier, overlooks the river. Next to her you can try sparkling wine Saumur at Maison du Vin. Local staff will give you addresses of winemakers and recommend cellars to visit.

Two of Saumur's most interesting sights, both churches, are located on the outskirts of the old town.

Notre-Dame de Nantilly

To the south of the castle stands the oldest church in the city - Notre-Dame de Nantilly(hedgehog 9–18) - where you can admire a magnificent collection of tapestries from the 16th - 17th centuries. The church itself is beautiful in its austere Romanesque style, with a wide aisle supported by 4-meter-thick walls. Don't miss the statue of the Virgin Mary, carved from wood in the 12th century, which is now on display in the right transept.

Notre-Dame des Ardilliers

Notre-Dame des Ardilliers , located down the river on the east side of the city (hedge 8 - 12 / 14 - 18.30). The church was founded on the site of a spring, now dried up, where a statue of the Pietà was miraculously found in the 15th century. The church was dedicated to Louis XIV, a typically grand Baroque structure dominated by a huge dome with a rotunda, which was rebuilt after the bombing in June 1940. The adjacent Oratory building used to belong to a theological college created to combat the dogma of the Protestant Academy. Now retired clergy live here, there is a school for girls and a small commune of nuns.

Suburbs of Saumur:

Some of Saumur's best attractions are located in the suburbs, particularly around the village St-Hilaire-St-Florent, 2 km west of the center of Saumur. This is where the best are sparkling wine cellars(Ackerman-Laurance, Bouvet-Ladubay, Langlois-Château, Gratien & Meyer and Veuve Amiot), as well as National Riding School. And near Bagneux are some of the most impressive dolmens in France. IN Musée des Blindes a huge collection of tanks has been collected.

The city grew on the site of a small settlement that was formed in the 4th century BC. The main attraction of Saumur is its castle, which is considered one of architectural symbols Loire Valley.

Staying in Saumur, you will find yourself in a real French ancient town. Don't miss the opportunity. Book hotels in Saumur using this link. And excursions to the Castles of the Loire.

Castle of Saumur

The castle of Saumur was built in the mid-tenth century. During its existence, it was used as a fortress, an estate, the residence of the city's rulers, a prison and even as a military depot. The castle became the property of the city of Saumur in 1906 and after restoration work it was equipped with a city museum. Today, the Chateau de Saumur houses an extensive collection of medieval art, consisting of sculptures, furniture and French ceramics. There is also a Horse Museum, where you can see interesting exhibits related to horse riding.

During the summer, the Chateau de Saumur is open daily from 10.00 to 18.30, at other times it is open from 10.00 to 17.30 all days except Mondays. From July to August admission ticket costs 7 euros, in other months 6 euros.

Sights of Saumur

The castle of Saumur is the main decoration of the city, but besides it, there are other places in Saumur that deserve attention. For example, in Saumur there is the National Equestrian School of France (near St-Hilaire-St-Florent). You can take a tour of the school to see how France's top riders train, or watch a performance where the school's instructors, known as the Cadre Noir Elite Team, perform in demonstrations of amazing agility and polished choreography.

Saumur is home to the famous Tank Museum (Musée des blindés, 1043 Route de Fontevraud), which displays a collection of tanks, cannons and other weapons. The size of the collection is impressive: it includes more than 200 tanks and other types of combat vehicles from 17 countries. Ticket price is 8.5 euros.

If you are more interested in architecture, then you should visit the Chapel of Our Lady of Notre-Dame des Ardilliers (Place Notre Dame), which has been a place of pilgrimage for Catholics for many centuries.

You can also visit Montsoreau Castle, mentioned in one of Dumas's most famous novels. Montsoreau Castle is located about 12 kilometers from Saumur.

Wines of Saumur

A trip to Saumur would be incomplete without getting to know the local wineries, because the Loire Valley is famous not only for its castles, but also for its wine. Saumur is famous for its dry red wines from Cabernet Franc, which are distinguished by floral and fruity notes of violets and slightly unripe plums. One of the best red wines of Saumur is Domaine du Collier Saumur Rouge La Charpenterie.

Also recently, sparkling wines of Saumur, which are made from Chenin Blanc grapes, often with an admixture of Chardonnay, have become increasingly popular. In this category, it is worth trying Bouvet-Ladubay Saumur Bouvet Brut and Bouvet-Ladubay Saumur Saphir Brut.

White wines occupy a very small niche in the wine production of Saumur; the Chenin Blanc variety is used for their production. If you prefer white wine, pay attention to Clos Rougeard Saumur Blanc Breze.

Where to eat in Saumur

You can taste local wines not only in wineries, but also in restaurants in Saumur. In the most popular restaurant in the city, Le Gambetta ( 12 rue Gambetta) there are several menu options that include wine, specially selected to highlight the taste of the dishes. The average bill will be 63 euros.

In L'Amuse-Bouche ( 512 Route de Montsoreau), which is located on the Saumur-Champigny grape plantation, you can try traditional French cuisine: foie gras with fig jam, duck confit, eel stew, and for dessert - creme brulee or chocolate fondant with salted caramel. The average check will be 30 euros.

At the family bistro L’Alchimiste ( 6 rue de Lorraine) you will be treated to a simple homemade lunch - fried fish, beef Bourguignon, duck pate. The average check is 20 euros, and gourmets can try a special menu for 35 euros, which includes the best delicacies: oysters, foie gras, duck breast with spices, cheeses and a variety of desserts to choose from.

Where to stay in Saumur?

Although Saumur is completely Small town, there is accommodation here to suit every taste. If you want to experience the luxurious atmosphere of French castles, you will surely enjoy rooms at the five-star Château de Verrières, a converted 19th-century castle surrounded by a beautiful park. The hotel is located near the old town of Saumur. It has only 10 rooms, but in terms of comfort it is not inferior to the most famous five-star hotels in Europe. Guests can enjoy a heated swimming pool, a fitness room, massage services, a playroom for children, an enclosed park area and a bar with the best wines of the Loire. The average price per night is 150 euros.

Have a good travel!

The history of the castle begins in the early Middle Ages. In the 10th century, the owner of these places, the Count of Blois, built a small monastery and a military fort near the confluence of the Loire and Thouie rivers. It was he who laid the foundation for the castle of Saumur, named after the town closest to it. The Count of Anjou, Fulk Nerre, captured the still weak fortress from his enemy and noticeably expanded and strengthened it. Geoffroy Plantagenet was also involved in expanding this fortification, but at long time could not keep the acquisition, and in 1203 the French king Philip Augustus became the sovereign of the fortress and surrounding lands, annexing them to the French crown.

The fortress received serious strengthening a little later, during the regency of Blanche of Castile, who intended to use this fortification to restore French power and return Angers and Anjou to the crown. Saumur retained its military significance for only 2 years, until the moment when the role of an outpost of France began to be played by the castle of Angers, returned to the French crown and much more powerful.

Then the fate of the castle turned out differently. Louis I in 1360 began a large-scale reconstruction of the castle in order to give it the appearance of a country residence. It significantly ennobles the castle, which looks like an irregular quadrangle with towers at the corners. Thus, the fortress towers, which had a cylinder at the base, were erected by his order as octagonal. Two of the existing towers have preserved their masonry from the 13th century, and East Tower the inside is richly decorated and decorated with images of the coats of arms of the Dukes of Anjou. It should be noted that Louis does not destroy what was created by his predecessors, but somehow ennobles the structure and gives it elegance. For example, the buttresses of the towers support a sentinel belt, also made at a very high artistic level. Construction continues for quite some time. Since 1454, huge amounts of money for those times have been invested in construction. The grandson of Louis I, René, who went down in history as a king-poet, praises Saumur as the castle of Love, not skimping on colorful epithets. In his novel The Heart Captured by Love, he describes Saumur as a castle of pure crystal, standing on an emerald mountain with a roof of pure gold and ruby ​​towers. The castle at this moment rises above the city, with high turrets and chimneys made of white stone reaching into the sky. The beauty of the castle, dominating the city, even sets the tone for the architecture of all other buildings. Very little has survived from the buildings from the time of King Rene. Just two vaulted rooms located in the tower adjacent to the main one, a chapel decorated with sculpted coats of arms on the vault. After the death of King René in 1480, the castle again became the property of the crown and a military garrison was placed in it.

But in the next century, after the Reformation, the fate of the castle changed dramatically again. In the face of aggravated religious differences, the castle of Saumur is transferred to King Henry IV, the king of Navarre, whose help the French king needed. He immediately entrusts the leadership of the castle to his ambassador Philippe Duplessis-Mornay, who immediately sends his troops into the castle. Moreover, Henry IV considers the castle as an important outpost for his further advance into the Loire Valley, and gives the order to immediately begin strengthening the fortress, regardless of costs. Under the leadership of the engineer Bartolomeo, a fortress wall with bastions grew, which still exists today. Duplessis-Mornay was not only a military man devoted to the king, but also an outstanding theologian of his time. He also glorified the castle by establishing a Protestant academy in 1593, which was famous throughout the country for almost a century. Duplessis-Mornay managed the castle for more than thirty years. But, despite his devotion to the crown, he nevertheless fell out of favor because of his religious views and in 1621 he was replaced by order of Louis XIII with a Catholic ruler. From this moment on, the castle completely loses any influence and begins to deteriorate and collapse. For the next two centuries it functions as a prison. But not quite ordinary. Representatives of the nobility served their sentences in Saumur, often accused simply by denunciation. At that time, the attitude towards noble prisoners, especially of ancient families, was more than loyal. They were allowed to have a servant with a small retinue and leave the castle. Often such prisoners were invited to celebrations in the house of the city governor. In fact, they led their usual way of life. Of the most famous prisoners, only the Marquis De Sade can be named, who stayed in the castle for two weeks. Admiral Kerguelen also “stayed” here for 4 years, for leaving his ship on the high seas, leaving all the people on the ship to the mercy of fate. It is also reliably known that during the American War of Independence, about eight hundred captured English sailors were kept in Saumur. This fact is confirmed by graffiti depicting ships left on the walls. But their conclusion, of course, was not of such a free and cloudless nature, and none of the city fathers invited the sailors to dinner.

The next restoration of the castle was undertaken from 1811 to 1814, but it was not of any cultural nature. The changes affected only the galleries of the north-eastern wing, and their essence was to divide the space into as many chambers as possible. At that time, only those prisoners who could not pay for a separate cell were kept in general cells. Apparently, a significant increase in the number of solvent “guests” was expected. Fortunately, soon after these changes were made, all prisoners were released.

Saumur a little later, in 1889, ceased to be considered a military fortress and over time received the status historical monument. The city bought it from the state for a purely symbolic sum and finally began full-scale restoration work and excavations. As a result of these works, room windows decorated with sculptural carvings, fireplaces and amazingly beautiful stained glass in the chapel were discovered. Unfortunately, much of the era of the 14th century can no longer be restored and has been lost forever.

Nowadays, since 1912, the completely restored north-eastern wing of the castle houses the Municipal Museum. Its exhibition features porcelain products from the 19th century, as well as an interesting collection of Flemish tapestries. On the third floor of the castle there is a very unusual museum horses.

In such an unusual way, the amazing fate of a unique historical monument developed. One of the most beautiful castles in France has become a fortress, a country estate, a prison, and even a horse museum. But his true character was forever immortalized by the king-poet, who in his novel wrote on the roof of Saumur the motto of the true god of Love - “To a trembling heart.”

Saumur Castle (Château de Saumur) on the map of France

Saumur Castle (château de Saumur) is located near the confluence of the Thue River with the Loire in the Maine-et-Loire department.

Historical chronicles

The first military fort on the site of the Saumur castle was built by the Count of Blois Thibault I in the 10th century. Later it was captured by the troops of the Count of Anjou, the new overlord rebuilt and strengthened the fortress. In 1203, under Philip Augustus, the important fortress and the surrounding lands became part of the royal domain.

In 1360, Louis I of Anjou rebuilt the fortress, and it acquired the features of a country palace. At this time, instead of the old round towers, polygonal ones were built with buttresses supporting their walls. In 1454-1472, the castle underwent even more significant changes, as a result of which only two small rooms remained from the old buildings.

In 1480, the castle of Saumur returned to the ownership of the French kings. During the religious wars, Henry III, in order to conclude an alliance with Navarre, was forced to cede it to Henry of Navarre, who transferred control of the castle to F. Duplessis-Mornay in 1589. Under his leadership, fortress walls in the shape of a star are being built around the castle and watchtowers designed by the Italian architect Bartolomeo.

Under Louis XIII, the owner of the Saumur castle fell out of favor and was deprived of his possessions, and the castle became a prison for two centuries. Among its most famous prisoners are Admiral Kerguelen and the Marquis de Sade. In the 18th century During the war for the independence of the American colonies, about 800 Englishmen became its prisoners. In 1811-1814, the prison was expanded by rebuilding and dividing the right wing of the castle into cells.

At the beginning of the 20th century. The mayor's office of Sumer bought the castle from the state for 2,500 francs. During the subsequent restoration, the stained glass windows of the chapel and the fireplaces of the castle were restored. In 1912, part of the halls of the Saumur castle were transferred to the disposal of the regional historical museum.

Features of castle architecture

According to the original plan, Saumur Castle was built around the perimeter of a rectangular courtyard of irregular shape. At its corners are erected tall towers. The walls of the southern and western towers contain masonry from the 13th century. In the central part of the fortress you can see the foundation of the donjon medieval castle, built in the Romanesque style.

On the northwestern side of the castle there is a grand staircase, slightly protruding beyond the main volume of the main building. During the restoration of the castle at the turn of the XX-XXI centuries. Based on ancient drawings from the “Magnificent Book of Hours,” the decor of the southern wing of the Chateau de Saumur was restored. At the same time they were restored chimneys, pointed gables and pinnacles.

Castle Museums

The collection of the Museum of Decorative Arts includes collections of works by craftsmen and artists from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance. Several halls of the museum display French porcelain and faience of the 17th-18th centuries, products with Limoges enamel, antique furniture, tapestries, church utensils and priestly vestments.


The exhibition of the second museum, also located within the walls of the castle, highlights the historical stages of the use of horses in various countries of the world. The museum's exhibits are divided into several sections, which contain items of horse harness, a collection of works of art dedicated to this animal, and highlight the main areas of use of horses in the army, transport, agriculture and industry.

The city of Saumur is located on the southern bank of the Loire, at the confluence of the Thue River. It is considered that of all the cities of the Loire Valley this is the most elegant "bourgeois city", with beautiful castle and many picturesque city buildings stretching along both banks of the river.

For almost three hundred years, Saumur was the headquarters of the French Cavalry Academy and its successor, the Academy of Armored Forces, which did not in the least hinder its reputation (from time immemorial, the scions of the best noble families of the country joined the cavalry, as did tankers later). Local vineyards stretch for many kilometers along the tops of the limestone cliffs above the Loire, almost over the ancient cave complexes, interspersed only with sunflower fields and old windmills, giving these edges a special flavor.

Attractions

The main decoration of the city is, undoubtedly, a small but very picturesque Saumur Castle(XI-XVI centuries), recently carefully restored (in 2001, a large piece of the wall collapsed into the river). In addition to the beauty of the architecture of the complex itself, it is definitely worth getting acquainted with the collections Museum of Decorative Arts And Cavalry Museum, the oldest church in the city - Notre-Dame de Natilly with a large collection of tapestries, Gothic Church of Saint-Pierre in the center of the old town, as well as with the theological college in Basilica of Notre-Dame de Ardilliers and its huge classical rotunda, also carefully restored after the bombing in June 1940. Noteworthy ancient a stone bridge (448 meters), Church of Saint-Nicolas(XII century), Gothic town hall(XVI century), famous National Riding School in the suburb of Saint-Hilaire-Saint-Florent east of the city center, as well as House of Wine on the Quai Lucien-Gautier, and indeed all the wine cellars in the city (and there are about a dozen of them here).

Around the city

To the east of Saumur, the warm and sunny climate combined with limestone and tuff soil provide ideal conditions for growing grapes, which is why the local red wines of Saumur-Champigny are famous throughout the country. You can visit the caves of numerous wine producers in the pretty villages around Parnet, in Les Val-Ulins, Troglo des Pom Tapes and Turkana, and from the walls of the latter you can also go on an excursion to the regional natural park.

A characteristic feature of the city's surroundings is the abundance of cave settlements - between Saumur and Angers there are more than a hundred of all kinds of underground complexes, carved by people into soft coastal rocks over many centuries. Chronicles of the 12th century even indicated that half local population lived “in houses carved out of the rock,” and even today these amazing buildings don't go to waste. Locals these caves are simply called “troglo” and are widely used for warehouses, bars and restaurants, and in the south of the department, where the cliffs are not so high and caves were often dug right in the middle of the fields, there is even a small rural commune of Rochemenier, which still uses caves for their intended purpose (there is even an underground chapel here).

Also in the vicinity of Saumur you can visit Brez castle(XVI century, 10 km southeast of the city) with its colossal defensive moat - by the way, the largest in Europe, Romanesque complex Fontevraud Abbey www.abbaye-fontevraud.com (XI century, 13 km southeast of the city) with the Plantagenet necropolis and Cultural center western France, and Monsoreau(XV century, now here is the Museum of River Trade) 1 km downstream of the river.