Discover Massérac: Chapel, Paimbu and Trails in the Marais de Vilaine

Massérac combines the Marais de Vilaine with a multifaceted village cultural landscape. Chapels, churches, an oratory and the village heritage of Paimbu complement this setting with historical and rural features.

Culture

Saint-Benoît Chapel was built in 897 by the monks of Redon from sandstone, quartz and slate. Due to its poor condition, it was abandoned in 1870 and restored at the end of the 20th or beginning of the 21st century. The Fontaine Saint-Benoît is located 250 metres from the chapel and was formerly used by the monks for their water supply.

The village of Paimbu preserves traditional slate houses; some farmsteads are surrounded by fences made of flat slate stones. Paimbu also has an 18th-century bread oven that was used until the Second World War. The Verger de Paimbu is located on the edge of the village of Paimbu in the municipality of Massérac, less than one kilometre from the village centre. The Verger Commun de Paimbu allows members of the public and business operators to harvest apples, upon prior request and approval and accompanied by a member of the association.

The parish church of Massérac, built in 1872, is Neo-Gothic and preserves stained-glass windows with eight panels depicting important episodes from the lives of Saint Benedict and his sister. The Saint-Benoît Oratory was built in 1859 on the edge of the marshland and is also known as the Chaire de Saint-Benoît. A contemporary calvary in Massérac hosts a pilgrimage every year. The religious buildings span different periods, from the medieval origins of the chapel to the 19th-century structures and the contemporary calvary.

Mobility

Massérac is served by an on-demand transport service that is accessible to people with reduced mobility. The village is also served by regional TER BreizhGo trains. The two transport options can be considered separately when planning: the on-demand service is geared towards people with reduced mobility, while the regional trains provide an additional connection to the village.

Landscape and Trails

The Marais de Vilaine shapes the landscape with trails for walks. Both hiking and mountain-biking routes run along the former railway line. Different forms of activity and types of trail exist side by side; the historical use of the line should not be equated with its present-day use.

The Circuit d'interprétation des Marais begins at La Thebauderie in Massérac. It is a 3.7 km yellow-marked hiking trail and a 55-minute, family-friendly walk with information panels. Its length, markings, duration and panels describe this circuit more precisely than a general reference to the trails.

In Massérac, historic buildings, village architecture, community-oriented orchards and trails through the marshland exist side by side. Culture, landscape, cycling and the signposted walk are presented as distinct themes.

Other Places

Other places you can include in your travel plans are La Meilleraye-De-Bretagne, Saint-Aubin-Des-Châteaux, Mouzillon, Derval, Campbon, La Madelaine, Pont-Saint-Martin and Moisdon-La-Rivière.

For the higher-level travel overview: Loire-Atlantique.