Riaillé combines a hilly setting with around 1,000 hectares of woodland, the banks of the Erdre and the Étang de la Provostière. It is also home to preserved traces of its history of ironworking, a historic blast furnace and paths that run along the waterways and the remains of the former industrial site.
Renting a holiday apartment in Riaillé can be part of planning your personal stay.
Nature
The Étang de la Provostière is a remarkable natural area and part of an ecological complex classified as a Natura 2000 site. The pond covers 75 hectares. At the start of the circuit, there is a car park, picnic tables and sanitary facilities. A walking trail leads around the Étang de la Provostière and is used by walkers and anglers.
An ornithological observation station at the Étang de la Provostière makes it possible to observe numerous birds. These include kingfishers, black-headed gulls, herring gulls, cormorants, great crested grebes, grey herons, great egrets and moorhens. The Étang de la Provostière is also a preserved element of the Riaillé forges.
Riaillé is situated in a favourable, hilly setting with around 1,000 hectares of woodland. The banks of the Erdre extend for around ten kilometres within the town.
History
The La Poitevinière blast furnace in Riaillé has been listed as a historic monument since 1 April 1986. It belonged to the Riaillé forge, whose activity at the site has been documented since the 15th century and comprehensively documented for the 17th and 18th centuries.
A walking trail passes the remains of the blast furnace chimney. The structural traces of the former blast furnace site therefore stand alongside the waterways and landscapes that are also connected with the history of the Riaillé forges.
Culture and Water
At the lavoir, there are picnic facilities and a footbridge over the Erdre. From there, you can paddle on the Erdre in kayaks available free of charge, which can be reserved via an app.
The church features three large rose windows and a carved wooden pulpit.
