Durtal: Holiday Apartments and Holiday Homes

History

The Porte Verron is a fortified châtelet built at the end of the 15th century. It controlled access to the town of Durtal and defended the entrance. It is also the only surviving remnant of Durtal’s medieval town walls.

The Château de Durtal is an architectural synthesis of monumental buildings in the Loire Valley dating from the 15th and 16th centuries. The privately owned château can only be visited as part of a guided tour and has former kitchens. The Notre-Dame church was built within Durtal’s castle enclosure in the 11th century.

The historic Saint-Léonard district is characterised by ochre-coloured stone houses. The Chapelle Saint-Léonard has preserved its 11th-century structure and roof framework, as well as its 16th-century round-arched windows. It has been converted into a concert venue and a residential studio for recording acoustic music. The chapel is open on request and can be visited on request.

Crafts and Culture

Poterie Montgolfier is a manufactory awarded the “Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant” (EPV) label. It preserves unique ceramic expertise and masters all ceramic techniques. In front of the manufactory, there is a factory outlet welcoming visitors interested in gastronomy and fine dining.

Anyone wishing to visit Durtal can combine their stay with the desire to rent a holiday apartment.

Nature

The Forêt de Chambiers is designated as an Espace Naturel Sensible (ENS) in Maine-et-Loire. The forest is home to 860 recorded animal species, 666 plant species and 116 mushroom species. Its wetlands are rich in peat and enable rare and endangered plants to thrive. Information panels have been installed along the nature trail in the Forêt de Chambiers.

Activities

The 23-km Boucle vélo des terres cuites begins in Durtal. The larger of the two Étangs de Chambiers covers 6.76 hectares and is open for sport fishing for black bass, with mandatory catch-and-release.

The Durtal interpretation trail uses around ten panels to present the local history and monuments.

More town pages: Antoigné, Vaudelnay, Brion, Chaintré, Marigné, Seiches-Sur-Le-Loir, Chazé-Henry, Chaudefonds-Sur-Layon

Back to the main travel overview: Maine-Et-Loire.