The Château de Montaigu is a fortified archaeological and architectural complex built in several phases during the 15th and 16th centuries, featuring curtain walls, moats, underground rooms, gun chambers, a water gate complex and fortified embankments. Anyone who has chosen Montaigu as a destination would like to rent a holiday apartment here.
History and Architecture
During the Wars of Religion and the Vendée Wars, the Château de Montaigu was a strategic location. The site, including the moats and pond, as well as the façades and roofs of the Pavillon des Nourrices, was listed as a historic monument by decree of 7 June 2011.
The Saint-Léonard portal comes from a 13th-century chapel and was reassembled on the right-hand side of Montaigu Town Hall. The new Église Saint-Jean-Baptiste in Montaigu was built in 1864 in the 19th-century Neo-Gothic style. The year 1613 is inscribed on the Saint-Maurice collegiate church in Montaigu.
The Digue was built between 1476 and 1480. It has two levels of firing positions, including gun embrasures and firing positions for standing shooters. It also dams the Asson and forms the Saint-Michel pond.
Places and Trails
The historic centre of Montaigu developed around the castle area and along the Maine before following the course of the Asson. The Jardin des remparts is located on the Maine River and is one of the open spaces appreciated by visitors and walkers.
The heritage trail has around 40 trail markers and information panels and traces 1,000 years of history. The “Rivières & Abbaye” walking trail starts at the Place de l’Hôtel de Ville in Montaigu; “La Sénardière” starts in Parc Henri Joyau in Montaigu. The 18.2-kilometre “De l’Écornerie au Bois Noir” walking trail is connected to Montaigu.
The “Enquête autour de la Digue” family rally is aimed at children aged 6 and over accompanied by an adult; its meeting point is the tourist office.
Culture and Events
The Théâtre de Thalie was built in 2010 by the Communauté de communes Terres de Montaigu and offers more than 30 varied performances per season, including theatre, contemporary music, classical music, dance, comedy and circus. The Mont’en scène festival presents artistic work by school pupils at the Théâtre de Thalie; the performances are open to the general public.
More local pages: Bouin, Chauché, Saint-André-Goule-d'Oie, Chambretaud, Grand'landes, Sainte-Foy, Landeronde, La Chapelle-Thémer
