Le Tilleul is in the commune of St-Macaire-du-Bois in the Loire Valley Regional Park. It is an area of outstanding natural beauty and has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Le Tilleul itself is only a few minutes’ drive from the tiny villages of Le-Puy-Notre-Dame and Nueil-sur-Layon. The cities of Angers and Saumur are 45 minutes and 25 minutes away, respectively.
For interesting shopping, the nearby town of Doué-la-Fontaine has two big supermarkets, a weekly market on Mondays and plenty of little shops, restaurants, bars and cafés for every taste. Thouars, 20 minutes, hosts a huge and lively market on Fridays loved by locals and visitors alike. Bargain-hunters should look out for "brocante" (bric-a-brac) markets and weekend antiques fairs - or we can give you directions to the "depot-ventes", which sell everything (second-hand) from egg cups to huge wardrobes!
Doué-la-Fontaine
A little history...
The town - which incorporates some caves - developed around the existing château during the 10th century. The cave system has been used as hideaways throughout the town's history, most notably during the Second World War. In 1964, the town merged with the communes of Douces and Soulanger.
Architecture
13th Century Hôpital; 14th Century Collège; 17th Century Municipalité; La cave aux Sarcophages. Two troglodyte sites - "Perrières" & "La Sablière" - and a troglodyte village 4km away - "Rochemenier".
Food & Drink
"Fouaces" - traditional bread cooked in wood-burning ovens; Wine (Vins d'Anjou); Rose growing & rose water products.
Things to see & do
"Troglodyte zoo" with some exhibits living in caves; "Journées de la Rose" (mid-July); "Chemins de la Rose"; "Jardin des Roses"; photography festival - "Festival de la Rose d'Or"; cultural festival - "Festival d'Anjou"; traditional Christmas market (December).
Doué-la-Fontaine
Location map
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