The best road cycling routes around Saint-Michel-Et-Chanveaux

From the Pouancé exit to Chateaubriand, the greenway surface becomes very smooth asphalt

Very smooth, compact sandy surface, easy to ride on a road bike

nighttime. A medieval fortress and Renaissance building, Châteaubriant Castle recounts ten centuries of history. In the Middle Ages, Châteaubriant Castle was at the heart of the Marches of Brittany. It served as a stronghold defending the duchy against the Kingdom of France. The keep, ramparts, seigneurial chapel, and the medieval courtyard lodgings still bear witness to the power of this fortress. In the 16th century, the bailey became a residence opening onto the gardens. The castle gardens are open to the public from February to December. Visit maps are available at the reception-shop for a better understanding of the site. A 3D space allows you to discover, with free access, the architectural evolution of the castle, from the 11th century to the present day. From February to December, heritage mediators will accompany you on an in-depth tour of the castle, its keep, and its gardens. During school holidays, family workshops allow parents and children to develop their creativity or spark their curiosity! Opening days: Gardens are open to the public, Wednesday to Sunday: 9am-6pm (February-March and October-December) or 9am-7:30pm (April-September). Prices: - Free entry for those over €0.00 (Free access to the château gardens) - Individual adult rate from €3.00 to €6.00 (Guided tours, free for those on minimum income and special cards) - Individual child rate from €0.00 (Guided tours free for those under 26) - Individual child rate from €0.00 (Guided tours free for those under 26) Child from €4.00 to €8.00 (Family activity) - Adult group rate from €5.00 (From 15 people) Payment methods: Credit cards - Bank and postal checks - Cash Tours Self-guided tours (individual): Yes Guided tours (individual): Yes Average visit duration (individual): 1 hour Self-guided tours (groups): Yes Guided tours on request (groups): Yes Guided tours (groups): Yes Average visit duration (groups): 1 hour Languages: Tour: French, English - Signs: French, English Services: Interactive kiosk - Shop - WiFi Additional information: Groups of 15 people or more are welcome - Pets allowed (Dogs on leashes are allowed in the park.) - Points of interest visible without a tour Access Location: SNCF train station: 0.5 km

The castle is a self-guided tour. A little tip: there are bike racks inside the castle, just beyond the entrance.

After a first visit to scout out the shop that made us want to come back, here we are back 2 months later on a little bike trip. We have valuable luggage and bikes. So we go in with our bikes in hand to see if it would be possible to put them away. The time it took us to approach the shop, a guy arrives in a van and without saying hello or any other formalities, tells us that our bikes have no place there. Very well sir, if bikes are not welcome, neither are we, goodbye to Mine Bleue 😤

In times long past - which we like to romanticize as the "good old days" - such washhouses, as well as a community bakery, were an integral part of public life on large estates or in villages.

defended Anjou against the Marches of Brittany - besieged several times during the 100 Years' War

Visit the mine with guides explaining how the miners worked at the time and answering questions