To be interested in the history of Saumur and its surroundings is first of all to be interested in its past but also in its present. Go back in time with the heritage capsules...
Completed in 1770 after 14 years of work, the Cessart bridge is one of the oldest bridges in the Loire Valley and was thus renamed in 1826 by the name of the engineer who designed its construction. A real technical feat at the time and an obligatory passageway between the north bank and the south bank of the royal river, its maintenance remains essential today.
To take an interest in the history of Saumur is also to look into its recent past, by surveying its districts and in particular the Hauts Quartiers.
From the garden city of Les Moulins, to the Vigneau housing estate, an unknown and misunderstood heritage is revealed to us. So don't hesitate any longer, follow the guide!
Until their peak in the 19th century, dozens of windmills happily offered their wings to the galern wind before being gradually abandoned at the start of the 20th century. Today, amateurs and enthusiasts are working to revive them, such as the Moulin du Vigneau association in Saumur. So do not hesitate to meet them!
In the heart of the village of Vernoil-le-Fourrier, the Saint-Vincent church is worth a visit for its capitals and Romanesque holy water fonts. This new capsule also shows the southern arm of the transept, inaccessible to the public, including this mysterious face, emerging halfway up a column, which surprises the visitor...
Produced during the reconstruction of the Richelieu chapel in the 19th century, The Altarpiece of the Passion is part of the great tradition of Baroque altarpieces. Consideration has been given to restoring the altarpiece, degraded by humidity problems. In this context, a subscription launched with the Maine-et-Loire Heritage Foundation allows everyone to contribute to saving this work.
Inspired by the spirit of the place and the grandeur of the royal chapel, Abbé Choyer designed an altarpiece rich in symbols and dominated by admirable female figures, which this capsule invites you to discover.
A string of special washhouses was built in the 19th century along the Lathan in the small town of Longué. Along the path of the river, listen carefully and listen to them whisper their story over the water.
The bearded Atlanteans of the former Café de la Paix meet the elegant and feminine caryatids of the Nouvelles-Galeries on rue Franklin Roosevelt! But did you know that caryatids could also be male figures? As proof, raise your head and observe the virile musculature of the male caryatids of the New Galleries!
On June 19 and 20, 1940, the young cadets in training at the Saumur Cavalry School fought courageously along the Loire to delay as much as possible the dazzling advance of the German army. Their bravery and sense of sacrifice were admired by the Germans.
Saumur, 1786. Pierre Antoine Blancler, a wealthy businessman has just had one of the most beautiful mansions in the city built to house his family and the headquarters of his company. The Blancler hotel still retains its original vocation today by housing tenants, offices and shops.
From time immemorial, the banks of the Loire have been the privileged witnesses of human activities: fishermen, mariners, traders, developers and even bathers. Take these quays with our guide Susi Calvert and discover this intense life of yesterday and today.
Guided tours of the Saumur town hall site have revealed a fabulous bestiary rich in history and symbols. Lydia Houbloup, guide-lecturer invites you to approach two little dragons...
The former premises of the Labor Exchange and trade unions hid a real treasure: exceptional painted ceilings, witnesses of the wealth and importance of the owners of the house during the Renaissance.
Saumur churches secretly keep many treasures. This is the case of the discreet church of Varennes-sur-Loire. So, to discover them, follow the Susi Calvert guide!
Throughout the 16th century, many Italian artists took up the theme of the Resurrection of Christ. Among them, Filippo Bellini, a contemporary of Paolo Veronese, created this very beautiful, virile and sensual Christ the Gardener.
Today, Catherine Russac takes you on a discovery of the Ecole des Violettes, an unknown gem of modern architecture in Saumur. Entirely conceived and designed for the well-being of children, this school built in brick and concrete in 1937 has been hailed as a manifesto of modern hygienist architecture.
Hôtel de ville
Rue Molière - BP 300
49408 Saumur cedex
Are you more into castles or troglodytes? Animal parks or parks and gardens? Cruises on the Loire or a ride on the touristic train?
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For more choice, go directly to our gift shops.
