LE COUDRAY-MACOUARD

To the south of Saumur, the course of the River Thouet takes you almost to the foot of Le Coudray-Macouard, a luminous village where the blue of the slate and the white of the tufa stone sketch out the shades of kingly materials, without which the most beautiful châteaux of the Loire would never have seen the light of day.

An ancient fortified village built on a mound of soft limestone, Le Coudray-Macouard lies just off the main road leading to nearby Saumur, allowing it to retain all its charm. A parish of some importance from the 11th century onwards, in the 12th century Le Coudray added to its name that of Lord Macouard, who owned the manor house.
A stroll through the streets lined with high walls and fine 15th-, 16th- and 17th-century residences reveals the village's tranquil character. The village also owes its charm to the country-style flower beds that line the alleyways.