Balade "Parcours médiéval"

30 minutes from Nantes, discover the history of the fortified town of Champtoceaux with a walk through the ruins of this citadel, twice the size of Carcassonne.

Explore the ruins of the ancient medieval fortress of Châteauceaux and discover the fascinating history of the village that has spanned the centuries. At the top of the citadel, let yourself be seduced by this poetic place where nature has reclaimed its rights. Discover the foundations of the chapel and the stairs leading up to the office. Don't miss the breathtaking view over the Loire. Finally, the trail passes by the 13th-century hanging mill, the last remaining evidence of great historical value in terms of its architecture and ingenious technology.

Throughout the walk, which is signposted in red, free and accessible every day, 7 large open books recall the episodes of destruction and wars that ravaged the citadel. The walk starts from the tourist office, located on the Champalud site (where there is a remarkable model and a museum dedicated to the history of Champtoceaux). You can see the old entrance towers of the fortress, then walk along part of the ramparts to reach the citadel part by a quiet, leafy path, on the heights overlooking the Loire.

If you'd like to extend the distance and discover more of Champtoceaux, you can complete this trail with the Tales and Legends walk (2.5 kilometres), signposted in green.

You can also download the walk leaflet and GPX and KML maps to help you find your way around.

Beware, the path can be steep and there is a difference in altitude. This walk is not suitable for pushchairs or people with walking difficulties!