Randonnée "La Droille et l'Armazie"

Explore the Droille à l'Armazie trail and discover the industrial and equestrian history of the Mauges. This 12-kilometre trail reveals a local heritage that is often little-known: in the footsteps of gold and horses.

The mining epic of the Cité Cancale
In 1905, the Saint-Pierre-Montlimart gold mine began operating again. With ten tonnes extracted, it became the second largest gold producer in France. The Cité Cancale used to be home to thirty families of miners from all over the world. This industrial past has had a major impact on the region's economic development. Today, you can follow in the footsteps of this adventure, which ended in 1952.

La Paillerie: a land of equestrian champions
Horses have always reigned supreme at La Paillerie. Charles Marsault won the Prix d'Amérique in the 1950s with "Cancannière", and on the strength of this victory, he bought back horses - around 35 in 1964. A 630m ring was created in the 1970s. It allows horses born and bred in this Mecca of local chivalry to train early in the morning. From the 1970s onwards, the successes achieved by the Marsault family made them one of the leading names in national, regional and local racing...

A fun adventure combining geocaching and Nocturiale
The route offers an interactive experience thanks to geocaching. Forty traditional caches and two letterboxes punctuate the route (more info at www.geocaching.com). Every year in September, the Nocturiale brings these paths to life for a festive night-time walk. The event attracts large numbers of walkers to the Aubry countryside.

This trail, recommended by the Ôsez Mauges tourist office, combines physical exercise with cultural discoveries.

Technical details:
- Distance: 12 km (loop).
- Average duration: 3h15.
- Marking: Yellow.
- Start: St Hilaire church car park.