CIRCUIT VÉLO DES MARINIERS CHEFFES - JUVARDEIL

CHEFFES The 12th century church of Notre-Dame with its twisted bell tower has beautiful remains of quality Romanesque architecture. Carved into the keystone, a coat of arms bears the emblematic goose of Cheffes. The spire, which stands on an older tufa tower, dates from the 17th century and is a rare example of the spiral bell towers estimated to number around a hundred in Europe. Its originality also lies in its octagonal shape rarely used in Anjou. The bell tower, the choir and the transept are classified historical monuments. Near the church and the town hall, discover the Atelier du Détour : art and craft shop where ceramics and sculptures are presented by the artist Blandine Dandrel. You will find unique, refined and elegant pieces, entirely handmade: decorative objects, lights, dishes, jewelry, vases .. To the north of Cheffes and at a place called La Robionnière, we find the Anjou Biquettes farm, a goat farm whose entire production is transformed into farmhouse cheeses made from raw milk and farmhouse yoghurts. Along the Sarthe at the entrance to Cheffes, the chapel Notre-Dame de St Sulpice or Notre-Dame des Eaux was restored in 1882, in the Renaissance style. Above the entrance door, you can see Our Lady of Sion, patron saint of Christian mothers of Christian mothers. In 1716, Ballain mentions Notre-Dame de Saint-Sulpice as a place of pilgrimage where "many miracles were performed and many miracles were performed". Inside, one can admire the fragments of a statue of the Virgin and Child dating from the 16th century. On the other side of the river, the lock was built in 1850 and is at the heart of the port activity of Cheffes. One can admire its architecture typical of the river infrastructures of the XIXth century. As for the immense mill of Cheffes, this large building of the XIXth is the witness of a typical industrial architecture of the time of the time. The mills are multipurpose and can produce both flour and mustard. It houses three wheels in three water passages that drive 21 pairs of millstones. In 1901, the mill became a pencil factory. The power from the mill is used to run the lathes on which the pencil leads are shaped. It was used to produce electricity electricity ten years later to light the town of Cheffes in the 1930s. In 1789, the old port of embarkation was still very active thanks to its economic development due to the flour mill, the lime kilns and all the industries in the area, such as the exploitation and sale of wood as well as the manufacture of agricultural equipment. Today, the "cul de bateau" tells its story. JUVARDEIL The church of Notre-Dame, in the ogival style, was built between 1857 and 1860 by the architects Delestre and Coutailloux, with a single nave and stained glass windows. It replaced the old church demolished in 1855 which was too small and in poor condition. Its high steeple overlooks the Sarthe and makes the church a strong and essential element of the town. Walking along the Sarthe, take the time to take the ferry that you will handle yourself to cross the river and discover the village of Juvardeil from the other side. SERVICES - Public toilets in Cheffes to the right of the church and in Juvardeil - Picnic tables in Cheffes and Juvardeil along the Sarthe - Restaurant in Cheffes and shops in Cheffes and Juvardeil Loop available on the "Cirkwi" application