The best MTB trails around Grandchamp-Des-Fontaines

Even at 6 a.m. super pleasant and very smooth

a nice pleasant path

The current château is the work of Jean-Baptiste Ceineray, a renowned Nantes architect, who built it for Martin Boux de Casson, a councilor in the Parliament of Brittany. Construction began in 1753 with the central section and the left pavilion. The château was completed after the Revolution with the construction of the right pavilion in 1805. The park is home to a charming monument erected in the 19th century. It features a pond, overlooked by a grotto and a pink sandstone obelisk (a tribute from Jacques-Olivier Urvoy de Saint-Bedan to his wife, Marie-Pélagie). The building was listed as a historic monument in 1989. Its protected elements include the château's facades and roofs; the stairwell with its wrought iron railing; the Empire salon with its ornate decorations; the steps with its grand staircase; and the ornate garden with two stone lions at the entrance to the verdant hemicycle. In July 2021, a 250m² outbuilding caught fire and was completely destroyed. (The property is private and closed to the public; unauthorized access is prohibited.)

The Plessis estate is mentioned as a seigneury as early as 1260. In 1753, the medieval castle, having become too uncomfortable, was rebuilt and replaced with the one we see today, in the classical style. In 1760, the blessing of the castle chapel took place; it was destroyed during the Revolution. Among the most illustrious occupants of the estate, we can mention: François Dollier de Casson (1636-1701), a cavalry captain and later a priest, who was sent on a mission to Quebec. He drew up part of the plans for the city of Montreal (the city owes its characteristic checkerboard structure to him, long before Philadelphia). In Montreal, a street, several buildings, and a retirement home now bear the name Casson. Jacques-Olivier Urvoy de Saint-Bedan (1780-1858) was mayor of Casson, general councilor, member of parliament for Loire-Inférieure, and city councilor of Nantes. He was an important patron of the arts, notably responsible for the construction of the Sainte-Anne asylum (Hospices of the Little Sisters of the Poor), the church of Casson, the bell tower of the church of Sucé, the Sainte-Anne de Casson chapel, and more. His art collection is now largely on display at the Nantes Art Museum thanks to his generous donation. The estate became the property of the Boux de Casson family. It then passed by inheritance to the Urvoy de Saint-Bedan family and then, through marriage, to the de Bouillé family, who still reside there.

At the end of Rue Étienne Sébert, hidden by an imposing wooded park, lies Haut-Gesvres Park, part of the Haut-Gesvres estate. A vast green space teeming with treasures, including: - A permanent orienteering course - A large children's play area - A botanical and historical trail In the welcoming and green setting of Haut-Gesvres Park, discover the Permanent Orienteering Course, a sports and leisure facility open to all. How to play? The goal is to find a certain number of markers depending on the course you wish to complete, using the orienteering maps downloadable below, or by scanning the QR code on the information board at the park entrance with your smartphone. A total of 7 different courses await you.

Nice stop on the canal and easy to chat with the boatmen

The Cramezeul lock is the sixth lock on the Nantes-Brest Canal. You can stop at the La Cueilleuse open-air café.

Short, fairly technical descent with stones