There are specific cultural and nature-related reasons to visit Cizay-La-Madeleine: the Abbaye d’Asnières in the valley of the Gravelle stream, the architectural history of the parish church and priory, and a tasting at a historic farm. There is also the “Autour de l’abbaye d’Asnières” hiking trail, whose length, markings, difficulty level and approximate walking time provide a clear basis for planning. This helps you decide whether to focus on history, a hike of several hours, or goat’s cheese and wine.
The Abbey and Its Founding History
The Abbaye d’Asnières lies in the valley of the Gravelle stream. The surviving complex includes a church with an adjoining chapel, remains of the chapter house, part of the abbot’s residence, a guesthouse, a monastic barn, a dovecote, agricultural buildings, a cellar and a wine press.
Two stages should be distinguished in the history of the Abbaye Notre-Dame: Bernard de Tiron established a small religious community there around 1114; the abbey was founded in 1129. The dates mark, in sequence, the establishment of the community and the founding of the abbey, not a single founding event.
Churches, Priory and Château
The parish church of Saint-Denis shows several construction phases in different parts: the bell tower and choir date from the 13th century, while the nave was reconstructed from 1863 to 1865 under the direction of architect Charles Joly-Leterme. The dates should therefore be assigned to their respective parts: the medieval date does not apply to the nave, which was reconstructed later.
The Sainte-Madeleine Priory was founded in 1097 and was under the authority of the Abbaye Saint-Aubin in Angers; its church dates from around 1100. The founding year and construction date are close, but refer to different things: 1097 refers to the priory, while around 1100 refers to its church. Compared with Saint-Denis, the priory church therefore points to an earlier construction period than the parish church’s bell tower and choir. Together, the churches illustrate construction phases ranging from the priory around 1100 to the 19th-century reconstruction of the nave of Saint-Denis.
At Château d’Epinats, the features listed for protection include not only the façades and roofs, but also the interior staircase with its wrought-iron railing and the dining room fireplace.
Hiking Trail and Tasting
The “Autour de l’abbaye d’Asnières” hiking trail is 11 kilometres long, marked in yellow, rated easy and takes around three hours to walk. The length and walking time give you an idea of the time required; “easy” is a separate difficulty rating. Allow around three hours as a guide.
At the historic Ferme de l’Abbaye d’Asnières, you can taste goat’s cheese and wine in Cizay-La-Madeleine. This adds a culinary focus to the architectural and landscape attractions. For up-to-date practical details, contact the establishment directly.
Discover more destinations: Villedieu-La-Blouère, Saint-Paul-Du-Bois, Ingrandes, Saint-Georges-des-Sept-Voies, Saint-Martin-du-Fouilloux, Champ-Sur-Layon, Genneteil, Vernantes.
For the broader travel guide: Maine-Et-Loire.
