A 4.8-kilometre historic walking route, a digital museum and nature trails along the Oudon reveal different sides of Segré. The town also has two weekly markets with different offerings. When planning your stay, you can choose what to focus on: local history, culture, a market visit or nature watching.
History and Architecture in Segré
The historic walking route traces the history of the former mining town, from its founding to the present day. Information panels add details about the town’s history along the way. The route is 4.8 kilometres long, making it easy to include as a standalone activity during your stay.
Another chapter in the town’s history can be found at Église Sainte-Madeleine. The church rises above Segré and the Oudon and is an example of religious architecture in Anjou Bleu. Architect Dellêtre built it between 1835 and 1842 on the site of a dilapidated earlier building. Between 1890 and 1896, the Angevin architect Auguste Beignet extended the building. These construction phases give your visit a specific historical timeframe, while the walking route spans a broader arc from the town’s founding to the present day.
Micro-Folie: Digital Museum and Virtual Reality
Micro-Folie is set up as a digital museum in the Médiathèque at Espace Saint-Exupéry, 39 rue Charles de Gaulle. It is supported by the French Ministry of Culture and coordinated by La Villette. Several areas and activities invite you to discover art and cultural heritage in new ways; the venue also includes a virtual reality area. If you would like to include culture in your stay, this offers a dedicated focus alongside the town’s historic sites and walking routes.
Two Weekly Markets, Two Different Offerings
On Wednesday mornings, a market selling food and manufactured goods takes place at Place Aristide Briand in the town centre. On Saturday mornings, Place de la République hosts a food market supplied exclusively by producers. The two market days offer different experiences: Wednesday combines food with other goods, while Saturday focuses entirely on food and producers. If a market visit is important to your trip, you can use the relevant morning as an anchor when planning.
Nature on the Oudon: Observe, Find Your Way and Explore
Parc de la Vallée de l’Oudon is Segré’s green heart, just a few steps from the town centre, following the Oudon as it meanders along. It covers around ten hectares. Along the towpath, walkers can observe numerous species in the water or above the riverside vegetation; the valley is well suited to nature walks and discovering biodiversity. Designated a Refuge LPO, the park is also particularly suitable for birdwatching.
If you prefer a treasure hunt, consider the Parcours d’orientation de la Vallée de l’Oudon. It features 30 hidden markers, and the aim is to find as many as possible using clues from four themes: people and stone, vegetation, terrain and water. This course offers a different focus from watching birds and other species along the Oudon.
The Circuit de la Planchette offers another perspective on the landscape. It starts at the church of Saint-Aubin-du-Pavoil and leads to one of the highest points in the area around Segré. Along the way, you can explore the Angevin countryside and sunken lanes. The nature activities cater to different interests: observing wildlife by the river and in the park, navigating by markers, or exploring the landscape and its paths.
Discover more destinations: Saint-Lambert-Du-Lattay, Broc, Nueil-Sur-Layon, Doué-La-Fontaine, Marcé, Avrillé, Soucelles, Cheffes.
For the broader travel overview: Maine-Et-Loire.
