itinerary (cont.) Historical background

HISTORICAL private property. At the end Continue down the Rue de The history of the village begins with the HERITAGE 22 of the Ruelle, turn right and la Dolerie and turn into Roman conquest. Lands, that’s to say, a ‘villa’, ITINERARY then left at the junction in the Ruelle de Moncontant belonging at one time to a certain Blazius, The “Petites Cités de Caractère” distinction order to visit the former where you will find the were given to the abbey at Saint Maur around is awarded to the little towns and villages in our region wash-house . Returning Dolerie , a thick-walled 540. A church was built on the summit of the that have a remarkable architectural and natural along the Rue Thibaut de chaplain’s residence, with slopes and in 874 the lands became the heritage, and meet the essential criteria when it comes Blaison you will see a still-surviving mediaeval property of the Saint-Jean-Baptiste chapter in to welcoming their visitors. As a guarantee for quality, number of the often modest features. Follow the Rue de Angers. Towards the year 1000 the village this label urges the communes belonging to the houses attributed to the la Dolerie once more as far began to take shape a little lower, around the network to keep on improving the emphasis placed on 17 clergy. The part to the rear as the Perchardiere , chateau. Foulques Nerra, Count of Anjou, a their attractions through restoration, promotion and of the Epistolerie was where a giant sequoia violent, determined yet profoundly religious activities. The Petites Cités de Caractère of the Pays de where the chaplain responsible for reading the towers over the entry. This man, ordered a new church to be built and la Loire present a wide range of historical authenticity epistle lived. The garden shelters a notable large- bourgeois house invested it with a chapter that formed the and are a reflection of the geographical territory to Blaison-Gohier flowered magnolia. The majority of the houses comprises a number of lifeblood of the village for nearly eight which they belong. belonging to the chapter incorporated a partially differently-sized rooms centuries. Chaplaincies, canonical houses, Petite Cité de Caractère en Maine-et-Loire sunken lower room which remained cool in from different periods. just as much as the church and chateau, all summer and was easy to heat in winter by 24 Turning into the twisting bear witness to this long period. In the 19th means of a stone oven adjacent to the chimney. Allée aux Prêtres, where it century the chapter’s properties came into Petites Cités de Caractère Including grain store, courtyard well, out houses issues onto the Square you will see the secular hands and were either transformed or des and - for those who were better off - heated chapellenie de Sainte-Croix and, opposite, preserved. Other properties, larger and more upper room, these earth-floored houses, being the Presbytere from the Ancien Regime with comfortable, were built to order. In 1974, Les Petites Cités de Caractère en Maine-et-Loire humid, were favoured by weavers. Several of the its 18th century reworkings. The Revolution Blaison and Gohier were joined to make a houses possessed cellars, examples being the abolished the chapter. During the 18th century it single commune. th Blanchardiere , Voitu which, in the 18 had already grown less important due to the Asnières- century housed the first school, Bel-Arbre complacency of its members and the burden of s-Vègre M AYENNE St-Denis- SARTHE and Cheman , on the corner with the Impasse its duties. By 1793 few clergy remained. The d'Anjou Sablé Parcé- de La Favaudiere. Turning down here, you will priest chose exile while the canons and s-Sarthe Luché-Pringé see a mediaeval canonical house with an chaplains were imprisoned in Angers. Briefly Segré La Flèche

Angevine balcony and, at the bottom, the liberated by a party of Vendeens, they were E U Favaudiere , a small manor, with its lucarne recaptured and either executed or abandoned bearing the date 1649. Returning to the road in prison-ships. Arriving at the church once Information/visits A11 Thibaut de Blaison, the LANTIQ ANGERS A11 Blaison-

th E-AT Louvetiere , of 16 and Gohier A85 Mairie (Town Hall) IR Savennières th

17 century origin, can be LO Denée Place Saint-Aubin ~ 49 250 Blaison-Gohier Ancenis Le Thoureil seen and, around the Tel. 02 41 57 17 57 Béhuard Chênehutte- adjacent miniature square, St-Florent- Trèves-Cunault [email protected] le-Vieil 7 8 A some distinctive local roof- www.blaison-gohier.fr Aubigné- Le Coudray- tiling s-Layon Macouard . Opposite, Bel- 25 26 Montreuil- Information Office N249 Echo was the principal Le Puy- Bellay Rue de la Grange aux Dimes Notre-Dame canonical house, named more you pass by the Ecurie sans garantie, Cholet (opposite the château) VENDÉE after Saint-Aubin . a staging post where horses could be stalled; Open all year With its church and canonical houses, its 19 forage however was not provided, responsibility Interactive screen 24h/24 Mallièvre remarkable chateaux, its distinctive windmills remaining with the horses’ owners. Tel. 02 41 47 44 05 * Further explanatory leaflets available in the church Guided visits of the church and village and outstanding views over the , or at the Information Office. Information from the Mairie Association des Petites Cités Blaison-Gohier offers the visitor numerous Tel. 02 41 57 17 57 de Caractère de Maine-et-Loire Mairie de Turquant opportunities to discover its charm.

20 49730 Turquant 02 41 87 67 19 ~ novembreBlaison-Gohier. de 2011.Mairie &: photos Texte Tél. 06 70 26 08 62 THE LOIRE RIVER IN BLAISON

[email protected] teatime Blaison-Gohier historical heritage itinerary

Basses-Arches bridge (XIIIth C.)

Rue in the form of both money and foundation as a means to maintain

de produce. There remain in the centre of the balance between local powers. Starting point: the church of Historical heritage itinerary Blaison a number of the houses given Lower down the path, to the right, is St-Aubin* . All that remains of Starting point s Bass to members of the chapter: preserved the Chantrerie , the cantor’s house, the Romanesque building dating 3 Historical heritage marker as they were or transformed, often in rebuilt after 1800. On the Square, turn th from 1020 and reconstructed at es Arche the 19 century, many of them stand i Tourist information interactive terminal the end of the 11th century, is the along the route of the trail. Almost Parking ST-RÉMY-LA-VARENNE lower part of the transept and the LE THOUREIL adjoining the church to the south, a two passages that link them to s canon’s residence has preserved the nave. The transept’s upper La Perchardière some mediaeval features with a parts are from the middle of the mullioned window and accolade on th Ruelle de Mon 24 12 century while the nave, in the the lintel visible to the rear. The first 34 local Gothic style, dates from the storey in tufa is a later addition. beginning of the 13th. In the choir, Opposite, to the other side of the left. It was at the Tribunal , a RAINDRON contant P la Doleri Ruelle e th QUARRY whose ceiling was reworked in garden, is the Fauconnerie , a building from the 16 century, that Allée th La Dolerie e the 15 century, are forty stalls d bourgeois house built at the end of matters of local justice were dealt Sainte- 23 th 19 d formerly reserved for the e Croix the 15 century which became a with. Opposite the Information Office Prêtr St-Aubin la aux chapter*. Carved in oak and Church presbytery in 1823. Cross the garden, the chateau* is again visible, here ue es th Fav R dating from the 15 century, these La Favaudière audiè Presbytère Canon’s turn right up the Montee Saint-Saveur from the north side. Thibaut IV, Lord re St-Aubin Former 25 have been designated Inn 26 residence and turn right again into the Rue de la of Blaison and renowned poet of 22 ‘monuments historiques’. Outside Cheman Fauconnerie and you will find this courtly love, lived here at the th th is the so-called, 13 century ‘door 21 12 Ecurie sans 3 M building once more with its mediaeval beginning of the 13 century. The Place o garantie es 2 n R 20 R îm 1 t of the dead’ which opens onto a u 18 ue x D St-Aubin é features: octagonal tower, tufa gables fortress was burnt down many times ell de ge au e e 17 la Gran porch joined to the tower. The Bel-Arbre 16 and steep roof with overhanging and laid waste by the English before d Local S e Town hall MAIRIE a th façade to the west was built in n P in coyaux*. Les Humeaux , opposite, being rebuilt in the 15 century and so Voitu La roof-tiling t l ai GARDEN th a Bl 9 th R the 19 century while high up on 15 Louvetière was a chaplain’s house: it dates from restored in the 20 . F L’Epistolerie u P S o e La Fauconnerie a th n Jeu de boule Tribunal u both north and south walls the t v the 16 century and has a number of To the right of the chateau, the a de fort e

in u th

e s r narrow slits of arrow holes can be 18 century additions. At the mediaeval Grange aux dimes was p 8 La u La Blanchardière o 5 nnerie seen. Used in the building of the L Chantrerie auco crossroads with the Allée de la Motte where the clergy’s tithes were 14 F

10 4 la church, tufa , a faintly e Féodale, turn left. The chaplain who received. It too was restored in d de Château

yellowish stone, was quarried at lived at the Aumonerie was modern times. The walkway would 11 5 Les Raindron to the south of the responsible for x Grange Humeaux Mon u commune (see photo below). t a aux Dîmes welcoming 13 au 6 P hib tée Over the centuries the chapter T L’Aumônerie Raindron pilgrims and de A quarry l 1 enjoyed a privileged position. la l distributing alms. é Hu e COUTURES e Ruelle d Continue up the u tte e LES ALLEUDS R 1 Wash la BRISSAC-QUINCÉ path as far as the

13 House m ANGERS o medieval motte 10 11 t t e and bailey : t l Mo f u é ST-JEAN-DES-MAUVRETS a n o around the year 1000 it would have have been a crowded place when the u t d LES PONTS-DE-CÉ R ée a

l e had a wooden defensive structure, grain sales were held. Further down d

e e 1 r long since disappeared. Returning the road, in contrast with the t la r e 7 T down the path the south face of the mediaeval and renaissance homes of

Hu th th

Originally it comprised four Medieval 15 century castle is visible with its the clergy, is an elegant 19 century u tte N d motte

canons and ten chaplains who tower, its mediaeval lucarnes, its neo- residence. Before turning to the left

celebrated mass for the souls of n gothic restorations and its ancient down the Ruelle-aux-Loups, if the gate i m e the founders. In return they h ditches, now dry, to the side of the happens to be open, glance into the received a house, lands and rent C path. The lord was the head of the courtyard of the former inn with its chapter, a role assigned at its Angevine balcony. Please note this is