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In Sarthe, Maine-et-Loire, and Vendée, you’ll find castles, Japanese gardens, secret islands, and distilleries.

SARTHE, MAINE-ET-LOIRE & VENDEE - EN

Enter the circle and try out *boule de fort*.  This unusual game is an official part of the intangible cultural heritage of Anjou. The principle is the same as that of *pétanque*, but the shapes of the balls and relief of the terrain make things more complex. That’s because the unbalanced wooden balls are rimmed with iron, and the game is played on a concave track!  La Bonne Alliance was founded in the village of Bouchemaine in 1868. Today, the club is open to the general public to share this heritage.

For more information, please consult [labonnealliance49.com](http://labonnealliance49.com).

A 20-minute drive from Hotel Mercure Angers Centre Congrés.

**@Dr**

Boule de fort Bonne Alliance

A mi-chemin d’Angers et du Mans, ce village aux rues calmes regorge de belles maisons du XVIIIème. Ici, l’histoire surgit partout. Parcé est occupée par des ruelles fleuries le long desquelles se distribuent des bâtisses datant des XVe et XVIe siècles. S’y dévoile la Tour Saint-Pierre, l'église Saint-Martin, avec ses vitraux classés. Il faut aussi monter sur l’éperon rocheux, pour la vue imprenable sur un paysage de jardins et d’eau. Puis s’arrêter au bord de l’eau à la maison du passeur. Un peu plus loin, le Port aux Vaches est le point de départ d’une balade au bord de l’eau. A 40 minutes de route de l’hôtel Mercure Le Mans Centre.

©Eric Touzé/Wikimedia Commons

Parcé sur Sarthe

This is a spot like none other. Imagine... A small inhabited island on the Loire River. Béhuard is home to an adorable village and a chapel built up on a rock, the unusual Notre-Dame de Béhuard. Don’t miss an excursion on foot to explore it. In the summer, a drink counter offers the opportunity for a refreshment on the riverside.  At the easternmost tip of the island is the Coulée de Serrant, overlooking the Loire and, on the opposite bank, the pretty village of Savennières. Keep going to enjoy a beautiful panorama over the Loire, and don’t miss the Possonière port at the western tip of the island. A 25-minute drive from Hotel Mercure Angers Centre Congrés. **@GO69/Wikimedia Commons**

Béhuard

The medieval home of the Dukes of Brissac is impressive! This is the tallest castle in France, with seven floors and 204 rooms. The interior decoration is spectacular, with gilded ceilings and precious furniture. The tour leads from the grand drawing room to the dining room and from the kitchens to the Belle Epoque theater. The monumental facades are surrounded by fabulous landscaped grounds. They include a small temple, a waterfall, vineyards, outbuildings, and wet meadows... In other words, you can easily spend a full day there! For more information, please consult [www.chateau-brissac.fr](http://www.chateau-brissac.fr). A 25-minute drive from Hotel Mercure Angers Centre Congrés. **©Jean-Pierre Dalbéra/Wikimedia Commons**

Château de Brissac

A truly artistic experience awaits you in the center of Angers. Located in the historical Hôpital Saint-Jean, this one-of-a-kind museum houses exceptional tapestries. In particular, discover Le Chant du Monde, a set of ten tapestries woven from 1959 to 1966. Through it, its creator, Jean Lurçat, proposes a poetic vision of the struggles of 20th century history. A not-to-be-missed destination. For more information, please consult [musees.angers.fr](http://musees.angers.fr). 

A 15-minute walk from Hotel Mercure Angers Centre Congrés. 

**©Jean-Pierre Dalbéra/Wikimedia Commons**

Musée Jean Lurçat et de la Tapisserie contemporaine

Today the property of the *département*, the Epau royal abbey was founded in 1229 by Bérengère de Navarre, the widow of Richard the Lionheart. Nearly abandoned by monks beginning in the 18th century, it was sold to an industrial during the Revolution. It lost a great deal of its architectural treasures. But since its complete restoration, which lasted 50 years, it has recovered its original 13th-century appearance. Visit the cloister, the abbey church, the dormitory, and the scriptorium... A rich cultural program brings the site to life throughout the year.

For more information, please consult <https://epau.sarthe.fr/>

A 10-min drive from Hotel Mercure Le Mans Centre.

**©Selbymay/Wikimedia Commons**

Parcé-sur-Sarthe