Hôtel de Loire

First park of interactive meetings with the universe of the vegetable, TERRA BOTANICA opened its doors in the heart of Anjou to spring, 2010..
With 110 000 m2 of the gardens, the aquatic spaces and the greenhouses, marked out by 40 attractions and animations, this park will offer a multidimensional discovery of the flora of all the continents. A uniqueexperience to the world.
For the first time indeed, this innovative concept will allow, in a single place, to discover the vegetable under all its facets (historic, geographical, economic, symbolic, scientific, aesthetic) and anyway
Journey through time(weather), the space and the senses(directions), TERRA BOTANICA will involve all the time the show of the nature with the understanding of the alive.
With blooms assured all year round, he will propose a face naturally renewed in every season.
Desired, generous, mysterious or tamed through 4 big universes, TERRA BOTANICA invites you in a day of discovery in one.

The Holy Jean hospital, the remarkable architectural ensemble of the XIIth century, shelters since 1967, the tapestries " The Singing of the World " of Jean Lurçat ( 1957-1966 ) in the ancient room of the patients. Manifesto of a committed artist, a contemporary echo in the hanging of the Apocalypse, this all ten tapestries establishes an epic, poetic, symbolic and humanist vision of the XXth century.
The building of the ancient orphanage (XVIIth century), is transformed into Jean Lurçat's museographic spaces which come to complete the presentation of this major artist of the revival of the French tapestry. Recent donations allow to present important artists of the textile art as Thomas Gleb ( 1912-1991 ) or Glau-Garriga ( 1929 ).
Temporary exhibitions enter echo, all year long, with the permanent collections.

Since 1984, the abbey church All Saints' Day (XIIIth century) restored,welcomes the works of the sculptor David of Angers (1788-1856). Because of the multiple and regular donations of the artist in its home town, the collection of the museum is impressive : monumental works, command (Front wall of the Pantheon), head-and-shoulders portraits, medallions. The genesis of the work is perceptible thanks to sketches drawn, modelled in earth and moldings in plaster.

In the heart of Angers, city of art and history, penetrate into the vast fortress. Be allowed surprise by the elegant buildings and the gardens of the castle of court of the dukes of Anjou and admire the biggest known medieval tapestry : the hanging of the Apocalypse.

Four generations of men and women succeeded one another to make of Cointreau a liqueur recognized and estimated all over the world. All in all 4000 documents, a treasure of objects, movies and advertising images invite you in a fascinating journey in the time through the inheritance of the brand.
Visit the production site of the famous liqueur and dive into the secret of its elaboration. Follow the subtle flavor loosened by the soft and bitter orange peels during the distillation and be allowed surprise by the surprising room of stills in the red copper. Finally discover the manufacturing unit at the rate of flasks on the channels of traffic jam.
In an intimate and friendly atmosphere, share the tips and tricks of our barman by participating in a workshop cocktail. Of the preparation for the tasting, you will master the golden rules to make a success at home of all the cocktails, of the simplest in the most elaborated.

Relive in the heart of 15 spaces of the castle-museum the great adventure of the communication. These spaces have the name of the big inventors, the symbolic characters who marked the history of the communication. Be allowed guide by these heroes through a route its audio guide with embarked sound and images (about ten plasma screens spread archives images, extracted from movies of time and reports).

The area of demonstration :

Be allowed tell... Shielded from an amphitheater, the fendeur reproduces in front of you the gestures of formerly which allow him to obtain, from a block of schist of several tons, fine slates of cover.

Showrooms :

The visit continues in the ancient factory of matches. The geology, the ancient and current techniques of exploitation, as well as the various uses of the slate schist are presented. Tools, machines, models allow to follow the evolution of the history (story) slate quarry. A permanent exhibition redraws the work of the women in slate quarries.

The pedestrian paths :

On a site classified in the remarkable heritage of Anjou, the walkers discover mounds and old fund, typical landscapes of the slate site. In an environment convenient to the observation of birds, a marked out route allows you to learn about the ornithology. Close to the museum of the Slate, the company "The Tower of the Mill" presents you a game typically from Anjou : "the Ball of Fort". A not completely round ball which takes place in a not completely flat game and which is practised in slippers.

Higher castle of France, Brissac, with seven floors and 204 rooms, deserves its nickname of "Giant of the Val de Loire".
* Acquired in 1502 by René de Cossé, first Lord of Brissac, it is the residence of the 13th duke of Brissac today. Whereas the park offers magnificent points of view in the shade of the hundred-years-old trees, the visit reveals one dazzling decoration. Here compete in beauty, ceilings gilded in the sheet, the precious furniture and especially the charming theater Belle Epoque, dedicated to the opera (200 places).

Iin-depth tour (about 1h30) :

• After a spectacular descent in funicular in 126 m underground, immediate boarding in the small mining train.
• Cross then galleries in the discovery of the work and the lifestyle of the minors.
• Throughout the visit, a magnificent scenography illustrates the everyday life of these underground workers.
• Then, return by small train towards the elevators which will return you to the surface.

Animations surface (about 2h) :

• The mound of fendeurs and the demonstration of crack of slate.
• The initiatory route and the game enigma of "Ludo the minor".
• Play area of the minors : novelty 2009.
• "The cellar in Parageots", tasting blows of Postillonne and Quernelle.
• The "main" descenderie : novelty 2009.
• And many other surprises and bare......

The museum is situated in the heart of the vineyard of Anjou and Saumur, to Saint-Lambert-du-Lattay. Installed over 1200 m² in a ancient storeroom, it presents the evolution of the vine growing for the XIXth century. Objects, tools and documents allow to understand better the works of the vineyardand testify of the relation of the man with the wine.
You will find here answers to your questions on the techniques of the vine growing, the vinification methods, the characteristics of the plant...

Dug in the soft stone of Anjou, the Biopark Zoo of Endowed the Fountain offers to animals and to visitors an exceptional frame, marrying luxuriant vegetation and spectacular decorations.
On 14 hectares, more 600 animal, high here for the saving of their species, call you on the disappearance of the wild world and on the solutions implemented, successfully, on the ground, by the team of the zoo. Not to miss : the career of giraffes, big valley of the rhinoceros blacks, the pit in vultures, islands of the primates, pond of the huge otters of Amazonia and, in 2009, the opening of the biggest open-air aviary of Europe.

The zoo of La Fleche opened its doors in 1946, what by way of him the oldest park deprived of France. it is a part of five bigger French zooes
Discover more than 1200 animals, 120 species of 5 continents, to the heart of a luxuriant vegetation in one of five bigger French renowned zoo for its fabulous shows of sea lions, birds of prey and parrots. Luxurious presentations punctuate the visits in a natural frame : small, submarine polar bear in vision pandas of China, African plain for the elephants, the Arctic wolves in pack, unique in Europe. The zoo proposes innovative concepts such as the Argentine pampa, the Australian bush, the taiga of the white tigers or still mini close Malagasy.

The Cadre Noir of Saumur groups together the teaching staff of the national School of equitation today. Formerly and since 1815, the riders of the black frame represented the instructors of equitation of the School of cavalry. Today among forty three, they assume the functions of the civil frames of the equitation, the competitions and the research, the documentation and the preservation of the tradition. It is through their famous presentations that they show their know-how in the domains which concern the sports and classic equitation.
Penetrate behind the scenes of a unique school in France of which the professors are others than the famous riders of the Cadre Noir : discovery of the history of the Cadre noir and the national school of equitation, its functioning and its infrastructures (stables, big merry-go-round (riding school), saddlery (tack room)).

The castle of Montsoreau is an exceptional site, in the confluence of the Loire and Vienna, in the crossroads of three regions: Anjou, Touraine and Poitou. It is the unique castle of the Loire built in border of the river. Montsoreau and Candes Saint Martin is a member of the most beautiful villages of France, built in white stones of tuffeau, in side of hillsides.

Restored recently, the castle proposes you several animations :

• A route Sound and Light "the Imagination of the Loire" which will make you discover the navy of the Loire, the life of the river...
• The history of the famous Lady de Montsoreau, the heroine of Alexandra Dumas,
• A game for the youngest: "the Loire, friend or enemy of the Castle ?"
• A game for the biggest : "the Lady de Montsoreau makes her cinema".

The Big Park of Puy du Fou to discover the history of France by having fun as madmen. Come to the meeting of the most illustrious periods of our history. Of Gallo-Roman period in the wars of Vendée by way of the invasion of the Vikings and the Middle Ages cross the centuries. Between the waterfalls of shows and animations, the peace of a paysagé of 40 hectares and the reconstituted and livened up villages, the history comes to you overflowing with feelings and with sensations.

La Cinéscénie : unique to the world ! On stage of 15 hectares, the water, the fire, the light, the state-of-the-art sound, the technology and the actors seal the most extraordinary ever seen show. 2700 volunteers make you live the legend of Maupilliers, the tremendous fate of this farmers' family Natives of Vandee region which crosses the periods, of the Middle Ages at the end of the Second World War. About 2 hours of feelings and 700 years of history for a huge fresco which has already seduced 6 million spectators.

Passengers of the wind, embark for a majestic world and discover between greenery and bell towers the intimacy of the most beautiful castles and the manor houses, the rivers and the forests which make the charms of the Val de Loire. Progress of a flight: you are welcomed and driven by our care on the ground of takeoff. You participate in the inflating of balloons then embark for one hour of flight and feelings according to winds. After a landing in the middle of nowhere we put back to you your certificate of ascent around the traditional toast of the aeronauts. In the outcome, we take back you in the point of appointment.

The park of the Futuroscope is a theme park the attractions of which are based on the multimedia, the film, audiovisual and robotics techniques of future. It is situated in the department of Vienna, in 10 kilometers in the North of Poitiers, on the municipalities of Chasseneuil-du-Poitou and Jaunay-Clan. It is surrounded with a science park implanted on the municipality of Chasseneuil-du-Poitou. big screens under your feet, above your heads, everything around you, cinemas dynamics, dynamic movies in 3D, the broadcasting deceives you and transports you in a magic world or fiction and reality make only one. A unique park to be missed on no account.