The village of Trois-Moutiers, with its legendary châteaux, invigorating countryside and wine-growing landscapes, offers a day out that almost takes care of itself. You drive for a few minutes, discover a different site, stop, explore and set off again. Nothing complicated: just a concentration of what makes the charm of the Saumur region on the Loudunais side.

Know-how reveals the treasures of the land

During your day in Les Trois-Moutiers (or your weekend), prepare to be surprised by the mosaic of local expertise. Start with the Route des vignobles du Pays Loudunais, where everything is often done with a smile. Here, we talk about Saumur, terroir and vintages in the same way we talk about the weather… but with more passion. And while the adults enjoy their wine without hurrying, the children proudly hold up their glass of local grape juice, convinced that they are having “the same experience, but for a younger audience”.

Next stop is the Moulin du Gué Sainte-Marie, where the atmosphere is completely different. Here, it’s the wings that tell the story. And if you really want to know everything, make an appointment to visit. You’ll discover how the wheat was processed, you’ll see the mechanisms and you’ll find yourself imagining the mill in action, overlooking the countryside. It’s simple, educational and perfect for a break where you can learn lots of little anecdotes.

Then, all of a sudden, you go underground. The Champignonnière de Bernazay has the magical power to surprise even those who thought they were “just looking at mushrooms”. The cool galleries, the soft lights, the line-up of oyster mushrooms… it’s intriguing. Children love it, adults ask questions they would never have asked themselves and everyone comes away with that classic phrase: “We didn’t expect that.”

Nature expresses itself at Trois-Moutiers

Around Les Trois-Moutiers, nature has many rhythms. Sometimes very calm, sometimes more lively. Just a few minutes from the village, the Center Parcs Le Bois aux Daims is a haven where you can enjoy the company of animals. The free-roaming fallow deer regularly cross the paths, which always provokes the same reflex: children freeze their steps, parents discreetly take out their phones to immortalise the moment… and everyone leaves with a smile. Inside,Aqua Mundo creates its own microclimate: water games for the youngest, slides for the most daring and relaxation areas for those who are finally enjoying a moment to themselves. The Deep Nature spa, the quiet corners and the long walks along the pathways complete this atmosphere of nature and well-being.

As you head back towards the village, the scenery changes and the mildness becomes more natural. The Trois-Moutiers fishing pond is a peaceful place to stop and recharge your batteries. You can watch the reflections on the water, chat for a few minutes, try your luck at a catch or simply enjoy this break that cuts the day in half. All around, the paths invite you to walk a little, just enough to come across the dolmens, which have stood here for thousands of years. They often appear without warning, at the turn of a field or a hedge, and always trigger a little discussion: “But how did they manage to put them there? These are simple, accessible stops that add a pleasant touch of mystery to your walk.

A castle that leaves its mark

In Trois-Moutiers, Château de la Mothe Chandeniers is an instant eye-catcher. Its romantic architecture, surrounded by a moat, immediately captures your attention and makes you want to get closer. On site, you walk between the trees, around the overgrown facades, stopping to admire a stone detail or a window opening onto the void. You can observe the building from a number of angles, understanding what has survived the centuries and what is being reborn today.

The restoration, supported by thousands of contributors, is as intriguing as it is exciting. Panels explain the stages of the rescue, the architectural choices made and the work in progress. Families often take the time to compare the “before and now” photos, to identify the consolidated parts, or to comment on the unique charm of the site: the impression of a château suspended between past and present. The children, for their part, navigate between the idea of a fairytale castle and that of a ‘real’ building, where you can still see traces of the floors, staircases and rooms that are just waiting to be brought back to life. It’s a site where everyone projects something – a memory, a story, an emotion – and which rarely leaves anyone indifferent.

vue sur le chateau de la mothe chandenier

An overview of your day in Trois-Moutiers

Les Trois-Moutiers gives you access to several worlds: an emblematic château, omnipresent nature, discreet know-how, vineyards that structure the landscape and captivating traces of history. It’s a dense but serene day out, easy to organise, with a succession of activities and no long journeys.

It’s a destination that appeals as much to families as to heritage and nature lovers. It’s a place that stays with you, and often makes you want to come back and explore this part of the Saumur region in even greater detail.