Heritage

Heritage

Cholet

www.cholet.fr

Named “most sporting city of France” on three occasions (1972, 2007 and 2014) by daily sports newspaper L’Equipe, Cholet had already shown its vocation a long time ago, welcoming the Tour de France for the first time in 1936 with a stage won by Félicien Vervaecke, also a two-time best climber of the event (1935, 1937) and wearer of the Yellow jersey during six days before loosing it to Gino Bartali in 1938. For its last visit in 2008, the peloton had started stage 5 from Cholet not knowing that it would be a historic day: several hours later, Mark Cavendish triumphed in Chateauroux and started his impressive series of 30 stage victories. The Brit remains the biggest collector of wins still riding and the second of all time behind Eddy Merckx.

"History" - Cholet’s red handkerchiefs © Ville de Cholet

"Cycling" - Tour de France 2008, Cholet-Châteauroux © B.Bade/ASO

"Sights" - Museum of arts and history © Ville de Cholet

"Sights" - Maulévrier Oriental Park © Ville de Cholet

On the road

Km 12.5

SAINT-ANDRÉ-DE-LA MARCHE (Pop: 2,830)

To see for its interesting shoemaking museum, opened in 1995 and which leads to look at one’s feet feet in a different light. Installed in a former factory, the museum displays functioning machines taking the visitors through every step of the making of a shoe. The permanent collection consists of hundreds of shoes classified by themes: trades, sports, countries or extravagant. Until October, a temporary exhibition, high in color and heels, is devoted to the 1970s.

Close up on mens leather shoes in the row © irontrybex/Gettyimages

La Romagne table tennis © Ville de Cholet

Km 18.5

LA ROMAGNE (Pop: 1,825)

La Romagne is particularly renowned for its table tennis team, Stella Sports La Romagne, who have been playing in the France Pro A championship since 2005 and were French championship runner-ups in 2017 and quarter-finalists in the Champions League. The La Stella sports hall, home to the club, was inaugurated in 2013.

Km 25

LA SÉGUINIÈRE (Pop: 4,000)

Its Notre-Dame de l’Assomption chruch, listed as a Historical Monument, was built on the site of an earlier 11th century church, a former dependency of the Abbey of St Michel-en-l'Herm. The parish is part of the diocese of Angers since 1802. The building was completely rebuilt for its older part during the Renaissance by Charles Du Plessis and Louise de Montfaucon-Saint-Mesmin. Their blason is to be found in many parts of the building. The church was enlarged and raised to the east between 1858 and 1860. Notable points in the church: the carved vaults of the south aisle, the central nave and contemporary stained glass windows representing the Wars of Vendée and the life of Father de Montfort who came to La Séguinière in 1713 and 1715.

Notre-Dame de l’Assomption church © Filmmtl

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