LPO - Regional Nature Reserve - Beaulieu-sur-Layon

From the starting point (Salle des Sports de Beaulieu-sur-Layon), follow the GR de pays indicated by the
signposted in red and yellow, until you reach the next signpost indicating
the start of the route.

1. The Layon
   Almost 90 km long, the Layon is the only river to cross southern Anjou from one end to the other. It gives its name to the famous Coteaux du Layon wine appellation. The Layon was made navigable in 1779 thanks to 24 locks. It became known as the Canal de Monsieur, barges transported coal and wine to the Loire.
2. Pont Barré Built in the Middle Ages, the oldest parts date back to the 13th century. Its name derives from the fact that it housed a gabelle post, which controlled access to the river. The site was also the scene of a terrible battle in 1793. The Vendéens inflicted a crushing defeat on the Republicans, whose 1,200 dead were thrown pell-mell into the Fosses Cady on the edge of the forest. On a granite base, a wrought-iron cross bearing the Sacré-Coeur and lilies commemorates this battle. The new bridge running parallel to it only dates from 1838. The Coteaux du Pont Barré area is classified as a Regional Nature Reserve and is managed by the Ligue de Protection des Oiseaux (LPO).