2. Rochefort-sur-Loire to La Pommeraye-Mauges-sur-Loire

The slopes of the Layon have been on the ground since the end of the 16th century under the impetus of Dutch traders. They were lovers of these wines, whose high alcohol content allowed them to keep well during their travels, and whose quality, by extension, the cost, was high enough to allow them to pay export taxes by Brittany.
In 1741, the Layon was channelled to facilitate the transport of goods such as wine or coal. The port city of Chalonnes-sur-Loire prospered with trade on the Loire.
During the Vendée wars, the region was set on fire and the infrastructure destroyed. Only the villages of Saint-Aubin-de-Luigné and Rochefort-Sur-Loire were spared.
The wines of the Coteaux-du-Layon are sweet and syrupy wines, with an aromatic richness that is endless.

The tourist information office of Saint-Aubin has set up a belvedere with an orientation table at the top of the Moulin-Guérin. From there, you can enjoy a splendid panoramic view of the Mauges plateau and the Layon valley.
During the wars of Vendée the mills allowed to communicate, several were burned.
Before the vine occupied all the agricultural land, the cultivation of cereals was important and justified the construction of windmills and water mills.

Built in the 18th century, the Ardenay windmills are angevin windmills located in the commune of Chaudefonds-sur-Layon.
The village of Ardenay dominates the Loire and Layon valleys, in the heart of the Coteaux du Layon, at an altitude of 77 metres. The two mills in Ardenay were built at the end of the 18th century (contemporary era). The department will have 640 windmills at the beginning of the 19th century. Both mills are tower mills and will be equipped with Berton wings, an adjustable lift wing system, during the 19th century. The western mill, known as the Grand-Moulin, is a cheese mill (wheat), and the eastern mill, known as the Petit-Moulin, is a rye mill (rye). One of them has been renovated and equipped with canvas wings. You can also see a space on the life of the miller, an exhibition on the mills of Anjou.

Built on the site of the primitive "cella", it was built by Saint Maurille on his landing island when this disciple of Saint Martin came to convert the country, a centre of paganism. During the revolution, it was used for soldiers' bivouacs and as a fodder storage area. It was restored in 1846-1847 and since then the bell tower had to be repaired following the 1940 bombing.
The choir and the northern chapel date from the 13th century.
The Contemporary Stained Glass Stained Glass by Pierre Mabille is a public state commission inaugurated in June 2014. The state public commission has made it possible to create 12 contemporary stained glass windows. They were made by the Duchemin workshops in Paris. They were inaugurated under the aegis of the Ministry of Culture in June 2014.
Saint Maurille († 453) is a bishop of Angers, considered holy by the Catholic and Orthodox Church. He is the patron saint of fishermen and gardeners. In Roman Catholic iconography he is represented as a bishop with a fish and holding a key or a spade.
he only authentic Life of Saint Maurille was written by Mainbeuf d'Angers, one of his successors, around 620. Maurille was born into a rich Milanese family. They very quickly put him under the leadership of the future Saint Martin who, coming from Hungary, had built a monastery in Milan for young people.
Saint Ambrose then took Maurille as his reader. At the age of twenty, he left his family and country to take over the direction of Martin de Tours, where he had been appointed bishop. Martin ordained him a priest and sent him to Angers to work for the salvation of souls.

It is difficult to get an idea of the importance of the castle at this time because the moat has been filled, the keep razed and the enclosure almost destroyed. A wall in small irregular apparatus would indicate a time before the 11th century. The Saint-Pierre tower (15th century) is the last tower still visible. This powerful episcopal castle was surrounded by moats and moats. The main dwelling included a pavilion with two large rooms and an oratory in a tower on the banks of the Loire, the base of which served as a prison.

In Chalonnes the river activity was important. For a long time, the Loire was a strategic transport route. Ports have been built to accommodate more and more ships. After the opening of the Layon Canal in 1778, the quays became the loading point for the Layon wines that the Dutch came to buy. There was also lime and coal. In the 19th century, other ports were built which today merge with the quays and via Columbani: Port Chailloux, Port Saint-Maurille and Port Garou. River transport was then abandoned in favour of the railway and the last bargemen abandoned their traffic around 1913.

Founded in the 7th century, the parish of Chateaupanne was destroyed in the 9th century. On the south side of the priory enclosure, the Romanesque church has a single nave from the 11th century (with remains of paintings from the 13th century) and a 15th century choir (also with paintings, of which Christ judges from the middle of the 15th century).
Superbly restored, this chapel is worth a visit. An exhibition presents the work carried out.

Saint-Aubin d'Angers
Born in the diocese of Vannes around 469, saint aubin was first abbot of Nantilly, near Saumur. He became bishop of Angers where he is the heavenly patron. Shining with charity in a barbaric and cruel world, he was one of the main promoters of the Third Council of Orleans, which reformed the Frankish Church with great firmness.

Saint-Martin church was built from 1864 to 1867, outside the old town in the presbyteral enclosure on the site of the former parish church.
In the shape of a Latin cross, in the ogival style with its three naves and two transepts, each decorated with a large rosette, built in tufa, it is difficult to resist the ravages of time.