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St Julien de Vouvantes is situated equal distance between Nantes, Angers, Rennes and Laval, This is a rural
commune with 966 inhabitants. The village has a Pharmacy, Doctor, Baker, Mini Market with Pork Butcher,
Hardware shop, Restaurant, Bar-Tabac-Newsagent, Hairdressers (male and female), Garage and Post Office.

The village is dominated by the church that was initially built in the 15^th Century and is dedicated to
St Julien de Brioude. It is the second largest in Loire Atlantique after the cathedral at Nantes.

St Julien is famous for helping those in need. He is reputed to have helped the son of Charles 2^nd of France
when he was very poorly. St Julien is also said to have helped an innocent man sentenced to death in the
17^th century. The man was being transported to gallows and the convoy stopped over in the village. The
condemned man prayed to St Julien and his chains fell away and he was freed.

The feast of St Julien is celebrated every year in the village on the last Sunday of August.

The Church has three magnificent windows at the alter end of the Church. It is believed that the other
windows were removed during the 1939-45 occupation and have been replaced by plain glass windows. There
are plans under way to replace these windows. Also of some note is the Bishop’s chair that is vaulted and was
salvaged from the old church that burnt down in or around the 17^th century. There are other relics such as
stones and statues from the previous church stored in the crypt that is open most days in the summer months.

It is also interesting to note that when the Church was planned to be rebuilt the nearby village of Erbray set                                                                   up a kiln to make all the bricks required by hand. Other villages in the surrounding area went out into the countryside                                           hunting for suitable pieces of slate that could be trimmed, polished and embedded in the walls.

In the cemetery is the chapel of St Anne, built about 1641, which houses the Bell Tower of the original church
and is dated to 1636. Renovating of St Anne’s and the bell tower commenced in 1997 and is ongoing.

There is now a circular walk that takes in the church and cemetery as well as an old iron works, fountains of
St Julien,  Lavoir (old laundry) and the 15th Century house of the Three Kings. It is approx 3kms long and is
an easy walk to take in the late afternoon.

The river Don flows through the village. It crosses the pond La Selle and continues on towards the Forge at
Moisdon la Riviere. You can fish this river but you will need a National Rod License available from the
Bar/Tabac in the village (day ticket is about 10Euro).

Foret de Juigne is a short distance away and is a tourist attraction for walkers, bikers, birdwatchers and
painters. Within the forest is a large lake called La Blistiere, which although privately owned is open to all
during the summer months with the exception of fishing.

Area in brief :-

Nearest....

beach (man-made)      15mins

lake                            5mins

forest                         2mins

beach/coast                1hr

leisure park                 1hr

golf                            15mins

fishing (casual)            2mins

fishing (big fish)        15mins

canoeing                    15mins

vineyards                   45mins

market                       15mins

bird sanctuary           10mins

bottle of wine            10mtres !!!

Towns/Ports :-

Chateaubriant                15mins

Nantes & Rennes            45 minutes

Dinard (airport)             1.5hrs

St Malo                          1.5hrs

Cean                               2.5hrs

Calais                              6hrs

Paris (car)                        4hrs

Paris (train)                      2.5hrs

All times are by a top of the range suppa-duppa Skoda {except Paris (train) !}.

Please amend the travel time according to your slower vehicles !

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