Bauge is a small town east of Angers in the Maine-et-Loire department of the Pays-de-la-Loire region - it is part of the historical Anjou region.
Explore Baugé
France This Way review: when you arrive in Baugé the parking is right next to the château, which I find a little disappointing since part of the pleasure of 'discovering' a town is lost when you arrive immediately at the main highlight. On the plus side, you don't need to walk very far!
The tourist office of Baugé is in a beautiful salon inside the 15th century castle. Ask for the leaflet giving a guided walk round the town ("Parcours découvert au cœur de la ville") as this are full of details of small things you might otherwise not see.
Baugé castle was the favourite castle of Duke René of Anjou and was home to his fabulous Apocalypse tapestry. The tapestry has now been moved to the Château d’Angers. Inside the castle you can watch a video of the life of René of Anjou.
The Baugé Museum of Art and History is also in the castle and contains a wide range of items explaining the history of the town and the way of life of the residents.
From here you can continue to the Rue de la Girouardiere, one of the oldest streets in the town and which leads to the Chapel de la Girouardiere and the Cross of Anjou. This cross is said to be made from the cross on which Christ died (the wood is Palestinian though its authenticity has not been proven).
The cross was given to the monks of Baugé following a thirteenth century crusade to the Holy Land and was later richly decorated with precious stones and gold: it is the symbol of Lorraine.
The other main site in Bauge is the ancient apothecary of the Hotel-Dieu - a medieval hospital.
This 17th century apothecary has been classed a historic monument and is considered to be one of the most attractive in France with more than 600 medical articles and bottles. Also in the Hotel-Dieu you can see the room where the sick were treated and a baroque style chapel.
Elsewhere in Baugé you can see an attractive section of the Couesnon river and a medieval house in colombage, and the classical style facade of the original Palais de Justice as well as numerous townhouses built in the 16th - 18th centuries: individually these are not important but together create a pleasant impression.
Families might enjoy a day at Holly Park, a theme park in the grounds of a 18th century château. This can be found at Echemire, four kilometres from Bauge.
Attractions nearby
In the villages around Baugé you can discover eight unusual churches with twisted steeples: no one seems to know why or how they got this unusual design, and whether it is intentional or accidental. The most popular villages with visitors include Cheviré le Rouge (to the north-west) and Vieil Bauge (to the south-west).
Other local highlights include the Logis Seigneurial at Clefs (north of Baugé), a 16th century townhouse most noted for its monumental fireplaces.
Gardeners will enjoy the gardens and botanic parks around the castle at Chigné, east of the town, and Gastines castle at Fougeré.
Most of the main attractions in the Loire Valley are to the south of Baugé, although the imposing Chateau du Lude is only about 25 kilometres north-east of here.
Explore elsewhere in the Anjou. You can find more travel ideas in the Maine-et-Loire guide and the Pays de la Loire guide.
Photos of Bauge
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Map of Bauge and places nearby
Visit near Bauge with France This Way reviews
Chateau du Lude
The Chateau de Lude and its lovely gardens are the closest of the Loire Chateaux to Paris
Chateau du Lude guide
Saumur
The town of Saumur, in the shadow of the famous castle, is a lovely historic town along the banks of the Loire River
Saumur guide
Chateau de Saumur
The Chateau de Saumur stands in an impressive location with views across the Loire river
Chateau de Saumur guide
Chateau Plessis-Bourre
The most unusual feature of Chateau Plessis-Bourre is the way it combines medieval and renaissance architecture, and has been unchanged for hundreds of years
Chateau Plessis-Bourre guide
Parcé-sur-Sarthe
Parcé sur Sarthe is a classified petites cites de caractere and has an attractive 15-16th century centre.
Parcé-sur-Sarthe guide
Angers
Most famous for its castle, Angers also has a cathedral and many other interesting historical monuments, numerous parks and gardens...
Angers guide... or see ALL recommended places to visit in Maine-et-Loire
Address: Baugé, Saumur, Pays de la Loire, 49150, France || GPS coordinates: latitude 47.541, longitude -0.104
Plan your visit to Bauge, Maine-et-Loire
Sightseeing & tourist attractions to visit nearby
- La Fleche: recommended detour (17 km)
- Parc de Lathan: remarkable garden (21 km)
- Parc et jardins du château du Lude: remarkable garden (23 km)
- Prieuré de Notre-Dame de Cunault (Chenehutte-Treves-Cunault): religious monument (25 km)
- Eglise de Notre Dame (Chenehutte-Treves-Cunault): religious monument (25 km)
- Saumur: secteur sauvegarde (32 km)
- Île Saint-Aubin: site of natural beauty (33 km)
- Angers: town of art and history (34 km)
- Chateau d'Angers: national monument (35 km)
- Loire-Anjou-Touraine: regional natural parc (35 km)
- Montsoreau: most beautiful village (38 km)
- Candes-Saint-Martin: most beautiful village (39 km)
The French version of this page is at Bauge (Francais)