Having spent his early years on the family estate of Liré in Anjou, Joachim Du Bellay spent several years in Rome alongside his cardinal uncle, where nostalgia for the gentleness of Anjou inspired his most famous sonnet "Heureux qui comme Ulysse". In it, he notably mentions this "little Liré" of which only ruins now remain, standing among the chestnut trees. A very pleasant site that you can freely access via a tarmac road when entering the Turmelière estate and going behind the 18th century castle.

Translated by Google •

Fabrice Rigalleau

February 4, 2025

Happy is he who, like Ulysses, has made a beautiful journey,
Or like the one who conquered the fleece,
And then returned, full of experience and reason,
To live among his parents the rest of his life!

When will I see again, alas, of my little village
Smoking the chimney, and in what season
Will I see again the enclosure of my poor house,
Which is a province to me, and much more?

More pleases me the abode that my ancestors built,
Than the bold brow of Roman palaces;
More than hard marble pleases me fine slate,

More my Gallic Loire, than the Latin Tiber,
More my little Liré, than the Palatine Hill,
And more than the sea air the sweetness of Anjou.

Translated by Google •

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Elevation 50 m

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Saturday 25 October

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70 %

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Max wind speed: 5.0 km/h

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Location: Orée-D'Anjou, Cholet, Pays de la Loire, France

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Pont Bretagne-Anjou

Moulin pendu de Champtoceaux

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Cale de la Chaussée

View of the Loire

Moulin Pendu de Champtoceaux

Bridge Over the Havre

Port d'Ancenis

Banks of the Loire

Lacets de Champtoceaux

Ancenis

Ruins of Château de la Turmelière

1. Oudon Castle – Montjean-sur-Loire Bridge loop from La Chapelle-Saint-Florent

2. Wall of Domaine des Galloires – Ancenis Suspension Bridge loop from Liré

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