Parnay

Parnay is a small wine-growing village in the Maine-et-Loire department, in the Saumur area, on the southern bank of the Loire between Saumur and Montsoreau. It lies within the Loire Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and benefits from the region's typical scenery of tufa-stone hillsides, vineyards and riverside landscapes. The village falls within the Saumur-Champigny appellation, known for its red wines made from Cabernet Franc, and several wine estates are based here, some offering tastings and visits to troglodyte cellars carved into the local limestone. The Loire à Vélo cycle route passes through the commune, providing an easy way to reach Saumur, with its château and National Riding School, or Montsoreau, with its château overlooking the Loire. The Royal Abbey of Fontevraud, one of Europe's largest monastic complexes, is also nearby. Parnay retains a quiet, rural character, appreciated for riverside walks, exploring the troglodyte heritage and visiting surrounding vineyards, all set within the distinctive atmosphere of the Saumur wine region.