Le puy notre dame

Le Puy-Notre-Dame is a village in the Maine-et-Loire department, in the Saumur area, just a few kilometres from Montreuil-Bellay and Saumur. Recognised as one of France's 'Petites Cités de Caractère', it owes its renown to the Collegiate Church of Notre-Dame, a 12th- and 13th-century Angevin Gothic building said to house a relic of the Virgin Mary's girdle, making it one of the region's most notable religious landmarks. The village lies amid vineyards, at the heart of the Saumur-Champigny appellation, well known for its red wines. The tuffeau-stone houses lining the narrow streets reflect the area's winemaking and religious heritage, making for a pleasant stroll. The surrounding countryside, set between hillsides and the Thouet valley, is well suited to outdoor activities such as walking or exploring the vineyards, with several wine cellars and estates open to visitors nearby. The proximity to Saumur also provides easy access to other attractions of the Loire Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage site, all within a peaceful, quintessentially Angevin setting.