Gennes val de loire

Gennes-Val-de-Loire is a village in Maine-et-Loire, formed by the merger of several settlements including Gennes, Le Thoureil and Cunault, set within the Loire Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The area is particularly known for the Romanesque church of Notre-Dame de Cunault, one of the largest Romanesque buildings in the region, as well as for its troglodyte dwellings carved into the local tuffeau stone, typical of the Anjou area. The village also preserves the memory of the June 1940 battle of the Saumur cadets, marked by a memorial and a military cemetery. The restored Sarré windmill stands on the surrounding hillside, offering views over the valley. The Loire à Vélo cycle route passes through the area, making Gennes a popular stopping point for cyclists following the river. The nearby hills are also home to a paragliding and hang-gliding site. The surrounding countryside is well suited to exploring the Saumur-Champigny vineyards and visiting troglodyte wine cellars. Altogether, it offers a rural Loire setting combining Romanesque heritage, winemaking tradition and riverside landscapes.