The tour of Lac de Maine

(S/E) Leave the car park in front of the Maison de l’Environnement, heading north along the path. It soon enters a wooded area, veering to the right to form a sweeping S-bend. Stay on the main path until you reach a road, Rue des Basses Fouassières, after passing between two buildings

At this point, turn right and carefully follow Rue des Fouassières south-eastwards. Just as the street turns left, take the path opposite that runs between two buildings and continue to a T-junction, about a hundred metres further on.

(1) Take the left-hand path. Turn slightly right when it joins a farm track coming from the left. Continue straight on, running parallel to the D323 road (a dual carriageway), and head towards the banks of the Maine.

(2) The route now follows the^GR®35. Turn right onto the path running alongside the Maine. A little further on, the path passes between the Maine on the left and Lac de Maine on the right. After the second bridge, the path passes Île Robinson on the left bank of the Maine. After the next bridge, you can take a short detour along a path on the right leading to a viewpoint about 200 metres away. Continue straight on to the far end of Lac de Maine.

(3) Turn right and follow a variant of^{the GR®35}. Follow the path which runs alongside Lac de Maine at a distance and passes on the eastern side of the Bellevue Campsite. Continue straight on, taking the path closest to Lac de Maine to reach Plage des Ormeaux. The path joins a small road leading to the beach. As you approach the water sports centre, turn left onto the road leading towards a small pond about thirty metres further on. In front of the pond, head to the right and immediately take the path on the left which runs alongside the pond on your left.

(4) At the crossroads where four paths meet, continue straight ahead.
Those who wish to do so can turn right and follow a path that runs the entire length of a sort of micro-bay on the north-western side to reach the next crossroads.

(5) At this new crossroads, continue along the path on the left. About fifty metres further on, take the path on the left until you reach a T-junction. There, turn right onto a path leading back to the starting point. Cross two roads straight ahead with care before reaching the car park, which marks the end of this route (S/E).

The car park at the start is located near the roundabout (close to the Ethic Etapes accommodation centre).

This hike across varied terrain requires suitable footwear.

This hike is partially marked in red and white as it follows the^GR®35from the point (2), then a variant from the point (3). In addition, it is advisable to follow the directions in the description and on the map, whilst paying close attention to the landscape. The waypoints, with their GPS coordinates and the distance from the starting point, serve as aids for hikers exploring the route for the first time.

Lac de Maine
Organised around four main areas (the Water Sports Centre, Éthic Étapes, the 4-star campsite and the Environment Centre), the Lac de Maine Leisure Park has everything to charm you.
Open to the public since 1978, it was developed by the City of Angers on the site of former floodplains.
It covers 220 hectares, 110 of which are taken up by the lake itself, and is an exceptional site much loved by visitors and the people of Angers alike.

“The lake is a remarkable site, appreciated for its many uses,” emphasises Charles Diers, Deputy Mayor for Sport. “People picnic there, go for walks, run, swim, observe the flora and fauna, and enjoy water sports. It deserves a major redevelopment to improve what already exists and create new facilities. The challenge is to give it the visibility and scale it deserves, as well as a new identity: Lac d’Angers.” To this end, in the summer of 2020 the City launched a wide-ranging consultation with the people of Angers, users and water sports stakeholders to gather their views on the site, identify its strengths, weaknesses and shortcomings, and understand both current and desired uses. Around a thousand responses to the online questionnaire, participatory workshops and an exploratory walk revealed a high level of satisfaction and attachment to the lake, as well as areas for improvement regarding attractiveness, the clarity of facilities, noise pollution, cleanliness, lighting and more.

Nature and landscape
The redevelopment project, which will be presented to the town council on 25 October, aims first and foremost to enhance one of the site’s major assets: its natural environment and landscapes. This involves enhancing the existing vegetation and renaturalising certain areas in light of climate change. Objectives: to contribute to the coolness of the town centre and the absorption of carbon emissions. A planting campaign is therefore planned, involving the creation of 60,000 m² of new woodland. 12,000 m² will also be de-sealed to boost biodiversity and improve the park’s landscape quality. All this will be accompanied by the development of educational facilities (platforms and viewing points) for visitors.
Movement within and around the park is also central to the changes outlined. On the one hand, to open up the site more to the city and neighbouring neighbourhoods. On the other hand, to give greater prominence to active transport. “The idea is to put an end to conflicts of use that may arise between walkers, cyclists and vehicles using the park. New signage will be installed to simplify, regulate and make the routes safer,” explains the deputy mayor. Access for motor vehicles will thus be restricted to car parks only. A dedicated cycle lane, linked to the Loire à Vélo cycle route, will be created to facilitate and develop north-south commuting, connecting Bouchemaine to Angers city centre.

Plenty of activities on land and water
As for outdoor leisure activities, the aim is to expand them and make them more accessible. Starting with the Ferme de la Pérussaie, which will be equipped with a multi-purpose indoor arena to ensure the long-term future of the pony club and develop an equestrian centre open all year round. New playgrounds, a ‘pump-track’ with a cycling practice area and an expanded space dedicated to beach sports (volleyball, rugby, football, handball…) are also being considered. And the creation of dedicated areas for pétanque, archery and climbing is under review. As for water sports, these too will be expanded, in support of the clubs, around the Pavoa. This will enable the development of new water sports and open up opportunities for ecological exploration from the water. “Our clubs need facilities that match their ambitions and the many activities they offer all year round,” the councillor points out. The reorganisation of the premises around the Pavoa – including an extension and the creation of a courtyard – and the redesign of the boat launch area are steps in this direction. These developments will provide a more efficient water sports hub for participants and one that is more visible to the public.
The pyramid, the park’s new landmark
It was intended to serve as a landmark. Over the years, the slate pyramid has become underused and its purpose largely unclear to the public. The question of its removal was even raised by residents of Angers during consultation sessions. The decision set out in the master plan is to keep it on site following a complete overhaul in every respect. First and foremost, an architectural and resolutely contemporary makeover, thanks to cladding formed of aluminium triangles creating a play of reflections. A facelift is also being given to the services offered inside. Starting with the creation of a centralised reception area in a 100 m² extension to be built at ground level. This will serve as the information point for visitors on all the park’s activities: land and water sports, environmental awareness, accommodation… A concierge service and a cycling area (rental, repairs, etc.) will complete the ground floor facilities. On^{the first} floor, a bar and a panoramic restaurant with an open terrace overlooking the lake will be installed. On^{the second floor}, three meeting rooms, also featuring a terrace, will be made available, whilst a public viewing platform will occupy the top floor.
Source: Angers Tourist Office and Town Hall (excerpts)