The village that makes its own weathervanes
Coudray-Macouard sits 8 km south-west of Saumur, on a tuffeau hillock above the Thouet valley.
Copper weathervanes, tuffeau caves and a long-distance cycling route through the village centre
The Atelier de la Girouetterie has been making copper, zinc and brass weathervanes by hand since 1992, and the workshop is free to walk into during opening hours. The village sits on a soft-limestone ridge riddled with troglodyte cavities — some still used as dwellings and one operating as a guest house. The Vélo Francette long-distance cycling route passes directly through, and the Girouetterie is an official Accueil Vélo stop with a secure bike store and repair kit. The commune's vineyards fall within the broader Saumur AOC.
Things you can do here
Activities nearby
Canoe rentalArtannes-sur-Thouetabout 2 km, to the activity
The Girouetterie workshop and village circuit
The workshop sits at the top of a tuffeau ridge, and the village lanes around it are short but steep. For anyone who'd otherwise skip it after the flat Thouet-side sections, an e-bike makes the climb unremarkable — you arrive at the workshop without having had to earn it, and leave with the range to carry on along the Vélo Francette.
The Vélo Francette through Coudray-Macouard
The Vélo Francette is a signed long-distance route running north–south; it passes through the village and continues south along the Thouet valley towards Montreuil-Bellay. The full day's riding on this section covers terrain that puts off riders without assistance. E-bikes turn it into a realistic day out for people who wouldn't otherwise attempt a 37–70 km loop.
Marion
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Visited in September 2026