Les Moutiers-en-Retz railway station

• 
• 
• See the 3 pictures

• 
• 
• 

Presentation

From the beginning of the 19th century, the Pays de Retz knew the arrival of the railway and sometime later, the first bathers...

In 1866, the Pays de Retz was not yet connected to the Nantes regional rail network, so the prefect commissioned a study into a route that would run from Nantes via Les Moutiers. It followed the route taken by the stagecoaches, which ran three times a day in both directions (via Sainte-Pazanne, Saint-Hilaire-de-Chaléons, Bourgneuf-en-Retz, Les Moutiers-en-Retz, La Bernerie-en-Retz and Pornic). Work began in 1872, and the line was completed in 1875.

The line was initially operated by the Compagnie des Chemins de fer nantais, before being taken over by the State. Travellers coming from Paris would board the train at Orsay station, then arrive at Nantes-Orléans station, where a shuttle would take them to Nantes-État station. There, they would board the train on the Nantes–Pornic line. The journey took around 8 hours!

Les Moutiers station was completed in 1896 and was extended in 1906 to include a small hall, originally intended for the dispatch of goods: wines and wheat produced in the local area.

Thanks to the railways and the introduction of paid annual leave in 1936, the seaside resort flourished: campsites were built and furnished holiday lets became highly sought-after. For a time, around 1960, the line only operated during the summer, but regular services resumed throughout the year in September 2001.

In 1992, the station was sold by the SNCF to a private individual. It is therefore now a private residence. Les Moutiers is now a railway stop.

*Excerpts from the book *Flâneries aux Moutiers-en-Retz* by Monique Albert.
 

Information

• PERIOD OF SITE OR HISTORIC MONUMENT :
  • 19th century
  • Unclassified
• DETAILS FOR CIVIL ARCHITECTURE :
  • Former railway station
• PETS :
  • Pets allowed
  • Pets only on leash
• ACESSIBILITY :
  • Accessible for mobility impaired persons
• Geographical zone :
  • Les Moutiers-en-Retz

Map