the Princé forest

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Presentation

A veritable green lung in the heart of the Pays de Retz, the Princé forest is a historic landmark that can be crossed by road, but this wooded area remains private.

Who are we?
Comprising 585 hectares, the Princé forest is a protected area recognised as a natural zone of ecological, faunistic and floristic interest.
It is made up of deciduous and coniferous trees.

A little history: During prehistoric times, a large part of France, if not all of it, was covered by forests. Then, in ancient times, the first gravel roads appeared to enable goods to be transported. The forests then began to be cleared. The Princé forest was planted by the lord of Rais Harscoët 1st in the 11th century. It was once very extensive. At that time, Benedictine monks settled along streams and marshes, colonising the local forests, which the king had not yet appropriated. In 1794, during the Vendée wars, local residents took refuge in the forest to escape the Republican troops - 22,000 Vendéens, supporters of Charette, died there. The Cross of the Vendéens was erected in memory of this event by the Vendéen Memorial. The Pierre-Levée menhir is located in the Princé forest, beside the road. Dating back to 2500 BC, this piece of megalithic art bears witness to a thousand-year-old presence in the region. There are various local legends about the menhir, including one according to which it was thrown down by Gilles de Rais, Baron of Retz.

Protecting the forest
Colbert, Comptroller General of Finances under the reign of Louis XIV, later became Director of Water and Forests. Fearing a shortage of wood for the shipbuilding industry at the time, he introduced regulations and began reforestation. In 1740, Louis XV authorised the Lord of Retz to sell his land in the Princé forest. The plots were then bought by nobles or private individuals. During the Revolution, the Constitution of 1791 declared the royal estate and the property of émigrés to be national land. This led to a sharp decline in forest area. A reforestation campaign was launched throughout France during the Second Empire. To find out more about the current management of the forest and the importance of protecting it, you can consult the management data HERE.

How can I access the forest?
Most of the forest is privately owned, but the owners' association grants access permits only with authorisation and prior booking. To do this, simply visit the association's website: Association de préservation de la Forêt de Princé: HERE. To find out more about the importance of forest management, you can also read the interview with Yves Lefeuvre - owner of the Princé forest.
From the local road, you can still see the Pierre-Levée menhir and the Vendéens cross.

Information

TYPE OF SITE :
- Forest, pine forest
NATURAL HERITAGE CATEGORY :
- Natural area

Equipment/services

FACILITIES, ACTIVITIES AND SERVICES :
- Shaded area

Map

FICHE_INFO_SIMPLE_LIBELLE_DESTINATION

La forêt de Princé

La Biche - D66

Chéméré

44680

CHAUMES EN RETZ

GPS coordinates

Latitude : 47.15052

Longitude : -1.88565

See the Princé forest on GoogleMaps

Distance from the center (church ) :
- 18 km. from the center of Pornic
- 25 km. from the center of la Plaine sur Mer
- 27 km. from the center of Préfailles
- 23 km. from the center of St Michel Chef Chef
- 15 km. from the center of Les Moutiers
- 5 km. from the center of Arthon
- 16 km du centre de Bourgneuf

LIEN_ACCES_MOTEUR_RESA_FICHE

Contact details

the Princé forest

La Biche - D66

Chéméré

44680

CHAUMES EN RETZ

Website "the Princé forest"

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