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In the eleventh century this church was part of a priory founded by the monks of St Michel-en-l'Herm. During the French Revolution it was used as a stable and as a prison.
Parts of the church you can see today are rather more modern. The nave was completed in 1813.
Updated Aug 21, 2010
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Like Paris, Cholet has a gothic-style Notre Dame church and a Sacre Coeur basilica.
This Sacre Coeur is not at all like the Parisian one though, as it is in the Byzantine style and is therefore more like Hagia Sofia in Istanbul. Despite the style, it is actually a relatively modern building, designed by local architect M. Laurentin. It was built using materials from the local area. The first stone was laid in 1937 and the building was blessed in 1941.
When we were in Cholet, it was open to visitors in the afternoons between 3 and 6 p.m.
Written Aug 21, 2010
Address: Boulevard Guy Chouteau
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The other thing for which Cholet is famous is handkerchief production, although this no longer occurs on a commercial basis.
The Textile Museum, which celebrates this aspect of Cholet's past, is located in a former canvas bleaching factory (built in 1881). There are rooms dealing with the various stages of textile production: spinning, bleaching, weaving etc. and information about the Cholet handkerchief industry. The museum has revived handkerchief production in Cholet, and I understand that visitors can watch this taking place but the machines were not operating when we visited (on a Saturday).
The surrounding grounds are now a garden containing plants connected to the textile industry, such as flax, and marigolds which were used for for dyes.
Open Wednesday to Sunday 10-12 and 2-6 (also open on Tuesdays in July and August). We had a combined entrance ticket with the Art and History Museum (3.50 euro).
Written Aug 21, 2010
Address: Rue du Docteur Roux 49300 Cholet
Phone: 02 41 75 25 40
Website: www.museedutextile.com
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This municipal museum covers both art and history. Turn right when you enter for History, or left for Art.
The History section comprises 9 rooms. The first deals with everything up to the late 18th century. The next room covers the French Revolution, then there 6 rooms dealing with Cholet's claim to historical fame - the Vendeé War (a civil war in western France which followed the Revolution) and the battle of Cholet. Exhibits included paintings of the main protagonists, proclamations and models of the battle. A final room dealt with later events, up to the Great War.
Between the History galleries and the Art galleries is a temporary exhibition space and the ‘Labyrinth’ – a disorientating area with mirrors and lights – like the sort of place where the final shootout with the villain often took place in 1960s adventure series like 'The Avengers' or the James Bond film 'The Man with the Golden Gun'.
The Art galleries include a room of work by Pierre-Charles Tremolieres, a painter of the court of Louis XV, who was born in Cholet in 1703. More modern works include paintings from the railway pavilion of the 1937 Paris Exhibition.
Open Wednesday-Sunday 10-12 and 2-6. Admission costs 3 euro, or 3.50 with a combined ticket for the Textile Museum
Updated Aug 21, 2010
Address: 27 avenue de l'Aubrevoir 49300 Cholet
Phone: 02 41 49 29 00
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Chateau de La Tremblaye Cholet
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This restaurant is outside Cholet, at Ribou lake (a reservoir that supplies drinking water to the surrounding area). We sat outside in the sun and had an excellent three course set meal for 17 euro per head.
I had a salad of grilled goat's cheese on toast, followed by a succulent pork dish and chocolate mousse for dessert. My other half had steak and chips followed by panna cotta.
Updated Aug 21, 2010
Address: Port de Ribou 49300 Cholet
Phone: 02 41 62 13 95
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EasyJet fly to Nantes Atlantique airport, about 30 miles from Cholet. You can take a bus from the airport to Nantes station (costing 7 euro). From there you can take a train (11 euro) or bus to Cholet. The train takes around an hour and a half - make sure you validate your ticket.
A taxi from Cholet to the airport cost us 100 euros (it was a bit early in the morning to get the train!).
Written Aug 21, 2010
On Saturdays there is a market in front of the market hall, at Place du 8 May.
What to buy: Lots of fresh produce, honey, oysters and mussels. Also clothing, bags and soft toys. I even spotted an antique furniture restorer.
Inside the permanent market hall can be found dairy products, meat (including Cholet chickens) and patisserie.
Written Aug 21, 2010
Address: Place du 8 May
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Cholet is a fairly small town in western France, whose two main claims to fame are as a former centre of textile production and as the scene of a battle during the Vendee revolt of 1793. However, one...
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