The lake of Cébran is an important bird reserve. Other activities include fishing, swimming and windsurfing.
Pools can be found near the Pressoir: in St Varent, Thouars and Argenton Château. Covered, or open-air pools, they cater for children (wading pool, slides, diving boards…) as well as their parents (deep pool).
Argenton Château: 05 49 65 79 10 – from June to September
Thouars: 05 49 66 26 69 (winter) and 05 49 66 04 28 (summer)
St Varent: 05 49 67 61 48.
The prestigious National Horse Riding School is located in Saumur.
Around Thouars, a number of paths are reserved for horse riders. The following centers offer horse riding activities:
The horse farm of the Grand Saule in La Coudre: 05 49 80 21 61 ;
The Horse riding Club of Beauvais-Vrères in St Léger de Montbrun: 05 49 96 78 21 ;
The Horse riding centres of "Le Petit Mans" in St Martin de Sanzay: 02 41 52 53 36,
or 06 21 76 25 92 ; and "Châtelier" in Missé: 05 49 96 60 47.
The region around Thouars boasts numerous marked walking paths. Lists of possible walks and several area maps will be at the disposal of the Pressoir’s guests.
In the Thouars area, the sky is renowned for the "quality" of its wind, and is often the privileged site of hang gliding competitions as a result. The Thouars Hang Gliding Club counts numerous members. It owns a number of single-seater and two-seater gliders.
At the airfield, an official School of Parachuting offers all sorts of parachute jumps, from beginner to expert level: first or “trial” jumps, specialist training courses, " fun" jumps, etc.
Contact the School of Parachuting, at: 05 49 96 10 75, or the airfield at: 05 49 66 21 69.
What better way of discovering the valleys of the Thouars area than by being on the water? One can go down the Argenton and Thouet rivers in a canoe or a kayak from the towns of Massais or Thouars. The Thouet is a much more gentle river than the Argenton – the latter ensuring a more sporty adventure…
Contact: 05 49 96 38 79, or: 05 49 66 16 38.
The cliffs of the Argenton valley are much appreciated by ramblers and sports fanatics alike. In the natural site of Grifférus, 5 rocks have been mapped with a hundred different paths up (from level 3 to 7), offering experienced climbers a safe climbing experience.
Contact the Tourist information office, at: 05 49 66 17 65 ; the Argenton branch at: 05 49 65 96 56 ; or the “Moulin Bernard” in Massais at: 05 49 96 84 64.
The Park of the Valley of Massais is a leisure centre for kids and adults. Numerous activities are on offer, such as: crazy/mini-golf, water slides, inflatable games, pouss-pouss, go-karting, swings, etc.
A small tourist train also takes people around the Park and the lively Far West village.
Contact: 05 49 96 85 82.
In St Varent, around the pond/lake of the Bourrelière, the leisure centre also offers outdoor activities, a number of nice walks, pond fishing and 2 tennis courts. Contact: 05 49 96 49 92.
For more information, see the Thouars area’s website: Pays Thouarsais.
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