The Musée de la marine de Loire, but not that...

The Musée de la marine de Loire is located in Saint Clément des levées... it makes sense!

Indeed, if the town remained almost uninhabited until the first earth and stone dyke was built, in the 17th century, it then took off according to the development of the Loire Marine which, in the 18th and 19th centuries, was at its peak.

At that time, Saint Clément des levées had 7 ports!

Pretty houses were built, some of which were almost "straddling" the dyke, the ground floor opening at the foot of the dyke, while the first floor opens directly onto the road. There are still houses of this type.

A bargemen's town, it was therefore logical that it should be home to the museum.

 

In the church, the Loire Marine Museum

The bargemen carry their anchor in the heart, since it keeps their boats on the bank, or on the shore. They have therefore chosen the fourth pope after Saint Peter, Saint Clement, as their patron saint. He had known the apostles, and Saint Paul speaks of him in one of his epistles. He is always represented with an anchor, since he died a martyr, thrown into the sea with an anchor tied around his neck.

It is therefore in the very church of Saint Clément des levées that, every summer, the Musée de la marine de Loire opens. And it is as unusual as it is moving to see these large models, under the nave, sailing towards the altar. Note that this church, nicknamed "the bargemen's cathedral" was built with their own money.

As you leave, let your gaze wander over the panorama that opens before you, with the royal river (the Loire, of course!), the tower of Trier, the abbey church of Cunault, or Saint Eusebius...

 

And all year round, the Museum of Old Crafts...

This museum brings together more than 3000 objects from the Loire bargemen, of course, but also from the different trades that were attached to it. These objects are presented in the form of stagings, reconstitution of the life of the Loire navy.

You will also discover an archaeological part, with Loire pottery attesting to human life in these places, the oldest objects dating back to more than 5000 years BC.

 

Église de Saint-Clément-des-Levées
Place Michel Pruvost
49350  Saint Clément des Levées
Tél. : 06 72 82 74 30

museemarinedeloireenanjou@hotmail.com
https://museeloireetmetiers.blogspot.com/

 

*** Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator

(free version) ***

 


To go further....

L'Épopée des Mariniers de la Loire

Click on the image

Au travers des souvenirs du « dernier des mariniers de la Loire », Raoul Toscan (1884-1946) évoque, avec bonheur, ce que fut l'histoire de ces marins de la Loire depuis les temps anciens jusqu'au tout début du XXe siècle. En effet, la batellerie ligérienne, comme celle de tous les grands fleuves français, disparaissait définitivement au tournant de ce siècle- là. Mêlant souvenirs personnels du marinier, anecdotes et éléments historiques anciens et plus récents, l'épopée prend corps et vie pour le plus grand bonheur de tous ceux qui se passionnent ou veulent en savoir davantage sur la Loire et ses mariniers d'antan.
Paroles d'un pêcheur et marinier de Loire: Jacques Robin dit Vent de Travers

Click on the image

"Plus fort qu'un simple nouvel écrit sur la Loire, voici le témoignage oral d'une figure de Loire encore vivante racontant sa passion pour la pêche et la batellerie, accompagné de quelques repères historiques et techniques d'un passionné. Le présent ouvrage vous emmène pour une petite virée sur la Loire et dans les souvenirs des mariniers. À noter que l'ensemble de l'enregistrement a été réalisé sur l'eau à bord de la toue cabanée du cousin Yves et du futreau "Éloïse-Alysée".

Jacques Robin dit Vent de Travers : enfant de la Loire, il a commencé à pêcher alors qu'il était tout jeune et cette passion lui restera toute sa vie. Pâtissier mais plus souvent sur le grand fleuve qu'auprès de ses gâteaux, il sera amené à construire des bateaux traditionnels de Loire dont la Pascal-Carole, gabare de Saumur. Personnage haut en couleur, personnalité saumuroise que certains considèrent comme un patrimoine humain à lui seul, comme une mémoire... à sauvegarder !"

Also to be seen in the department

Abbaye de Bellefontaine

Bellefontaine Abbey and its mysterious fountain

placeBégrolles-en-Mauges – Maine-et-Loire 
label Saints, healers and other miracles... Religious, mystical & pagan cults  
Louresse-Rochemenier

Louresse-Rochemenier, village... troglodyte!

placeLouresse-Rochemenier - Maine-et-Loire
 
label Archaeology and old stones Natural curiosities Museums & Collections  

A small path.... the Mademoiselle Gabrielle Trail

placeBrain-sur-Allonnes – Maine-et-Loire 
label Natural curiosities Roads & paths Gardens, discovery and leisure activities Recreation and animal parks Animals  
Le Thoureil vu du ciel

Peacefully lying on the banks of the Loire, Le Thoureil

placeLe Thoureil – Maine-et-Loire 
label Tourism, sports and cultural activities People from here Hotels, restaurants, bars Festivities & festivals, brotherhoods cities and villages  

Discover the regions of the Great West