La Roche Hue : the Lowlands on the hill

Some places lost in the countryside of Maine-et-Loire attract people coming from Europa. The La Roche Hue castle is an exemple of that. Located near Cheviré-le Rouge, at the north of the former province of Anjou, La Roche-Hue is on a hill from where we can see the unchanging and quiet landscape of Anjou. Only the top of a church can be seen from the here from the inhabitants of Lowlands, coming here most by road, someone by plane.

Built at the 19th century on the ruins of a medieval castle, La Roche Hue would be the masterwork of a family helped by its servants. The style of the building is Louis 13th. It was bought in the 90 's by English for fellow citizens looking for rest. But the business didn't work. So Dutch investors bought it and reached that time to revive it. The castle has been divided in flats, so the friendly inhabitants can live at the same time alone and together.

Surrounded by a huge park of about 40 ha all in one piece with old lime trees and redwoods, La Roche-Hue is apart from the road. So the most impressive feeling is the absence of noise. The park is quite natural (the grass is cut by a farmer who feeds his cattle) except a little and charming square dressed like a "jardin à la française". An afternoon there is like a walk in the past.