Description of the attraction
Saint-Florent-le-Vieille is a small town located on the banks of the Loire, in the Maine-Loire department of the Pays-de-la-Loire region. Its population is less than three thousand people.
This town entered the history of France thanks to tragic events: in 1793, one of the armed clashes between supporters of the monarchy and republicans took place here, which became the beginning of the Vendée uprising. In Saint-Florent, the uprising was led by Jacques Catelino, and one of the streets of the town is named after him. The events of the end of the 18th century in Saint-Florent are reminiscent of the monument to the royalist general Charles de Bonchamp, one of the leaders of the Vendée uprising, who united with Jacques Catelino. Bonchamp was mortally wounded during the battle of Cholet, his comrades-in-arms vowed to avenge him and execute five thousand captured Republicans. But the dying Bonchamp ordered to spare them. The marble monument was made by the sculptor David d'Ange in gratitude for the fact that General Bonchamp saved the life of his father, who was among the prisoners.
Another attraction of the town is the Abbey of Saint Florent with a church built in the 18th century. The monastery and the city itself were named after Saint Florence, who in the 5th century lived in a hermitage on Mont Glonne. For his disciples, who came from everywhere, a monastery was built. Saint Florence was known as a miracle worker and lived to be 123 years old.
One of the local restaurants of Saint-Florent became famous due to the fact that until 2007, Julien Grak, a native of Saint-Florent, a famous writer, laureate of the Goncourt Prize, author of the novels "Castle of Argol", "Gloomy Handsome", "Coast of Sirte", dined here on weekends until 2007 and other works.
Every year in June-July, Saint-Florent hosts a festival of oriental music.
