For larger supermarkets and shops, a Saturday street market, a great indoor swim-centre and a cinema, the market town of Loudeac is only a further 6 miles away.
The shops arrayed down both sides of the high street include:
- Two banks (with cash dispensers)
- A Pâtisserie for croissants, French baguettes and delicious pastries (which opens at 6:30am !)
- Three restaurants (Brittany Pancakes, Pizza and a traditional French restaurant)
- Vival supermarket selling a wide range of items (similar to our Co-op's)
- Two Charcuteries for sliced meat, joints, etc
- Two bars and a café
- Post Office
- Chemist
- Two Beauty Salons
Adjacent to the centre of La Cheze the river Lié forms a wide lake before it cascades down a weir and flows on towards our Gite.
In winter the rapid flowing river between Le Vaublanc and La Cheze is used for Canoe and Kayak slalom competitions. In summer recreational canoeing is available as well from the outdoor sports centre at Plemet, and hiring a canoe for the 10km down-stream course through the Forest of Loudeac costs just few Euro's and includes a guide and mini-bus transport back to the start.
Alternatively you can hire mountain bikes from the same outdoor centre; go fishing or take a leisurely walk around La Cheze's lake; or follow one of the many beautiful marked countryside walks that meander through the wooded countryside from the village centre or along the riverbanks.
La Cheze also has an outdoor swimming pool that is open in the summer months; and history abounds at the ruins of the medieval 12th century castle that was besieged many times over the centuries including by the Prince of Orange, and was finally ordered to be dismantled following the local Duke of Rohan's Protestant Rebellion against King Louis XIII in 1628!
The village hosts an annual week-long series of Blues concerts each year and includes the castle grounds and La Cheze Chateau as event venues. Also in the village centre is La Museé Régional de la Metiers Vieux (museum of old regional crafts) which contains a fascinating collection of bygone trades from the last century such as tanning, clog making and weaving for which English tours are available.
Other useful websites:
Central Brittany tourist information (in French)Canoë Club du Lié contact details and photos (Facebook)
Opening hours for Musée Régional des Métiers
Base Sports Nature (outdoor sports centre) upstream from La Cheze at nearby Plemet for mountain bike and canoe hire