Vitré Communauté

This idyllic route (No. 79 in the Vitré Communauté walking guide), set in the heart of the Argentré-du-Plessis bocage, south of Vitré, connects the town’s two old mills (Neuf aux Moines) and their ponds over a distance of just over six kilometres.

Explore the historic heart of Vitré, a town of art and history, with its streets and alleyways dating back to medieval times.Stroll and wander in search of hidden gems with this route taking in all the must-see sights.A real getaway into the heart of history and the Vitré way of life! Finish the walk with a visit to the medieval castle.Follow the step-by-step guide rather than the GPX track for ease of use.

Stroll through the historical heart of Vitré, city of art and history, with its medieval streets and alleys. Wander in quest of the heritage wonders with this trail. A true escape through history and the vitréen "art de vivre". End the walk by a visit of the medieval castle and its museum before going back to the starting point. Follow the description rather than the GPX tracks.

Enjoy the charm of the church square in Moulins, unspoilt by any overhead cables or aerials. This square served as the setting for the television series directed by Hervé Baslé in 2002: *Le Champ Dolent*. Can be enjoyed on foot or by mountain bike.

Centred around its church and the square surrounding it, the village of Brielles has largely retained the layout it had in 1810, the year the so-called ‘Napoleonic’ land register was drawn up. Also worth mentioning in the commune is the breeding of Kobe cattle (a Japanese breed), whose meat is highly prized by gourmets. This route can be tackled on foot or by mountain bike.

Although the high-speed rail line (LGV) runs through Brielles from east to west, the town, together with the neighbouring commune of Le Pertre, offers a network of beautiful trails.Suitable for both walking and mountain biking.

This route takes you through the countryside around Erbrée, where you can see, amongst other things, an old well that has been restored at a place called Le Breil Marie. Suitable for both walking and mountain biking.

This route is the first stage of a 96 km circular through the Vitré countryside. Consisting mainly of sunken lanes, this route will take you, among other places, to the Château des Rochers-Sévigné and the Valière lake.

Discover the countryside around Saint-M'Hervé with this route, which takes you to the east of the village.

This loop will take you through the countryside of Châtillon-en-Vendelais and Montautour.Can be done on foot or by mountain bike.

A circular route through the Mondevert countryside which also passes close to the Pertre Forest.

A short circular route through the countryside between Argentré-du-Plessis and Le Pertre.

Cornillé is a small village with just under 1,000 inhabitants, first mentioned as early as 1049 in the cartulary of Saint-Melaine. Around 1500, the village boasted numerous manor houses, including the Château de la Bichetière and the Manoir de la Recoulais, which you can see on this route. Suitable for both walking and mountain biking.

Discover Torcé and its surroundings with this 11.4 km circular, which can be shortened to an 8 km route without the northern circular at Haut Montigné.

The Vassé Pond was created as ecological compensation for the construction of the Paris-Rennes high-speed rail line. There are educational panels on biodiversity and an old manor house. Many animals have found a home here, including sheep, Scottish cows, donkeys and ducks. Picnic tables, dry toilets, a shelter and a barbecue area are available.

Circular route through the countryside around Domagné.

Take a stroll through the countryside around Saint-Didier on this route which runs alongside a stretch of the River Vilaine. You’ll pass close to the Peinière Chapel, a place of pilgrimage which, every 15 August and on the Sunday closest to the Feast of the Nativity in early September, attracts thousands of Catholics from across the department (and even beyond) to celebrate the Virgin Mary. Stop for a moment to admire the mosaics created by the Odorico brothers that adorn the altars.

This reservoir, which has supplied drinking water since 1978, is also used to control flood peaks and maintain low water levels as required. This route is FFRandonnée-certified. It can be enjoyed on foot or by bike.

This route consists mainly of dirt tracks that were preserved during land consolidation, allowing you to discover the richness of the built heritage, particularly in the hamlets of La Perrière (17th-century manor house) and La Rinjardière. The southern section also follows the Roman road that linked Angers to Rennes. Magnificent stone bridges bear witness to this rich past. This route has been awarded the FFRandonnée label.

The name of the village comes from the Breton word ‘mouës’, meaning ‘wet place’. The southern part of the village is crossed by the Ruisseau de Drouges, whilst the Ardennes form a natural boundary to the north between Arbrissel and Moussé. Don’t miss the Romanesque church of Arbrissel (12th century), the altarpiece and the life-size wooden statue of Robert d’Arbrissel, both dating from the 16th century. Robert d’Arbrissel founded the Abbey of La Roë in 1096 and the Abbey of Fontevrault in 1101; his relics are on display at the monastery of Martigné-Briand in Maine-et-Loire. This route is certified by the FFRandonnée. Suitable for both walking and cycling.

The Guerche Forest is ever-present on this route, whether you follow its southern edge or it closes off the horizon to the north. Beautiful architecture typical of the Pays Guerchais in Drouges and its many villages.

The village of Argentré-du-Plessis lived for five centuries in the shadow of the Château du Plessis. This family remained the owners of almost the entire village until the early 20th century, and Alain d’Argentré was mayor until 1983. You will pass close to the Château du Plessis during this walk. Route certified by FFRandonnée. Suitable for both walking and cycling.

The charming little village of Broons, whose church was built using stone from the quarries in the Corbière Forest. A mill, the edge of the forest, ponds, a beautiful sunken path and distant views towards the south at Les Quatre Vents add to the charm of this idyllic route, which holds the FFRandonnée label.

As you wander along the shaded dirt tracks, you’ll come across numerous wooden or stone crosses and, always open for visitors to rest, the charming Saint-Joseph Chapel (dating from 1870) with its surprising bestiary: lions, deer, sheep… situated next to the village of Les Lardries, a former hospital for plague victims.

A welcoming destination on the edge of the Mayenne region and a true paradise for walkers, the village and countryside of Le Pertre offer stunning panoramic views: from the viewing platform behind the church, you can see 39 church spires.

Horses reign supreme in Le Pertre: there are numerous stud farms specialising in draught, riding and racehorses, and the racecourse, situated at the foot of the village which has been perched on the hill since the 11th century, is emblematic of the area. Le Pertre lies on the border between Maine and Brittany, so much so that the young children from Saint-Cyr-le-Gravelais in Maine walk along a pleasant path to get to the school in Le Pertre. FFRP-certified. Suitable for both walking and mountain biking.

Take a stroll along the Plan d’Eau de la Cantache, a leisure area much loved by locals: fishing, birdwatching, walking… You’ll pass close to the Haute Pierre menhir. FFR-certified route, marked with yellowPR® signs, supplemented by green arrows bearing the number 15 (anti-clockwise). Suitable for both walking and mountain biking.

Take a stroll through the countryside of Montreuil-sous-Pérouse and its valleys. On this route, you’ll cross charming little wooden bridges spanning the Ruisseau de la Pérouse.

This FFRP-certified route will take you through the valleys of the Montreuil-sous-Pérouse countryside. You’ll also pass by Lac de la Cantache. Suitable for both walking and cycling. Signposting in a clockwise direction: green arrows marked with the number 6

This route takes you through the countryside around Châtillon-en-Vendelais. Suitable for walking or cycling.

This route will take you through the rolling countryside of Châteaubourg. You will also pass close to the Vilaine river, which winds its way through the entire department. This hike can be done on foot or by mountain bike. FFRP-certified route.

This route will take you on a timeless stroll through the medieval alleyways of old Vitré. You’ll also have the chance to explore the Pré des Lavandières and the Promenade du Val. Signposted in a clockwise direction. FFRP-certified route.

As its name suggests, it is clear that this route follows the greenway for a considerable distance, along which the railway line to Argentré-du-Plessis and then La Guerche-de-Bretagne once ran. It is now reserved for walkers, hikers and cycle tourists. The route continues with a brief glimpse of Madame de Sévigné’s residence before returning towards Vitré via small, shaded roads and paths.

Wide forest lanes, a walk through the woods where only birdsong can be heard, plus a pond where large waterbirds reign supreme and fish provide their meal – this is the ultimate aim of this walk, which will end as it began: on sunken paths through the bocage, with very little tarmac. The Gaudinais route on the RANDO’ maps of the Vitré Community

A typical village of the Upper Breton bocage, come and discover the little hamlet of Champeaux with its huge collegiate church, then set off along the bocage paths to reach the 140-hectare Cantache lake, created in 1995 to support the low-water level of the Vilaine and to regulate floodwaters.

Here is a route for those who enjoy small, tarmac-surfaced country roads. Nevertheless, the verges are wide enough that, very often, you can walk on soft ground. It is also hilly enough to offer beautiful views of the surrounding countryside at certain points. The Rocher route in the Vitré Communauté guidebook

Walking alongside the Haute Vilaine reservoir for its entire length is the main attraction of this walk, which will also allow you to discover the charming little village of Saint-M’Hervé.

After walking through the undergrowth of the Chevré Forest, you will discover this vast plateau via wide paths and small country lanes, where fields of grain blend with green meadows, ending as you began with a walk through the Bois de Briérue and the Orée du Bois lake near La Lisière.

Lovely country lanes winding through gently rolling countryside dotted with charming houses.

The famousGR® 34, which runs along the entire Breton coastline, also reveals a few inland sites with striking terrain, such as the wooded hills of Montautour and Châtillon-en-Vendelais.

The Haute Vilaine Lake covers an area of 155 hectares and holds 8 million cubic metres of water, with a maximum depth of 13 metres. Created in 1982, its purpose is to regulate winter floods on the Vilaine for Vitré and Rennes, located downstream. Walking around the lake allows you to enjoy the lake and the forest paths.

A stone's throw from Vitré, a historic town in the Marches de Bretagne region, Lake Cantache stretches across three municipalities: Champeaux, Monteuil-sous-Pérouse and Pocé-les-Bois. A winter stopover for migratory birds, their presence is a source of wonder.

Wolves were very common in Brittany until the 19th century. The Argentré-du-Plessis region was no exception. Although its refuge was the Pertre forest, which we will cross in its western part, its hunting ground extended over the entire municipality, as evidenced by the names of certain localities such as Louveaudière, Cul de Loup and even the Bois de Noirloup, which we will pass by. But you can hike in complete safety, as the wolf has been extinct in the region for over a century.

Unfortunately, they have since disappeared, but in the 17th century, the region’s vineyards produced a wine of some renown. Madame de Sévigné, in fact, mentions it in several of her letters. Today, the only traces that remain are the names of local hamlets: Les Bourgeons, La Vigne, etc. Over the final few kilometres, the route runs alongside the Quincampoix, a small river teeming with wildlife. Vineyard Route No. 57 on the RANDO’ maps of the Vitré Community

This route will take you through the Châteaubourg countryside where, as its name suggests, there are several ponds: Pont de Pierre Pond, Roches Bises Pond and Grand Fayelle Pond. You will also walk along a small section of the Corbière Forest. This route is FFRandonnée certified. It can be done on foot or by bike.