Mayenne walks

In the northern Mayenne countryside, Lassay-les-Châteaux is a small town that is well worth a visit. As you walk along the surrounding paths, a few signposts invite you to follow in the footsteps of Lancelot through meadows, forests and the remains of three castles. An easy walk on well-maintained paths and a few country roads.

A very pleasant walk to rediscover the Mayenne countryside, between sunken paths, wooded areas, fields of cows and crops.

This 15 km route will take you through the magnificent sunken lanes of Hambers. It is ideal for all nature lovers: on foot, by bike, or even on horseback! This route is marked "No. 24" on the yellow directional signs.

The Lac de Haute Mayenne, artificially created by the Saint-Fraimbault dam, will charm you with its rich and varied flora and fauna. But this route will also allow you to discover the confluence of two rivers that feed into the Mayenne: the Varenne and the Colmont.

Come and discover the charming little paths north of Sainte-Suzanne. Along the way, you can visit the English camp (or Beugy camp) and enjoy a beautiful view of the Mayenne countryside.

This route will take you through the hills of the Coëvrons and allow you to discover the beauty of the sunken paths in our region.

This short walk will take you to discover the Jouanne and its stepping stones, as well as the Bois de l’Orbière, the Château de la Mazure and the Rochevier lime kiln. The stepping stones have been reinstalled a little further down the route.

Following the marked trails, you will cross the Petite Cité de Caractère (Small Town of Character) of Saulges and enter the limestone walls of a superb canyon.

This route will take you along the hedgerow paths between Sainte-Suzanne and Chammes.

A short detour to Rochefort, a charming hamlet on the banks of the Mayenne, is highly recommended to admire the river. You can quench your thirst at La Guinguette before continuing your journey.

This route, which has little elevation gain, is an opportunity to discover typical villages and hamlets with rich granite architecture. This route is marked "No. 22" on the yellow directional signs.

This walk will allow you to discover the Château des Lutz and the Château de Mortreux.

This beautiful walk will take you through the pretty, flower-filled village of Saint-Sulpice and its countryside. In season, you can visit the gardens of the Château de la Rongère in the village. You can also enjoy the peace and quiet of the banks of the Mayenne river by taking the towpath.

Immerse yourself in nature at the heart of the Mont des Avaloirs Regional Nature Reserve! At 416 metres high, Mont des Avaloirs, the highest point in western France, takes you to the summit of the Armorican Massif. You are in the heart of the Normandy-Maine Regional Nature Park and Geopark. On the poor soil of Armorican sandstone, the dominant habitats are heathland and deciduous woodland. In this gentle, low-lying landscape, you’ll also find meadows, peat bogs and scree slopes. Current inventories list over 2,000 species, several of which are heritage species such as the European Nightjar and the Montagu’s Harrier. Numerous routes set off from this particularly well-preserved natural environment, dotted with magnificent sites. This trail offers a total immersion in nature, with themed stops to trace the thread of history, discover the wildlife and flora, and understand how the landscapes have evolved. Along the way, new views unfold!

Come and discover the architectural and heritage treasures offered by this route and the sunken paths! You will get a glimpse of the Grande Charnie Forest. Marked route "No. 29". This route can be combined with the "Tour de Viviers" route to reach Torcé-Viviers-en-Charnie.

A hike starting from the iconic Mont des Avaloirs viewpoint, offering a beautiful route through the Multonne forest. Before or after the hike, be sure to climb the 108 steps of the building for an exceptional 360° view and, as you ascend, discover the brightly coloured street art by Seb Toussaint, a Franco-British graffiti artist. Route of the Mont des Avaloirs Community of Communes.

Discover forgotten heritage by following towpaths, forest paths, country roads and sunken lanes.

A pleasant hike starting from Origné. You will discover the charm of the Mayenne countryside and the towpath along the River Mayenne (a particularly pleasant stretch in fine weather).

A very pretty trail in the Merdereau valley, through the forest and over the hills of Averton, with some panoramic views and good dirt tracks covering 73% of the route.

This 20.5 km route invites you to linger over the beautiful granite architecture of the village of Mézangers and its superb Château du Rocher, to walk around the Étang du Gué de Selle pond while observing the rich surrounding flora and fauna, to cross the Bois d'Hermet woods and even take an ancient path. This route is marked "No. 25" on the yellow directional signs.

There are only two old mills, no longer in operation, on this route, but it will also allow you to explore the woods and moors of the Gastinais region.

The goal of this hike, which can be done as a circular or round trip, is none other than the highest point in western France, at... 416 metres above sea level. From the viewpoint that has been built there, you can enjoy a 360° panorama and, on a very clear day, you can see the silhouette of Mont Saint-Michel, about a hundred kilometres away.

Visit Andouillé and its countryside with its gentle hills and cross the Ernée via its stepping stones.

This is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful walks in the Lassay-les-Châteaux area. Lots of sunken paths, some woodland and a stream.

This hike will allow you to discover the countryside between Grez-en-Bouère and Bouère. You will pass close to the Taude river and will also be able to see a few châteaux. In Bouère, don't miss the lovely views of the quarries.

This route gives pride of place to the River Mayenne, following its course for over four kilometres. As you travel upstream, you will pass five lock-and-dam complexes, some of which are linked to a small power station.

The second Origné route in South Mayenne, which will take you along the Mayenne towpath.

A short route along the sunken paths of the small village of Sacé, passing by the River Mayenne.

This 7.6km route is primarily aimed at walkers who want to take the time to discover the richness of our heritage.

The Mayenne is a land of pastures where plots of land remain small. There are numerous sunken lanes here, and you are invited to explore several of them. One slight drawback: due to their nature, there is no continuity. Walkers will therefore have to accept walking some distances on tarmac roads.

This route will allow you to discover the Mayenne countryside and its landscapes. Don’t miss the Croix des Chouans, a 3-metre-high monument erected in the 19th century and featuring a medieval cross. Finally, once the walk is over, don’t forget to take a look at the River Erve and the pretty houses lining its banks.

This 8.9 km route (marked yellow, no. 28) is particularly suited to walkers and mountain bikers. It combines exploring local heritage and sunken paths, and offers a glimpse of the Grande Charnie Forest.

This lovely walk will take you through the countryside of southern Mayenne and the small villages of Saint-Brice and Les Agêts, with their rich industrial heritage (brickworks and lime kilns). You can extend your walk to the Bellebranche forest or head to Bouère and its many attractions.

This circular route will allow you to explore the countryside of Haut-Anjou on the border between Mayenne and Maine-et-Loire. You will pass close to the Oudon, a pretty little river, near the Moulin de Sevillé.

This route will take you along pretty sunken paths and up into the hills. It is signposted with yellow directional signs: No. 38 – on the Crêtes d’Hambers. You can combine this route with No. 24 – the Hambers circular route.

The Mottes route in Saint-Denis-d'Anjou will take you on a tour of this charming little town, its market halls, its church and the countryside of Haut-Anjou.

Set entirely in woodland, this walk is suitable for everyone.

Here you will discover the rich heritage of the Coëvrons: chapels, churches, lime kilns and mills. This route will also reveal the beauty of our landscapes through the steep-sided paths, caves and Saulges canyon. You will also spot the unflappable aurochs!

A short, very easy walk in the countryside around Saint-Denis-d'Anjou, starting from the pretty little church of Saint-Martin-Villenglose.

Unnoticeable to the hiker, this route has a unique feature: the waters encountered in the south feed into the Atlantic basin, whilst those in the north flow towards the English Channel. It does, however, offer the chance to explore a site where woodworking was, for several centuries, the primary industry.

Accessible by train from Neau station (where there is also a car park), the route allows you to explore the Coëvrons countryside, the village of Neau and its church decorated with medieval frescoes (open daily), and the Château de la Grande Courbe, open to the public in July and during Heritage Days. Most of the route follows quiet roads and paths through the bocage.

A lovely walk with a succession of paths, sometimes through the forest and sometimes along sunken lanes. You will also follow a section of theGR®365. This walk is signposted with yellow directional signs marked “No. 41 – Collines et vallée d’Orthe”

With one foot in Normandy and one in Brittany, this trail offers some truly stunning views. After taking in the panoramic scenery, you’ll wind your way through the shaded paths along the Futaie Valley.

A walk through the ages, surrounded by nature. You’ll discover reproductions of Impressionist works by Ludovic Piette and Camille Pissarro, as well as megaliths including the Menhir de la Pierre Robert and a dolmen. Finally, the beautiful Bignon manor house and its hamlet.

A superb circular walk starting from the ‘Petite Cité de Caractère’ of Lassay-les-Châteaux, voted France’s third favourite village in 2023. 94 per cent dirt tracks and some wonderful heritage sites to discover along the way: Lassay Castle, Bois Thibault Castle and the ruins of Bois Frou.An interpretative trail based on the legend of Lancelot du Lac enhances this route with several stops featuring information panels on themes from Arthurian legend. The Château de Bois Thibault, open during the tourist season (weekends and public holidays only), features a magnificent round table and a comic strip depicting the legend of the famous knight Lancelot.

Gain some height on this beautiful heritage walk.

A short, easy walk suitable for families around the La Rincerie lake. A pair of binoculars might be useful for exploring the birdwatching area (western part of the lake).

This circular route will take you to discover the Château-Gontier Viaduct, which opened on 5 October 2022. This monumental structure is 296 m long and 28 m high. After taking in some wonderful views of the river, set off to explore the must-see sights of Château-Gontier.

How about setting off on a walk from a peaceful pond, heading towards ancient hamlets? Here, nature shows you its best side, and you’ll discover magnificent views. This 17 km route is suitable for walkers, horse riders and mountain bikers and is signposted “No. 21” on the yellow directional signs.

The route to the north-west of Villiers-Charlemagne is characterised by water, with sections running alongside the village’s ponds in the village as well as the River Mayenne. You’ll also catch sight of some beautiful castles.