In the shade of the hedgerows towards Thorigny-sur-Dué

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A few archaeological finds attest to human presence in Thorigné as far back as the Neolithic period. In Gallo-Roman times, a large agricultural estate (villa) is thought to have been the origin of a permanent settlement, which is better documented from the Middle Ages onwards. Despite the destruction of its medieval castle, which was replaced by a bourgeois house in the19th century, Thorigné stands out as a fairly large village offering a wide variety of civil architecture, spread out along the main axis linking the Dué valley to the church. Probably of Romanesque origin, the church was enlarged in the16th century and remodelled inthe 18th century . It houses interesting stained-glass windows and furnishings, such as the high altarpiece dating from 1669 and the18th-century side altarpieces.

Details

n°97633505
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 7.30 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 30 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 203 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 213 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 472 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 299 ft
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Photos

Notre-Dame Church in Thorigné-sur-Dué

Description of the walk

Park in the church car park.

(S/E) From the church square, at the hiking signpost, take the Chemin de la Vigne on the left and head up the small road. (By taking the first left, you can follow a 10.3-kilometre alternative route. By taking the second left, you can follow a 5-kilometre alternative route.) Otherwise, continue straight on at every junction until you reach the path through the woods.

(1) Turn left onto this path and continue straight on until you reach the hamlet.

(2) At the hamlet of Les Haies, take the road on the left, pass a junction and then follow the tarmac path on the left towards La Petite Oisellerie.

(3) Continue straight on along the paths to the picnic tables located after Guilmet.

(4) At the junction, continue along thesecond path on the left until you reach the road.

(5) Follow it to the left for 200 metres and take the path on the right towards Les Brosses. You will come to a small road.

(6) Follow it to the left, then, at the ‘Give Way’ sign, turn right onto a road.

(7) Leave the road and go straight on along the path that climbs towards the woods. At the top of this, continue to the right.

(8) At Les Galbrunières, take the road on the left and follow it for 1.5 km to return to the village and the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 318 ft - Church Square
  2. 1 : mi 0.89 - alt. 427 ft - Path through the woods
  3. 2 : mi 2.04 - alt. 446 ft - The hamlet of Les Haies
  4. 3 : mi 2.85 - alt. 463 ft - La Petite Oisellerie
  5. 4 : mi 3.62 - alt. 469 ft - Crossroads
  6. 5 : mi 4.39 - alt. 456 ft - Route
  7. 6 : mi 5.31 - alt. 358 ft - Narrow road
  8. 7 : mi 5.68 - alt. 341 ft - Crossing the road
  9. 8 : mi 6.19 - alt. 331 ft - Galbrunières
  10. S/E : mi 7.3 - alt. 322 ft - Church Square

Notes

  • Yellow markings
  • 40% tarmac

Map and full route description available in the Perche Sarthois Hiking Guide (50 routes). On sale at Perche Sarthois tourist offices for €10.

Worth a visit

  • Notre-Dame Church (12th century, and17th–18th centuries).
  • Old yew tree pruned into a topiary.

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