Anille (rivière) walks

Setting off from this village-street with its rich architectural heritage, head along the ancient sunken paths, sections (1) to (6) ofthe GR®® 235, lined with a variety of trees – oaks, service trees, serviceberries, wild pear trees and so on – offering walkers an enchanting, shaded route. These paths, in the heart of the rolling countryside of the Perche Sarthois, are linked by a network of quiet country lanes, offering stunning 180° panoramic views from the higher points.

Situated on a small spur at the confluence of the Anille and Roulecrotte rivers, the village, first mentioned in the 13th century, retains several old houses, including the town hall, a former presbytery built in the 15th century. The church, rebuilt around 1780, features a beautiful collection of murals painted around 1860 using potassium silicate (a new technique for the time).

The evolution of Saint-Calais is evident in its town planning, which developed in the Middle Ages on either side of the Anille. On the right bank, the former abbey site founded inthe 6th century is still visible in the two tall gables of the current resource centre. During the Revolution, it gave way to another administrative centre with imposing buildings and the straight streets typical ofthe 19th century. On the left bank, on the hillside between the river and the castle founded inthe 11th century to rival the powerful abbey, you can easily make out the medieval quarter, which was built around the axis of the Grande Rue on an irregular and densely packed grid of plots.