Ceton walks

Taking beautiful sunken paths, over hill and dale, you will discover magnificent panoramic views of the Cétonais countryside and be amazed by its diversity: woods, meadows, hedgerows and cultivated fields.

Through sunken lanes, hedgerows and woods, discover the landscapes of the Perche region as far as Ceton, the Jambette Valley and the Huisne Valley.

A lovely walk along sunken paths, through woodland and across the gentle hills of the Perche. Panoramic views of the Huisne and Maroisse valleys.

This route, which alternates between sunken lanes, forest paths and flat sections, will take you to the hill overlooking the Huisne Valley to the west. Along the way, several panoramic views allow you to admire the meadows of Avezé, a veritable hay barn that has provided for generations of farmers.

The village of Avezé developed in the Middle Ages to the north-east of the church, which was rebuilt inthe 16th century, at the same time as the priory that adjoined it, of which only extensive farm buildings remain. The main street is dominated by a large two-storey house known as the “Maison du prieur” (Prior’s House), dating from the 15th or 16th century, notable for its rear stair tower and its elegant façade that juts out over the current street.

This route offers panoramic views of the Huisne valley on the outskirts of Nogent-le-Rotrou.

Cherré-Au is a new commune formed in 2019 by merging the communes of Cherré and Cherreau, located east of La Ferté-Bernard. The village of Cherreau has always been closely linked to the neighbouring town of La Ferté-Bernard. Indeed, in the Middle Ages, the lords of La Ferté took over the Abbey of La Pelice at the end ofthe 12th century. Then, in the14th century, the Domaine de la Plaisse was incorporated into that of La Ferté. More recently, as the town of La Ferté-Bernard expanded inthe 19th century, it encroached upon Cherreau, annexing the hamlets of Gué-Faux and La Fosse Fondue in 1889, which bordered the road to Paris.

Lush green valleys, steep hillsides, majestic panoramas, sunken lanes and their gnarled pollarded trees are all part of this beautiful countryside walk, which crosses the wide Huisne valley and takes you through the villages of Mâle and La Rouge.

Situated on the eastern slopes of the Huisne, Courgenard, first mentioned at the end ofthe 9th century, was the seat in the Middle Ages of an important barony belonging to the chapter of canons of Le Mans Cathedral. The fine Romanesque architecture of Saint-Martin’s Church still bears witness today to the power of this barony, as does the remarkable16th-century decoration adorning the chancel. In the19th century, the village still lived off agriculture and the production of hemp cloth. Today, it forms part of the La Ferté-Bernard employment area.

Like the neighbouring village of Gréez, the medieval development of Saint-Ulphace is linked to the settlement, between the Braye and the Saint-Ulphace stream, of a hermit monk in the6th century. The Hermitage of Saint-Ulphace led to the clearing of the surrounding land and the settlement of Christianised populations, followed by the establishment of the parish, first mentioned in 802.

A hike through woods, sunken paths and hills that will introduce you to the Même valley, a panoramic view of Saint-Germain-de-la-Coudre and the church of Gemages. Along the way, you will admire the charming village of L'Hermitière, its castle and its church perched proudly on a hill.

Following the sunken lanes of the Perche and the rolling hills, the route passes through the village of Gemages, the Angenardière Manor and the Priory of Sainte-Gauburge with its Ecomuseum. The return journey to L’Hermitière takes you through the Bois des Baronnières, which overlooks Le Theil.

Situated on a small hill overlooking the surrounding area, the village, which takes its nickname from the Échelles farm, the former seat of the parish seigneury, offers a well-preserved architectural and landscape setting, dominated by the Church of Saint John the Baptist. Built inthe 12th century, this church underwent embellishment work in the16th century: what remains is the painted panelled vault, resting—an extremely rare feature—on posts placed against the walls, and above all the remains of an extraordinary altarpiece in carved and painted limestone, dated 1558. The décor was redesigned in the18th century with the installation of three new altarpieces.

A historical and heritage tour of the capital of the Perche region, following in the footsteps of Rotrou III, Count of the Perche, Maximilien de Béthune, Duke of Sully, and Rémy Belleau, poet of the Pléiade.

Starting from the 13th-century priory of Sainte-Gauburge, this route leads along sunken paths to the Dolmen de la Pierre Procureuse, the site of several legends, then passes in front of a feudal motte at the Tour du Sablon and several fortified farms, before reaching the Angenardière manor house.