Route de Ballée in Chémeré-le-Roi

From Sablé-sur-Sarthe, take the D306 towards Meslay-du-Maine. At St-Loup-du-Dorat, take the D24 towards Val-du-Maine and Ballée. Park by the first church.

(S) With your back to the church, turn right onto Route de Linières and cross the bridge over the Erve. Take the first road on the right, a minor road towards Auvers-le-Hamon. Cross two streams. Ignore two junctions, then after the second, you’ll reach a crossroads.

(1) Turn left, cross the high-speed rail line and continue right towards the Chapelle de la Chasnière. After the chapel, enter a wood. Once at the edge of the wood, you’ll reach a junction.

(2) Leave route no. 2 and turn left onto the green path. Continue straight on along this path until you reach a small tarmac road.

(3) Take the stony path opposite towards La Chouanardière, turning left after a few hundred metres, and continue along a green path until you reach a small tarmac road.

(4) Take this road to the right, then turn left onto the first stony path. Continue straight on until you reach a four-way crossroads.

(5) Take the grassy path on the right. This leads onto a small tarmac road.

(6) Follow it to the left until you reach the D235 (temporary road).

(7) Take the grassy path opposite towards Thévalles. On this path, enjoy the view of the mill and Thévalles Castle before reaching the Erve valley.

(8) Cross the bridge and walk past the mill, continuing along the path to the D130.

(9) Turn right. Caution: dangerous road and bends. Cross the Erve and take the first path on the left towards Les Croisnières. Return to the river.

(10) Cross the Erve again before the Moulin de Pré and continue along this tarmac path
until you reach the green path.

(11) Follow it to the left. Continue along this path until you reach the junction with a main track and turn right. Follow this track to a wayside cross and take the path on the left. Then continue straight on until you reach a cross.

(12) Head right to join the Chemin de Grésillon. Turn left onto Rue Saint Pierre to reach the square in front of the church in Chémeré-le-Roi. Turn right at the church, passing the wash house. Turn right onto Rue des Fontaines to reach the D24.

(13) Turn left twice to reach the playground car park, the finish point, heading straight on, keeping the road ahead of you (E).

Please note, this walk does not return to the starting point: please arrange for at least two vehicles.
At the start of the walk, near Ballée church, there is a car park with around ten spaces (next to the town hall). Further parking spaces are available along the D24 (towards Saint-Loup du Dorat)
In Chémeré-le-Roi, you can park in the car park by the playground on Route de Saulges.

Alternative: the walk can be done in the opposite direction. The start sign is located at the
car park of the Chémeré-le-Roi playground (opposite the cemetery, on Route de Saulges).

Places to visit near the walk.

- The Erve Valley: 70 km long, the Erve rises in the Coëvrons range and flows into
the Sarthe at Sablé-sur-Sarthe. A natural area of faunistic, floristic and ecological interest, classified
Natura 2000, it is characterised by the river’s deep incision into the landscape, forming a veritable canyon,
combined with a string of prehistoric caves. In Saulges, you can visit the Margot and
Rochefort caves.

- Thévalles Mill, Chémeré-le-Roi: in the heart of Maine, on the banks of the Erve, three mills have
succeeded one another on this very site. Unique in western France, this watermill features an
weighing over 30 tonnes, spread over four levels, which is brought back into operation for every
tour. The Thévalles Watermill in Chémeré-le-Roi is open to the public from June to October (for individuals) and all year round by appointment for groups. Further information is available at www.moulin-de-thevalles.com

- La Maison du Porche, Chémeré-le-Roi: this civil building, constructed at the end of the 15th century, overlooks the small
square and the church. The originality of this house lies in its façade, which features four
made of Roussard sandstone, an architectural feature that is very rare in the Maine region. At that time, a large
part of the church square was surrounded by arcaded buildings, and the cemetery was situated in its
centre.

- Château de Linières, Ballée: serving as both a cultural hub and a venue for visits and activities, Linière(s) is dedicated to
mission to make art accessible to all without detracting from the richness of the works. You can therefore enjoy
an open-air opera or explore the Centre for the Interpretation of Myths and Legends in the former
outbuildings of the Château.