Route from the Oratory starting from Saulges

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.

Details

2003130
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 8.33 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 40 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 97 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 96 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 100 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 51 m
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ District: Saulges (53340)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 47.982602° / W 0.40685°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 1519SB
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Photos

Description of the walk

Departure from Place de la Mairie.

Signposted route No. 33 on yellow directional signs.

(S/E) Take the road next to the Bistrot de la Place restaurant and head towards Les Molaines. At the first intersection, continue straight ahead and pass the lime kiln.

(1) After the lime kiln, at the first intersection, turn right, then take the first left. Follow the signs to the cave site car park, enjoying the natural boxwood grove (boxwood formation) passing close to a plot known as "dry grassland" maintained by Ouessant sheep.

(2) Go down the path towards the river, passing in front of the Museum of Prehistory and the Canyon restaurant. Cross the wooden footbridge and turn left. Walk along the river on the right bank for 1.5 km. In the last meadow, keep left on the right bank to take the stairs at the bottom of the plot.

(3) Turn left at the top of the stairs. Take care when crossing the D554. Be careful! Take the small dirt track overlooking the campsite to the Petit Saint-Cénéré leisure area (swimming & outdoor games, restaurant).

(4) After the car park at the Petit Saint-Cénéré leisure area, turn right. Take the road bridge and continue straight ahead until you reach a dirt track on your left. Follow the signs, passing in front of the Manoir des Croisnières.

(5) At the fork, take the path on the left until you reach the road and turn right. Continue straight on until you reach the D130.

(6) Turn left onto the D130. Be careful, as this is a dangerous road with poor visibility and heavy traffic. Keep left for 200 metres until you reach the first road leading to Saulges.

(7) Continue straight ahead until you reach the village and the Place de la Mairie (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 99 m - Town Hall Square - Église Saint-Pierre (Saulges)
  2. 1 : km 0.91 - alt. 69 m - Turn right at the first intersection.
  3. 2 : km 1.82 - alt. 66 m - Saulges caves site - Grottes de Saulges
  4. 3 : km 3.45 - alt. 56 m - On the left at the top of the stairs. Cross the - Erve (rivière) - Affluent dela Sarthe
  5. 4 : km 4.27 - alt. 53 m - On the right after the car park.
  6. 5 : km 5.65 - alt. 85 m - Path on the left
  7. 6 : km 7.14 - alt. 65 m - D130
  8. 7 : km 7.27 - alt. 71 m - Road to Saulges
  9. S/E : km 8.33 - alt. 99 m - Town Hall Square - Église Notre Dame de l'Assomption (Saulges)

Notes

This hike can be combined with circular No. 34, "Boucle de Saint-Pierre" (7.6 km).

- Place de la Mairie in Saulges: car park, toilets.
- Saulges caves: car park, toilets, picnic tables, restaurant; natural site to visit.
- Saint-Cénéré Oratory: picnic tables.

Worth a visit

- Saulges:
- Saint-Pierre Church (8th century): upon entering this modest sanctuary, you will find yourself in the middle of two small churches nested within each other on two different levels. Discover wall frescoes and antique paintings.
Church open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

- Notre-Dame Church (11th century): from the outside, this church with its imposing bell tower, like a keep, gives a massive impression. But in contrast, inside you will discover artistic refinement with rich altarpieces from different periods: don't forget to press the button on the right as you enter to illuminate them better (and also create an appropriate sound atmosphere).
The church is open every day from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

- Restored lime kiln and lime burner's house: built in 1838, it produced lime for fertilising the soil. Free access or guided tour by appointment: 02.43.90.51.30 (for groups only) - From Easter onwards: visits on Sundays (except 10 August) and public holidays from 2pm to 6pm.

- Oratory of Saint-Cénéré (7th century): take the footbridge across the river opposite the restaurant: a place of pilgrimage founded by the monk Céneré inthe 7th century.
Free access.

- Caves and Canyon of Saulges: among the twenty or so caves that dot the valley, two are open to the public for guided tours every day from 16 March to 14 November. The Grotte Ornée Margot, a listed historic monument, offers a horizontal route accessible to children aged 3 and above. 
In contrast, the Grotte de Rochefort features a 15-metre-deep chasm, accessible to children aged 6 and over.

- Prehistory Museum: in this new museum space, you can discover collections from the Saulges Caves and the Department. The highlight of the visit is a 3D exploration of the Mayenne-Sciences Cave.

- Thévalles Mill: this watermill has an exceptional mechanism on four levels which, to the delight of young and old alike, is set in motion during each visit. Open from1 May to1 October.

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 9 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
zltvc
zltvc

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 01, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

I highly recommend this route, where you are surrounded by nature. The town is well worth a visit. Definitely worth seeing again

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Patrick Davard
Patrick Davard

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 06, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike in a magnificent and well-maintained setting. I highly recommend it 😊👍

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L'indien
L'indien

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 18, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant hike in a gently rolling, wooded and uncrowded landscape. We took the opportunity to visit the prehistoric caves of Saulges located on the hiking route (a must-see).

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pascal1951
pascal1951

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 09, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant, easy walk, the valley of caves is very exotic, we fell in love with it, and our friends were not disappointed.
The old chapel of Saulges and its wooden statues are a must-see.

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Baladeuse66
Baladeuse66

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 11, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

At one point, do not take the winding road uphill, but instead follow the signs for the rest area and campsite downhill.
Take a short detour to visit the unmissable oratory.
The pretty village of Saulges.
The whole area around the caves is very interesting, with cliffs, meadows, a river and stepping stones.
The cave tour was replaced by a video: be careful, they just forget to mention this when you book...
A beautiful, colourful autumn hike with lots to discover.

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fredchristine14
fredchristine14

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 10, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

It's a shame not to make a little detour to the oratory in question.

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MarcR62
MarcR62

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 13, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful route.
Between points 2 and 3 (meadow between the river and the cliffs), you can visit the entrance to the caves and continue on to the plateau overlooking the canyon.
You can also cross to the left bank of the river via a footbridge and return downstream on the right bank using the stepping stones. So there are some interesting variations.
Saulges: a very beautiful village that is well worth a visit, which is why it is a good idea to start this walk in the centre of the village.

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Closerie
Closerie

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 12, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

To give my opinion, I cannot change the date to 11/08, the date of the hike.

There was just a little confusion when passing the campsite, where there is a visit to the Oratory nearby. We had to look into the distance to see the signpost for the rest of the hike on the side of the road after the car park.
In any case, it was very good and very interesting. An easy and enjoyable hike. Worth doing again sometime.
The points of interest are well signposted and worth seeing.

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evaperezherran
evaperezherran

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 13, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Very pleasant!

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mch56
mch56

Hello,
Yes, I have downloaded it, but for later.
I will give you an answer when I have done it.

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