The ‘Route des Trotteurs’ in Ruillé-Froid-Fonds

Car park at the church square.

(S/E) Start at the church square. Head towards Rue d’Anjou and turn right onto it until you reach Rue des Tonneliers
which you should follow. At the end of this street, turn left (Route du Bignon). After 1.3 km, turn
right. At the Croix Courdeau, turn left onto the stony track. Continue for 1.7 km
until you reach Le Gage. Turn right and follow the road for about 1.7 km (temporary road).

(1) Turn right onto the grassy strip next to a track. Continue along this green track, which winds
the fields for 1.5 km, then rejoin a track leading to the Haras du Verger.

(2) Turn right onto the D152 for 300 m, then left for 200 m. Turn left onto the green path
leading to the Haras du Grand Buisson. Cross the road and carry on straight ahead to enter the Bois
du Puy. Cross the D109 (temporary road) and carry on straight ahead until you reach a tarmac road.

(3) Turn right onto this tarmac road. After 1.1 km, turn right towards La Sarchère.
Take the green path straight ahead and, after the Pont Perdreau stream, turn left. On the
tarmac road, turn left towards the village of Froid Fonds. At a place called Le Presbytère, turn right
onto a track. Follow it to the D154.

(4) Turn right onto the D154 (temporary road). Continue for 500 m and turn left onto the Chemin des
Faribaudières, then turn right towards La Basse Faribaudière. Continue straight on to reach the village of
Ruillé-Froid-Fonds and the church car park (S/E).

Parking spaces are available in the church square. In the village centre, you can enjoy a meal at the restaurant Le Camélia (which is also a hotel).

Ruillé-Froid-Fonds Town Hall – 8 Rue du Calvaire, 53170 Ruillé-Froid-Fonds // 02 43 07 71 53

Restaurants and bars: Le Camélia (hotel-restaurant), Le Bon Accueil

Toilets: behind the town hall

Château du Puy: construction began in 1650, with new buildings added during the
18th century, and the complex was completed with a country park featuring arbours and ponds. The estate survived
survived the Revolution but was the scene of some clashes in 1832. The buildings and grounds are
listed as historic monuments.

Church: dedicated to Saint Protais and Saint Gervais, the town’s patron saints, and dating from the 12th century, it was burnt down twice during the Revolution, in 1792 and 1793. During this same period, it served as barracks for the National Guard. The bell is listed as an object by the Historic Monuments authority.

Horse breeding: a land of horses, the commune gained some renown thanks to the 2015 Prix d’Amérique, as the two horses that finished in the top two were both trained in the commune (‘Up and Quick’ was trained there by Franck Leblanc and ‘Voltigeur de Myrt’ by Roberto Donati).

Chapel: situated in the village of Froid-Fonds, it dates back to the 11th century. It was bequeathed to the monks of Solesmes at the end of the 20th century. Dedicated to the Virgin Mary, it is surrounded by the village’s old cemetery.