Courdemanche (Sarthe) walks

A hike through two valleys. It passes through the hamlet of Saint-Fraimbault and its restored chapel.

The Braye, celebrated in song by Ronsard, meets the Loir here. Whilst Bessé-sur-Braye is best known to locals for its thriving paper industry, this village in the Calais region is also home to a Renaissance gem, the Château de Courtanvaux, which is said to have hosted Henry IV. Its large wooded park is open to the public all year round, and serves as the starting point for this walk, which also takes you through lovely countryside along a small tarmac road.

Bouloire is nestled in the heart of a vast, hilly agricultural region crossed by the Dué and Tortue rivers. Human presence along the ancient road between Le Mans and Orléans is attested to by a coin dating back to the Merovingian period. Its name comes either from a Celtic place name meaning "fortification" or from an etymology meaning "between two coasts ". The town centre is rich in ancient architectural heritage. The Church of Saint-Georges, destroyed by a fire that ravaged the village in 1680, bears the coat of arms of Marshal Guillaume Testu de Balincourt, who enabled its reconstruction. The town's coat of arms is also linked to this figure.

The route runs across agricultural land south of the Rhonne valley and ends by crossing an area of moorland adjacent to the Bercé Forest.

This circular route allows you to discover a site not far from Le Mans that is rich in natural beauty. Ponds, peat bogs, wet and dry moors, marshy woods... make up a mosaic of landscapes that are home to species that are rare in the region: harriers, hobby falcons, goshawks, purple herons, for the winged creatures; royal fern, marsh hottonia and sundew, for the plant world.

Parigné-Lévêque is a very large and wooded commune: northern pines with sand dunes, chestnut trees and birches in the south. The route allows you to discover the charm of numerous undergrowths, vast moors and ponds. The Narais stream is crossed in several places.

This route owes its name to the shape of its route, which evokes the silhouette of a leprechaun for dreamers. It offers a path between Jalais, a bocage plain on the Soulitré side, and the Huisne valley.

Situated between the Loir and the rock on the hillside, this route allows you to discover a picturesque natural heritage, typical of the Loir Valley and its troglodyte dwellings.

At the foot of the famous 24 Hours of Le Mans route, a pleasant stroll beneath Scots pines and maritime pines where the squirrel reigns supreme.

A pleasant little walk through woods and vineyards.

Picking these delicious little fruits is a great excuse for a getaway through the fields and woods of this countryside in northern Touraine.

The village of Duneau is located in a dominant position on the left bank of the Huisne, on a route that has been highly sought-after since prehistoric times. The Pierre Fiche menhir and the Pierre Couverte dolmen, dating from the Neolithic period (around 4000 BC), bear witness to this. These are the only visible archaeological remains among many others covering the periods of Antiquity and the Middle Ages.

Rated as easy, this hike crosses the Vibraye Forest. To make it a circular route, allow about 3 hours and do not leave the marked trail, which is public. Unlike the forest, which is private, the route is marked with round signs 10 cm in diameter reminiscent of the work of the forge. You are in the Haut Maine region. In the Middle Ages, this region was home to a significant metallurgical industry, made possible by the presence of iron ore, extracted from flint clay and quartz sand, as well as the large quantities of wood needed for the forges. The forest was managed by cutting down coppice wood every 18 years to renew the resource. The dominant species is oak, but the forest also consists of aspens, birches, chestnuts and pines. This pleasant route describes a craft activity through the display boards scattered around the former mining sites.

With 350 hectares of forest, 60% of which is made up of conifers such as maritime pines and Scots pines, this trail located at the Arche de la Nature offers hikers a breath of fresh air.

During this hike, you will have the opportunity to admire the Yvré countryside, its Roman bridge, the Gérence fountain and catch a glimpse of the beautiful Château de Vaux as you walk along the trails and part of the "Boulevard Nature".

An easy walk, 50% of which follows a path around the Auvours hill, which witnessed the War of 1870, where a tragic battle claimed 617 lives on 10 and 11 January 1871. Many mementoes of this war are housed in the church at Yvre, where one chapel is dedicated to the Papal Zouaves.

This route through fields and forests will allow you to discover numerous ponds, as well as the Château de Rochefort and the charming hamlet of La Roche Bourdeil.

A pleasant walk that begins along the Étang de Nouzilly and then takes you through numerous wooded areas.

The route is fairly hilly, often through woods, around the two Petites Choisilles streams. A passage on the heights offers a pretty view of the village of Nouzilly and its wooded hills.

This city walk takes you from park to park. From Parc de Gazonfier via the Jardin des Plantes and Parc Banjan, discover or rediscover the streets of Le Mans with its houses steeped in history and its breathtaking views.

Located in the municipalities of Sargé, Coulaines and Le Mans, this route runs largely along dirt tracks, sometimes tarmac, lined with hedges, trees and shrubs offering generous shade.

Walk along the sunken paths on the outskirts of Le Mans.

Hillside route along the riverbanks, on foot or by mountain bike. Some of the hill climbs are a bit steep. Take your time to enjoy the route.

This hike allows you to discover Montmirail, a "small town of character", and its green countryside through woods and sunken paths.