Dehault walks

Over hill and dale, following the sunken paths and the Montretaux stream, discover the charming village of Dehault and its landscapes.

Set off to explore the hills and valleys of the Saint-Aubin countryside and its varied landscapes: woods, meadows and cultivated fields.

Discover this peaceful village, its countryside and its hedgerows by following its sunken lanes, which offer beautiful panoramic views of the Même valley and the hills of the Perche.

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, 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.

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

The former parish of Saint-Denis-des-Coudrais developed under the influence of the lords of Chéronne, who held the parish seigneury, until the Revolution. Under the Ancien Régime, the village fell under the jurisdiction of the Perche (right bank of the Chéronne) and the Maine (left bank of the Chéronne). Whilst the local economy was primarily agricultural, deposits of very high-quality white clay were exploited from an early stage to supply the nearby pottery workshops, notably those in Tuffé, Bonnétable and Prévelles. This activity ceased in themid-20th century with the closure of the last workshop in Prévelles in 1962. The place names bear witness to this history: Les Caves, la Fosse (now called Les Merisiers), and les Terres Blanches.

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.

This route through valleys and bocage will allow you to explore the countryside around Boëssé le Sec. You’ll discover a beautiful avenue of pollarded trees.

The village of Villaines, situated near the ancient Le Mans–Chartres road, developed in the Middle Ages around the church, on the hillside. You will appreciate its rural charm and the well-preserved architecture of the village houses and the old farmhouses scattered across the countryside. Their materials – terracotta for the tiles and bricks, limestone rubble and lime plaster coloured with local sand – blend beautifully with this scenic setting, offering fine views over the Huisne valley.

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.

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.

Tuffé-Val-de-la-Chéronne is a new commune formed in 2016 from the merger of the communes of Tuffé and Saint-Hilaire-le-Lierru. Inhabited since the Neolithic period, as evidenced by the Grandes Brières dolmen, Tuffé began to develop in the Early Middle Ages with the founding of an abbey around 650. From the Middle Ages to the Revolution, the monastery of Tuffé was also a large seigneurial estate bearing the title of barony; its power sparked emulation and, at times, rivalry with the neighbouring lay lords of Chéronne. At the end of the 19th century, the railway gave the village a new lease of life; it encouraged the establishment of an industrial estate on which the town’s current economic vitality still partly rests.

The route through the countryside around Tuffé takes us to the Château de Chéronne and the church of Saint-Denis-des-Coudrais. The Chéronne, which feeds the Tuffé lake, crosses and recrosses the sunken paths several times. This route is best enjoyed in good weather as the dirt tracks can be quite wet.