The Chéronne Valley in Saint-Denis-des-Coudrais

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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.

Details

n°97213856
Creation:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 3.22 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 1h 35 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 115 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 115 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 495 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 364 ft
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Photos

Village of Saint-Denis-Des-Coudrais

Description of the walk

Car park in the village near the war memorial.

(S/E) From the car park, take the tarmac path towards La Cure. Continue straight on along the path that descends towards La Plançonnerie.

(1) When you reach the road, continue straight on and take the first sunken track on the left, which climbs up towards Le Petit Bois. Continue for 600 metres.

(2) Back on the road, head towards Prévelles opposite. Continue along this road for 200 metres. Pass La Loinière, then take the covered path on the right at Pas d’Oie. Follow this route for 700 metres.

(3) At the end, ignore the paths straight ahead and to the right and take the small road on the left. Pass La Coudre and La Halopière. At the junction, take the road on your left for 500 metres.

(4) Then follow the stony path on the right towards Le Petit Cormier. Pass the farm building.

(5) At the next junction, take the path on the left in front of the house. Continue along the path which descends towards the village for 900 metres. Pass the church and continue left to return towards the village, leaving the path on your right. At the junction, head up to the left for 100 metres towards the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 394 ft - Car park
  2. 1 : mi 0.45 - alt. 364 ft - Route
  3. 2 : mi 0.84 - alt. 469 ft - Crossing the D80
  4. 3 : mi 1.41 - alt. 443 ft - Route to La Coudre
  5. 4 : mi 2.15 - alt. 479 ft - Gravel path
  6. 5 : mi 2.55 - alt. 486 ft - Descent to the village
  7. S/E : mi 3.22 - alt. 394 ft - Car park

Notes

  • 22% tarmac
  • Yellow markings

Map and full route description available in the Perche Sarthois Hiking Guide (50 routes). On sale at Perche Sarthois tourist offices for €10

Worth a visit

  • Saint-Denis Church.

Other walks in the area

Walking The Chéronne stream

Tourism professional
↔8.57 mi ↗+531 ft ↘-528 ft ◔4h 25 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Tuffé (Sarthe)
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.

Walking The Trognes Route in Boëssé-le-Sec

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Le circuit des trognes à Boëssé-le-Sec
↔7.82 mi ↗+495 ft ↘-492 ft ◔4h 00 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Boëssé-le-Sec (Sarthe)
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.

Walking Saint-Aubin-des-Coudrais and its hills

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Saint-Aubin-des-Coudrais et ses collines
↔7.66 mi ↗+456 ft ↘-427 ft ◔3h 55 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Saint-Aubin-des-Coudrais (Sarthe)
Set off to explore the hills and valleys of the Saint-Aubin countryside and its varied landscapes: woods, meadows and cultivated fields.

Walking From Le Tripoulin to La Vive Parence

Visorando Member
Du Tripoulin à la Vive Parence
↔6.31 mi ↗+351 ft ↘-331 ft ◔3h 10 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Bonnétable (Sarthe)
Spared by land consolidation, the commune of Bonnétable, best known for its medieval castle and deciduous forest, is much loved by walkers for its typical sunken paths and pleasant wooded countryside.

Walking The bellowing of the stag in Villaines-la-Gosnais

Tourism professional
Le brame du cerf à Villaines-la-Gosnais
↔2.53 mi ↗+190 ft ↘-164 ft ◔1h 20 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Villaines-la-Gonais (Sarthe)
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.

Walking The Beillé meadow

Tourism professional
↔5.58 mi ↗+135 ft ↘-135 ft ◔2h 40 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Beillé (Sarthe)
This walk follows the Huisne Valley and crosses the meadow where an American airfield was set up following the liberation of France in August 1944. A sign on site recounts the history of this temporary airfield.

Walking Palet de Gargantua Circuit

Tourism professional
Ronde du Palet de Gargantua
↔5.19 mi ↗+79 ft ↘-72 ft ◔2h 25 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Torcé-en-Vallée (Sarthe)
Known successively as Ecclesia de Torciaco, then Torcey and Notre Dame de Torcé, the former parish has been called Torcé-en-Vallée since 1926. The documents first mentioning it relate to the construction of the priory and the church. However, it is clear that Torcé’s history predates this, as evidenced by the megalith located at the western entrance to the village, known as the ‘Dolmen de Torcé’ or ‘Palet de Gargantua’. Human occupation may date back to the Middle Neolithic period.

Walking Around Duneau

Visorando Member
↔2.42 mi ↗+138 ft ↘-138 ft ◔1h 15 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Duneau (Sarthe)
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.

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