The Maquis des Bois de la Croix in Connerré

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Situated in the Huisne valley, inhabited since prehistoric times, Connerré developed in the Middle Ages around a religious centre comprising the Church of Saint-Symphorien and a priory. The town, enclosed by a wall at the end of the 16th century, opened up at the end of the Ancien Régime thanks to the construction of bridges replacing fords and the expansion of transport links: the construction of the Paris–Nantes royal road around 1780, followed by the opening of a station on the Le Mans–Paris line in 1854. These developments fuelled the economic boom of the 19th century through fairs and markets and the growth of industry. The market town modernised and expanded gradually, then more rapidly from the 1970s onwards. Today, Connerré is an attractive small town, situated halfway between Le Mans and La Ferté-Bernard.

Details

n°97210283
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 3.50 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 1h 50 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 233 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 220 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 472 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 217 ft
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ City: Connerré (72160)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 48.029911° / E 0.451558°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 1819SB
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Photos

Place de Connerré

Description of the walk

Start at the Maquis des Bois de la Croix memorial. There is space to park a car.

(S/E) Facing the memorial, take the road on the right and head down to the left towards the Chemin de la Grande Bergerie. Continue straight on until you reach the road.

(1) Turn left onto the Route de la Jatterie and continue for 1.5 km.

(2) At the hamlet of Huche-Corneille, take the road on the left for 500 metres. At the junction, near the hamlet of Le Piquet, leave the stony track on the right and take the path on the left through the woods. At the end, join the RD323.

(3) Turn left along the RD323 (take care) for 250 metres, then turn left opposite the hamlet of La Pommeraie
to return to the woods. Follow this path, which leads to the hamlet known as La Vieille Cour.

(4) Take the road on the right for 600 metres. Pass La Moisellerie on your right and take the first path on the left. At the end, turn right onto the path leading back to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 430 ft - Memorial
  2. 1 : mi 0.44 - alt. 466 ft - Route
  3. 2 : mi 1.45 - alt. 407 ft - La Huche-Corneille
  4. 3 : mi 2.27 - alt. 220 ft - D323
  5. 4 : mi 2.93 - alt. 404 ft - La Vieille Cour
  6. S/E : mi 3.5 - alt. 430 ft - Memorial

Notes

  • Yellow markings
  • 50% tarmac

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

  • Maquis des Bois de la Croix memorial.

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The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.