Sillé-le-Philippe walks

The first mention of the parish under the name “Siliaco Philippi” dates back to the years 1145–1187. From the Middle Ages onwards, the parish seigneury was annexed to the Château de Passais, which itself fell under the barony of Touvoie, owned by the bishops of Le Mans, situated on the border between Savigné-L’Evêque and Saint-Corneille. Sillé-le-Philippe gave rise to the creation of a linear village; long remaining modest in size, it is now expanding due to its proximity to the Le Mans conurbation. This development also benefits the hamlet of Chanteloup (situated on the old royal road from Le Mans to Paris via Mortagne, now the RD 301), which once boasted several cafés and inns.

A good twenty kilometres of peaceful walking through the countryside along sunken lanes, with almost 100% of the route on footpaths (less than 1.5 km of tarmac!!!) in the Beaufay countryside.

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.

From Terrehault, follow the dirt tracks lined with pollarded trees to the village of Jauzé and its thousand-year-old yew tree.

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.

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".

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.

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

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.

This easy route, more than 80% of which is on paths, will allow you to discover all the charm of Neuville-sur-Sarthe and its surroundings, the banks of the Sarthe, its old restored mills, the Château de Monthéard, as well as the history linked to the Second World War through the presence at that time of an American airfield in the countryside.

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.

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.

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.

An easy hike that can be enjoyed by the whole family, including children.

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.

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 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.

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.

Discover the Boulevard Nature, nestled between the countryside and the shopping area.

Since 2003, the "Old Mans" has been called "Cité Plantagenêt" after the Plantagenêt dynasty, the English royal family originally from Le Mans. The former provincial capital of Maine and Perche (from the 16th century to the Revolution), this stroll through the streets and alleys of Le Mans' historic district offers a pleasant walk in the natural setting of famous swashbuckling films (Cyrano de Bergerac, Le Bossu, The Man in the Iron Mask, Nicolas Le Floch, etc.).

This walk, combining town and countryside, takes you along the banks of the Sarthe, passing through the village of Coulaines and past Le Mans’s Saint-Julien Cathedral.It follows cycle paths and trails along the banks of the Sarthe.

This walk, along the banks of the Sarthe, features information boards about the local flora and fauna.Starting from Le Mans harbour, passing through the Gué de Maulny park with its many street art murals and continuing via Île aux Planches, this family-friendly walk is suitable for wheelchair users (three-wheeled) and pushchairs (also three-wheeled).