The best traffic-free bike rides around Dollon

Very nice road!

Religious building or fortified castle? The church of St George is surprising! Of Romanesque origin (11th century), the places have been transformed over the centuries, notably during the wars of religion where the church was fortified. A front part is built with a complete defense system: watchtowers (small turrets), loopholes and barred doors. These defense elements narrowly escaped destruction in the 17th century. Inside you can admire a Virgin and Child, Saint Barbara, Saint Paul and of course the statue of Saint George. You will also be able to observe the remains of one of the Aunais crosses. The building presents many other treasures: old clock mechanism, exhibition on the Cassini family, liturgical vestments...

The first mentions of a place of worship in Tuffé refer to the Sainte-Marie church of the abbey and then the priory, from the 7th century. The creation of the parish of Tuffé is perhaps contemporary or later but currently not documented. Could the priory’s Sainte-Marie church, mentioned much earlier than the Saint-Pierre church, also have once been the parish church of Tuffé? Could the embryo of the current parish church be this private chapel that Hugues Doubleau gave to the abbey with the Sainte-Marie church at the beginning of the 11th century, according to the cartulary of the Saint-Vincent abbey in Le Mans ? In any case, the parish is only attested late by texts (beginning of the 12th century in the same cartulary), but the non-oriented plan of the church, as well as the term Saint-Pierre, argue for the age of the building. The addition of Saint-Paul to the term seems very late, even abusive, since the archival documents systematically refer to a Saint-Pierre church, as does the decoration of the building in the 19th century. If this is an error, it was perhaps induced by Julien-Rémy Pesche at the beginning of the 19th century. The oldest part of the current building is the nave, much remodeled subsequently but the base of the walls of which shows in places a structure made of small rubble stones from the Romanesque period at the latest. But above all, the north gable wall and the first bay of the gutter walls show traces of openings and corner chains made of bricks alternating with limestone cut stones. This formula, rare if not unique in Perche Sarthois, is debated as to its dating. Some historians see it as a testimony to Carolingian architecture. Others, more cautious, put forward an archaic dating of the 11th century, where the use of brick alternating with stone would be an economic choice rather than an aesthetic one: this would explain a certain irregularity in the implementation, particularly in the arch of the old door of the north gable wall. The same uncertainty hangs over the addition of the buttresses and the opening of the current north gate. The nave is covered with a new framework and a spire and the paneling was installed in 1604 as evidenced by the signature (repainted in 1885) “In 1604 this Church was labruchée – Tomas Mabile attorney of the Fabrique de Séans ". The dating of the other parts of the church is not much easier. The construction of the east chapel (presbytery side) is not in too much doubt, the Renaissance decoration of the door to the street and the cupboard, although crude, indicates the middle of the 16th century. This chapel, dedicated to the Virgin, belonged to the lords of Chéronne. Its western counterpart (square side), dedicated to the Sacré-Cœur and built by the lords of Ramée, is less easy to date due to lack of ancient decor. This chapel could have been built shortly before or shortly after that of Chéronne, but undoubtedly not simultaneously, as evidenced by the slight asymmetry of the roofs and the different profile of the structural members. The apse, generally considered to also date from the 16th century, could only be from the 3rd quarter of the 18th century, as a bundle of clues suggests: the axial wall left blind probably to accommodate an altarpiece, the plan burrow made between 1757 and 1759 which still shows a circular apse undoubtedly Romanesque, as well as a document from 1775, indicating that the priest "would have had the necessary and pleasant works done to the great altar of the said church caused by the demolition and construction that Mrs de Saint-Vincent would have had the gable of the said church made. The sacristy would be a 17th century addition.

Located in the heart of Connerré, the Catholic church of Saint Symphorien is an essential historical monument of the city. With its Gothic architecture and colorful stained glass windows, this church offers visitors a unique experience. It is a place of worship as well as a place to visit for all architecture and history enthusiasts. The beauty of Saint Symphorien leaves no one indifferent, whether for a simple visit or to attend a mass. Its doors are open to all and everyone can find a place of meditation and peace there. Don't hesitate to take a trip there to discover the richness of this monument steeped in history.

Founded in 1229 by Bérengère de Navarre, widow of Richard the Lionheart, it constitutes one of the most beautiful Cistercian jewels in France. It was acquired by the Department of Sarthe in 1959. The Royal Abbey of Épau constitutes one of the finest examples of Cistercian architecture in France. In 1229, Bérengère de Navarre, widow of Richard the Lionheart, decided to found this abbey at the gates of Le Mans, where she was buried a year later. During the Revolution, the abbey, almost deserted by monks since the 18th century, was sold as national property to an industrialist. Then transformed into an agricultural operation, the abbey experienced many vicissitudes before its purchase by the Department of Sarthe in 1959. A vast restoration program, still in progress, is giving it a second wind, making the abbey one of the most important places cultural heritage of Sarthe. The abbey also hosts the sessions of the departmental assembly of which it has been the seat since the 1970s. Since July 1, 2016, its management has been entrusted to the Sarthe Cultural Center whose mission is to offer it a new dimension, in order to strengthen its cultural role in the region. Recently, the research of Father Michel Niaussat, a Cistercian monk writer, has shed light on the royal character of the building. L'Épau Abbey then became Royal Abbey of l'Épau in March 2017. Alongside this cultural and tourist growth, another flagship project which will guide the development of the abbey in the coming years: the transformation of the park into permacultural garden. It must then be remembered that times of prayer and work were equivalent in the Cistercian rule. This agricultural dimension is at the heart of the departmental project, the ultimate objective of which is to restore as faithfully as possible the original principles of the place. The abbey, which has preserved almost all of its buildings, is located at the gates of Le Mans. It is inserted in a 13 ha enclosed park delimited by a surrounding wall.

VISITS Free individual visits Individual guided tours Average duration of the individual visit: 1:30h Groups welcome from 10 people Free group visits Guided group tours Guided group tours on request Educational group visits Average duration of the group visit: 1:30h Point of interest visible without visit Languages available Spoken: French, English Panels: French, English Audio: English, French ACTIVITIES Specific thematic animation Workshop for adults Children's workshop Conferences Temporary exhibitions Sound and light

PRICES Individual price adult: €5.50 Individual price reduced: €4.00 Job seeker, student, RSA, person in disability situation, Cezam card, CE Individual price child: €3.00 10-17 years old Free: €0.00 Under 10 years old and accompanying person

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