The best road cycling routes around Le Luart

Very nice road!

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.

In this architecture we find different styles and periods, from the 12th, 15th, 16th to the 19th century, including Gothic and Neo-Romanesque. Romanesque bays and foothills. Stained glass window and 16th century font as well as the current apse and the two side chapels. The south door with its lintel and its straight feet decorated with rosettes and diamonds. The church had stained glass windows from the end of the 15th and beginning of the 16th century. Fragments exist in the speckles and spandrels of the bay of the Rosary Chapel, listed in 1983. The stained glass windows are almost all dated and signed by the same glass painter between 1885-1889 "af Paris" probably Anselme Fialex, son of François Fialex who was a glass painter in Mayet Creation of an entrance to the square as well as the opening of new 19th century bays. the vault, paneled and undoubtedly painted from the beginning, was redone in 1602 with restoration in the 19th century, when a new decoration was painted. The main altar dates from 1867.

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.

Church founded in the 11th century, dependent on the archdeaconry of Montfort. Built in the Romanesque style, it originally had a single nave extended by an apse. The building was remodeled in the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries. The two side chapels were successively added in 1550 (north) and in 1607 (south). The western portal dates from the 16th century. It is flanked by bas-reliefs embedded in the masonry dating from the construction of the building and which represent masks, volutes and circles. In the north wall is another vestige of the ancient decoration of the church, a curious stone statue probably representing Saint George. The spire of the bell tower has been registered as a historic monument since January 6, 1926. The registration was extended to the entire building and the sacristy on July 1, 2015.

The first mentions of the Saint-Germain church in Sceaux-sur-Huisne appear in the cartulary of the Saint-Vincent abbey in Le Mans: around 1050, Bouchard de Théligny gave the Sceaux church land and a meadow located at proximity. At this time, the building, then "in bad woods", was rebuilt in stone. The nave is considered to be the oldest part of the church and dates back to the 11th century, but it is in reality difficult to date due to multiple alterations and even reconstructions. The masonry shows several repetitions and a confused assembly of elements which could come from older buildings, such as the remains of the Gallo-Roman villa which was exhumed at the end of the 19th century in the valley (small regularly cut rubble stones, debris of roof tiles). There are also traces of old openings, such as a door opening onto the priory. Although it is probable, there is no element to formally identify the Romanesque construction. The current openings are later, such as the small Gothic bay in the western wall and perhaps the south door (15th century?) and the other openings probably made around the first half of the 18th century. Significant masonry and structural work is actually mentioned in the nave in 1709. The choir and the bell tower were probably built in the first half of the 16th century, in a late Gothic style. The factory accounts mention various works in the 1530s and 1540s: roofing, construction of a ballet, stained glass window of the "grant window"... The tower was perhaps built in several stages if we rely on the changes masonry nets in the elevation. It was visibly remodeled at the end of the 16th century or the beginning of the 17th century, as indicated by the semi-circular openings, one of which was walled up. From 1570, the du Bouchets were lords of Sceaux and had their coat of arms, "azure with three rings of sand", affixed to the keystone of the chapel under the bell tower (since replaced by a flower) and on the vault paneled nave and choir. As for the windows on the north wall of the choir, they were undoubtedly open in the 18th century like those in the nave. During the Revolution, the church was seized as national property and sold to a certain René Neveu in September 1796, excluding the furniture. The two bells installed in 1719 and the fittings were handed over to the administration to be melted down. The church was returned to the town after the death of Mr. Neveu in the 1810s. The church underwent some occasional maintenance work (mainly on the roof) in the 19th and 20th centuries, but not an overall restoration. In 1831, an estimate was drawn up to enlarge the church with a chapel, in order to better accommodate all parishioners: this project was not carried out. The same year, the flag which still covers the bell tower was put up. The current sacristy (Gambert architect) was added in 1862 to replace another very dilapidated one, blocking a window now only visible from the inside. The second half of the 19th century also saw the clearing of the surroundings of the church, cluttered with lean-tos and hidden by an imposing washhouse finally moved in 1870. The last work, concerning the roofing, was carried out in 1989. The church of Sceaux-sur-Huisne has been listed as a Historic Monument since 1926.

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