A roadside oratory, a menhir about six metres high and a heritage trail through the village reveal different sides of Noyal-Sous-Bazouges. They are joined by historic buildings, roadside crosses spread across the commune and a hilly landscape shaped by streams. Together, these elements connect individual heritage features with a broader perspective on the landscape.
Religious symbols and a striking stone
By the roadside stands the Oratoire de saint Nicolas: a stone niche that houses an old statue of Saint Nicholas. A healing custom is still associated with the oratory, in which parents place their children’s belongings around the statue. This place is therefore defined both by its visible form and by an ongoing local devotional practice—a different way of engaging with it than with monuments that stand out primarily for their dimensions or architectural details.
The Menhir de Landes-Ros is located in Noyal-Sous-Bazouges and is also known as Pierre Longue. It is about six metres high and topped with a small monolithic granite cross. Its four flat sides are aligned with the cardinal directions. Its height, material and orientation give the monument clearly distinguishable features and add a geometric perspective to the religious symbols in the village.
There are also about forty roadside crosses spread across the entire commune. The contrast is clear: Pierre Longue is a single named monument, while the crosses are more numerous and distributed throughout the commune. In this way, the religious heritage ranges from a single place with a traditional practice to a large number of crosses across the area.
Architectural history and walking routes
The Maison des Plaids, also called Maison Boullault, is located at 15 Rue Maréchal Ferrand and dates from 1566. Both names refer to the same house. The date provides a precise historical reference and offers a different way into the history of the village than the devotional practice at the oratory or the menhir’s orientation.
The heritage trail runs through the heart of the village and includes 15 points of interest. Among them is the Gothic doorway of the former church, which dates from the 14th to 15th century. The trail thus combines a route through the village centre with a specific architectural detail. The former church portal evokes a different historical period from the Maison des Plaids, which dates from 1566.
The Circuit du Val starts at Place de l’église in Noyal-Sous-Bazouges. A steep section offers views of the communes of Marcillé-Raoul and Saint-Rémy-du-Plain. The routes have different emphases, which is useful when comparing them: the heritage trail focuses on its 15 stops and route through the village, while the Circuit du Val is defined by its starting point and the steep section with its views.
The landscape as another point of interest
Numerous streams shape the hilly, green landscapes of Noyal-Sous-Bazouges and form natural boundaries. The character of the place therefore extends beyond individual monuments and buildings. Visitors who want to connect the heritage features with the landscape can explore the streams and hills as a separate point of interest alongside the routes described. These landscape features describe the commune as a whole; the Circuit du Val, by contrast, is characterised by its starting point and the section with views of the two communes.
There are several ways to choose a particular focus: architectural history with specific dates, religious symbols in different forms, or a route whose described features relate either to the village centre or to a section with views. The details can be considered individually without combining the different places and routes into a single sequence of stops.
Discover more destinations: Landéan, Saint-Marc-Sur-Couesnon, Gosné, Saint-Aubin-D'aubigné, Dourdan, Janzé, La Chapelle-Aux-Filtzméens, Dingé
For the wider travel overview: Ille-Et-Vilaine.
