A 16th-century baptismal font, an 18th-century altar with an altarpiece, and the sunken lanes of Les Rotrières are distinctive features of Saint-Aubin-Des-Grois. The village is also connected to Saint-Cyr-la-Rosière by paths and a small ford.
Saint-Aubin Church: Details from Several Centuries
The baptismal font is in the southwestern part of the nave. It is an octagonal basin made of dressed stone and dates from the 16th century. The altar and altarpiece date from the 18th century. The altar has a curved front; the altarpiece has side wings, a curved pediment and ornamental urns. The baptismal font is therefore older than the altar ensemble.
The church is dedicated to Saint Aubin, the Bishop of Angers. There is a Gothic window on the south side; the north side has four small windows, two of which resemble loopholes. The apse has a domed vault. The surviving interior includes enclosed oak pews and a shingle-covered ceiling with its tie beams and posts intact. The windows, apse and nave offer different architectural details, while the baptismal font and altar ensemble illustrate the range of periods represented in the furnishings.
Local History and Memorials
Abbé Frédéric Gobelet served Saint-Aubin-Des-Grois from 1898 to 1929. He was responsible for the Calvary in the village centre, the church cross and five crosses commemorating the First World War. The crosses thus link the priest’s history with the memorials dedicated to the First World War; the Calvary is located in the village centre.
Routes with Different Features
Les Rotrières is marked in yellow and signposted with its own arrows; follow the signs reading “Les Rotrières”. The route description was updated on 23 December 2024. Highlights of the route include attractive sunken lanes and well-preserved traditional buildings. The markings and arrow signs provide specific guidance, while the sunken lanes and buildings describe the route’s landscape and architectural features.
The route from Saint-Aubin-Des-Grois to Saint-Cyr-la-Rosière starts on a small road towards Préaux-du-Perche. It then follows paths and crosses a small ford to reach Saint-Cyr-la-Rosière. The focus here is on the route from its start towards Préaux-du-Perche to its destination. The two route descriptions therefore highlight different features: sunken lanes and traditional buildings define Les Rotrières, while the route to Saint-Cyr-la-Rosière includes paths and a ford.
Explore the Village’s History Independently
Saint-Aubin-Des-Grois is included in the Cœur du Perche Tourist Office’s offerings. Downloadable village guides for independent use focus on local history. You can use the booklet as a guide for your own explorations; check before travelling whether the village guide you want is available.
Those interested in architectural history will find specific details in the church and its furnishings. Those who want to focus on routes can compare the features described for Les Rotrières with the route across the ford to Saint-Cyr-la-Rosière. The village guides add local history to these topics and can be used independently.
Discover more destinations: Athis-De-L'Orne, Goulet, La Ferté-Macé, Montabard, Saint-Ouen-de-Sécherouvre, Essay, Nocé, Médavy.
View the regional travel guide: Orne.
