An 11.9-kilometre mill trail and four orienteering courses give Saint-Mars-du-Désert two different ways to explore the town actively. Le Détour des Moulins is a circular trail through Saint-Mars-du-Désert that connects three mills and offers a view of the Plaines de Mazerolles. On the orienteering courses, participants follow marked checkpoints using a special map. You can choose between a walking route with a specified distance and duration and an activity focused on navigation. The courses are suitable for families or friends.
Le Détour des Moulins circular trail
The circular trail is listed as 11.9 kilometres long and taking three hours. These details give you a concrete basis for fitting the route into your stay. Along the way, visitors can see three mills, including the Moulin des Places. The route also offers a view of the Plaines de Mazerolles. The Moulin des Places was used to generate electricity, giving one of the mills a clearly identifiable historical function. The route, mills and landscape views make this a distinct choice for anyone who wants to explore Saint-Mars-du-Désert on foot.
Orienteering courses with a map and checkpoints
On the four orienteering courses, participants follow a route marked with checkpoints. They use a special orienteering map and, if needed, a compass. The contact point for the courses is at Plan du Verdier. The difference from the mill trail lies in how you make your way around: here, the goal is to find the checkpoints using a map; on the Détour des Moulins, a set circular route and its stated duration help you plan. If you are looking for a map-based activity to enjoy with family or friends, this option is a good fit.
Église Saint-Médard and local history
At the heart of the town stands the Église Saint-Médard, an important part of the community’s architectural and historical heritage. The present church was built from the 1850s onwards to plans by Nantes architect Henri Gilée (1816–1885). It was rebuilt in the pointed-arch Neo-Gothic style. An earlier church had origins dating back to the 10th century; it was probably built on the Île Saint-Denis in the marshes on the banks of the Erdre. This makes it possible to distinguish the history of the earlier church building from the construction of the present one.
Individual features also shape the church’s character: its four bells were baptized on 7 August 1877. Frescoes by the Lemasson brothers are located above the door on the west wall of the north transept. The presbytery in Saint-Mars-du-Désert also houses statues entitled Vierge à l'Enfant and Christ en croix. Together, the building’s history and artworks offer several points of interest for exploring the local heritage.
Chapelle de la Ceriseraie and places for leisure
The Chapelle de la Ceriseraie is a landmark on a hill and was founded in 1602. The chapel grounds also include a mill. This makes it another historical point of interest alongside the mill trail, though the two should not be understood as the same place to visit. Another leisure option is the Skatepark de Saint-Mars-du-Désert: it covers 450 m² and is located by the new sports complex. The town therefore offers a range of different themes to choose from—a route with mills and landscape views, orienteering courses, architectural and church history, and the skatepark.
Discover more destinations: La Rouxière, Malville, Herbignac, Paulx, Asserac, Nantes, Trignac, Barbechat.
For the regional travel overview: Loire-Atlantique.
