In Tillières, easy trails through vineyards and bocage landscapes meet cultural history and wine tastings. To help you choose a route, there are two hikes and a mountain bike loop, each with a different distance and starting point. You can first choose based on activity and route length, then explore the town’s other attractions.
Hiking and Mountain Biking
The “La Cour” loop is 5 km long, easy, and marked in yellow. It starts at the Moulin Guillou car park and passes through vineyards and bocage landscapes. The route also takes you past medieval heritage, including a fortified farmstead and L’Orvoire, the remains of an 18th-century seigneurial estate. If you’d like to combine scenery and historic sites on a hike, you’ll find both along the same route.
“Les Vignes” is the longer hiking option: this easy loop is 10 km long and also starts at the Moulin Guillou car park. That makes it twice as long as “La Cour.” The 6.5 km “Les Vignes VTT” mountain bike loop is also easy, but starts on Route de l’Olivière. When choosing, look for the VTT designation: it identifies the cycling route, not the 10 km “Les Vignes” hike. The distances and starting points help distinguish the three routes.
Moulin Guillou and Historic Buildings
The Moulin Guillou windmill is a two-storey tower built around 1860 and restored in 1982. Its Berton sails span 14 metres. The rotating roof can be turned to face the prevailing winds. There is a picnic area and car park near the mill. This site combines technical features with practical visitor facilities; the car park is also the starting point for both hiking loops.
Another historical landmark is the Église Saint-Pierre in Tillières, a neo-Gothic building dating from 1869 to 1870. The Grotte de Lourdes du Verger was blessed around 1932 and is dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Together with Moulin Guillou, built around 1860, these structures represent different chapters in the town’s history, from a 19th-century mill to religious sites from the 20th century.
Landscape and Nature Watching
Vineyards and bocage landscapes shape the route of the “La Cour” loop. A separate nature note concerns the Braudière stream: Eupatoire chanvrine may be seen nearby. This plant typically grows in wetlands or alongside ditches. Its visibility can vary by season, so spotting it is a possibility rather than something to expect on every visit.
Wine Tasting at Domaine du Colombier
At Domaine du Colombier in Tillières, visitors can explore the cellar and enjoy personalised wine tastings with the winemaker. This adds a wine-related activity to the hiking and cultural experiences. As opening details may change, it’s best to check them before your visit.
Discover more destinations: Artannes-Sur-Thouet, Le Louroux-Béconnais, Beauvau, Neuvy-en-Mauges, Ingrandes, Saint-Georges-des-Sept-Voies, Drain, Châteauneuf-Sur-Sarthe
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