Fougerolles-Du-Plessis brings together architectural history and sacred art, a historic garden, clog-making, and a marked circular hiking trail. Its attractions range from a chapel documented since the 12th century to a manor house with a medieval predecessor. This gives you the choice of focusing your stay on different periods and interests, rather than getting to know the place through just one attraction.
Architectural history and sacred art
The Chapelle de Courbefosse has been documented since the 12th century, although it is probably older. Inside is a crowned, polychrome stone statue of Notre-Dame de Coubefosse. Polychrome means multicoloured: the statue thus combines stone as a material with a colourful finish. A visit to the chapel takes in both its long history and a specific work of art.
The Château de Goué is an inhabited 17th-century manor house, rebuilt on the site of a 14th-century castle. The two dates mark different phases of construction: an earlier castle and the later rebuilding of the manor house. Tours for individual visitors and groups are available on request. Visits are possible year-round by prior reservation; arrange the details before you arrive.
The Church of the Immaculate Conception also offers an art-historical point of interest: its 19th-century stained-glass windows depict scenes from the life of the Virgin Mary. The Chapelle Saint-Joseph de la Garde was built in 1891 and is about one kilometre from the town centre. La Chapelle de la Bigottière dates from 1639 and was built under the invocation of Sainte Geneviève. Together, these buildings offer different historical reference points and religious imagery.
Garden and clog-making
The Jardin de Curé still has an arbour planted in 1788, with several lime trees. The historic garden also features a cross-shaped layout, straight paths, and boxwood borders. These clearly defined features make the garden’s layout an essential part of its character. The former rectory garden is now a public space for walking, relaxing, and playing. Check the current condition of the area before your visit.
The Atelier du Sabot preserves historic tools. The exhibition includes various clog models and around a hundred wooden lasts for shoe sizes from 5 to 11Âľ inches. The collection draws attention to the craft as well as the variety of models and sizes. It offers a different way to explore local history than the chapels, church, and manor house: here, the focus is on clog-making, while the buildings primarily reveal their respective historical and religious connections.
Circular trail and landscape
For an outdoor option, the municipal Circuit de randonnée Claire-Fontaine et la Chapelle de Courbefosse is a marked circular hiking trail. It is 14.61 kilometres long, rated moderate, and classified as a walking route; as a circular trail, it returns to the starting point. Check trail conditions locally. The details on distance, difficulty rating, and circular route help with planning without specifying a walking time.
The landscape also shapes a visit, though at different geographical scales: the area around Fougerolles-Du-Plessis is characterised by forests, hills, ponds, and streams. The local landscape is characterised by bocage, with sunken lanes and hedgerows. If you would like to combine culture with time outdoors, you can treat the historic buildings and craft as one focus and the marked hike as another. This keeps your choices guided by your specific interests, without assuming a particular order or duration for your visit.
Discover more destinations: Andouillé, Désertines, Moulay, Montaudin, Saint-Mars-Sur-La-Futaie, Ménil, Pré-En-Pail, Saulges.
For the broader travel overview: Mayenne.
