Trails, waterways and culture as travel inspiration

In Sarthe, there are several ways to explore: on foot, by bike and on the water. There are also castles, museums and regional specialities. When planning a trip, you can start by asking which of these themes you would like to shape your stay. The trails and routes vary in scale, from an extensive network to a multi-day circuit with a set distance.

Hiking and cycling: networks and individual routes

A network of more than 5,000 kilometres of trails stretches across more than 300 municipalities in Sarthe. There are also seven GR long-distance hiking trails. One specific multi-day hike is the GR de Pays des Alpes Mancelles: the circuit is 89 kilometres long and can be completed in four or five days. This offers a choice between a large number of trails spanning many municipalities and a single circuit with a stated distance and duration.

When cycling, too, it is worth considering the scale. The Sarthe à vélo network comprises 430 kilometres of cycle routes. The Sarthe department highlights Sarthe à Vélo, Vélobuissonnière and Vallée du Loir à vélo as emblematic cycling routes. The latter, also known as V47, is a 320-kilometre route that passes through La Flèche. So, 430 kilometres describes the Sarthe-à-vélo network, while 320 kilometres is the length of one individual route.

Waterways and nature

In Sarthe, 86 kilometres of waterways are navigable. On a wider scale, Rivières de l’Ouest covers 283 kilometres of waterways in Sarthe, Mayenne and Anjou. On waterways in and around Sarthe, you can explore by houseboat, electric day boat or canoe-kayak. Check with operators about availability in advance. Elsewhere on the wider waterways network, towpaths also offer opportunities for hiking and cycling. Travelling on the water and following a riverside path are two different ways to experience a waterside landscape.

Sarthe has 20 Espaces Naturels Sensibles (ENS). One distinctive natural feature is the Pierrier de la Vallée de Misère: it is not accessible to visitors, but a viewpoint offers a view of the scree slope and valley. Check this access condition again before you arrive. This makes it possible to appreciate the landscape from the viewpoint without planning to visit the Pierrier itself.

Castles, museums and regional cuisine

Sarthe has more than 400 remarkable sites, including 60 castles. In addition, 424 buildings are protected as historic monuments. The Sarthe Musée network comprises 14 museums. Castles, protected buildings and museums offer different cultural themes rather than just one way to explore.

The cuisine offers another way to discover the region. Rillettes de porc are a culinary speciality of Sarthe and part of its heritage. Connerré is considered the capital of Sarthois rillettes. The AOC wines Jasnières and Coteaux-du-Loir are produced in southern Sarthe. Savoury rillettes and the two wines represent different aspects of the region’s food culture.

Getting there

The A11 and A81 motorways connect Sarthe with Paris, Rennes, Angers and Nantes.

Discover more destinations: Rouillon, Vezot, Jupilles, Le Bailleul, Mansigné, Sablé-Sur-Sarthe, La Chapelle Huon, Marolles Les Braults, Poille Sur Vegre, Rouez, Saint-Pierre-Des-Bois, Saint-Calez-En-Saosnois, Saint-Germain-D'arcé, Saint-Pierre-Du-Lorouer, Sillé-Le-Philippe, Saint-Rémy-De-Sillé, Berfay, Cormes, Degré, Nuillé-Le-Jalais, Fontenay-Sur-Vègre, Mézeray, Saint-Corneille, La Bruere Sur Loir, Aubigné-Racan, Thoiré-Sous-Contensor, Saint-Léonard-Des-Bois, Congé-Sur-Orne, Le Mans, Yvré-Lʼévêque, Vivoin, Vinay, Précigné, Mamers, Le Lude, La Ferté-Bernard, Fercé-Sur-Sarthe, Crosmières, Conflans-Sur-Anille, Beaumont-Pied-De-Boeuf, Arnage, La Flèche, La Chartre-Sur-Le-Loir, Le Grand-Lucé, Malicorne-Sur-Sarthe, Avezé, Vaas, Coulombiers, Beaumont-sur-Sarthe, Saint-Paterne, Souvigné-Sur-Même, Le Tronchet, Luché-Pringé, Montfort-Le-Gesnois, Mulsanne, La Suze-Sur-Sarthe, Saint-Saturnin, Bousse, Sillé-Le-Guillaume, Saint-Calais, Thorigné-Sur-Dué, Fresnay-Sur-Sarthe, Brûlon, Loué, Saint-Pavace, Savigné-L'evêque, Saint-Georges-De-La-Couée, Château-Du-Loir, Sceaux-Sur-Huisne, Pontvallain, Saint-Mars-Sous-Ballon, Saint-Ulphace, Savigné-Sous-Le-Lude, Solesmes, Saint-Aubin-Des-Coudrais, Tuffé, Dissay-Sous-Courcillon, Bouloire, Ruillé-Sur-Loir, Monhoudou, Chevillé, Neufchâtel-En-Saosnois, Ballon, Vibraye, Coulans-Sur-Gée, Bessé-Sur-Braye, Allonnes, Saint-Michel-De-Chavaignes, Assé-Le-Boisne, Souvigné-Sur-Sarthe, Vouvray-Sur-Loir, Sainte-Sabine-Sur-Longève, Cérans-Foulletourte, Saint-Mars-D'outillé, Cherré, Bonnétable, Montreuil-Le-Henri, Saint-Christophe-Du-Jambet, Rouessé-Vassé, Gesnes-Le-Gandelin, La Quinte, Guécélard, Surfonds, Saint-Ouen-De-Mimbré, Saint-Jean-De-La-Motte, Champagné, Notre-Dame-Du-Pé, Challes, Oizé, Changé, Lavernat, Ruaudin, Flée, Parigné-Le-Pôlin, Chahaignes, Courdemanche, Domfront-En-Champagne, Brette-Les-Pins, Valennes, La Chapelle-Aux-Choux, Mézières-Sous-Lavardin, Pirmil, Ancinnes, Chantenay-Villedieu, Mareil-Sur-Loir, Poncé-Sur-Le-Loir, Ségrie, Aigné, Maigné, Conlie, Lhomme, Vernie, Maresché, Coudrecieux, Juigné-sur-Sarthe, La Fontaine-Saint-Martin, Saint-Gervais-en-Belin, Vion, Saint-Jean-du-Bois, Joué-en-Charnie, La Bazoge, Tresson, Arçonnay, Roézé-sur-Sarthe, Mont-Saint-Jean, Courgains, Cré, Saint-Victeur, La Chapelle-Saint-Aubin, Teloché, La Milesse, Ruillé-en-Champagne, Marigné-Laillé, Cherreau, Bourg-le-Roi, Chemiré-en-Charnie, Chenu, Coulaines, Semur-en-Vallon, Pezé-le-Robert, Montbizot, Moncé-en-Belin, Moulins-le-Carbonnel, Vallon-sur-Gée, Beaumont-sur-Dême, Asnières-sur-Vègre, Chaufour-Notre-Dame, Écommoy, Cures, Montaillé, Bazouges-sur-le-Loir, Cogners, Villeneuve-en-Perseigne, Dureil, Crannes-en-Champagne, Villaines-sous-Lucé, Piacé, Villaines-la-Carelle, Épineu-le-Chevreuil, Rouperroux-le-Coquet, Chemiré-le-Gaudin, Avessé, La Bosse, Connerré, Villaines-sous-Malicorne, Saint-Georges-le-Gaultier, Sainte-Osmane, Montreuil-le-Chétif, Saint-Ouen-en-Belin, Tennie, Sargé-lès-le-Mans, Luceau, Thoiré-sur-Dinan, Auvers-le-Hamon, Courcelles-la-Forêt, Louplande, Pruillé-l'Éguillé, Marçon, Crissé, Courgenard

For the regional travel overview: Pays De La Loire.