On the banks of the Vègre, Asnières-sur-Vègre reveals several clearly distinct facets: stone village houses, a rare medieval manor house, a church with wall paintings, and artworks hidden around the village. This variety is particularly helpful when deciding what to see. You can focus on historic architecture, explore the paintings in Saint-Hilaire, or look for a playful encounter with the Middle Ages and the village’s sculptures.

River, bridge and village houses

Asnières-sur-Vègre lies on the banks of the Vègre, which is crossed by the Vieux Pont. The river and bridge are therefore recognizable landmarks in the village. A walk past the stone houses offers another way to explore the village’s history. Visitors can admire the houses and discover the history of the place. This walk takes in the village as a whole, while Manoir de la Cour and Saint-Hilaire draw attention to individual, named buildings.

Manoir de la Cour: architecture and features

Manoir de la Cour is a rare, well-preserved, unfortified civil building dating from the late 13th century. Its historic features include latrines, a washbasin on the façade, carved windows, fireplaces and a heating oven. These features range from details on the windows to specific fittings within the building. Anyone interested in medieval architecture can appreciate both the building’s design and individual details of its interior features.

The manor also offers a playful, interactive way to explore the Middle Ages. The exhibition includes tools, models and games; younger children can enjoy a game of the goose and dress-up clothes for lords and princesses. Alongside the historic building, playful ways of learning are also a focus. This is different from viewing the preserved architecture: models and games are expressly part of the experience.

Saint-Hilaire and its wall paintings

Saint-Hilaire church, including its wall paintings, has been classified as a historic monument since 27 July 1979. A mural of Saint Peter is located on the south side of the nave wall at the triumphal arch. This identifies a specific location for the painting inside the church. While the manor stands out for its civil architecture and historic features, Saint-Hilaire draws attention to a single religious image in a precisely identified location. Following extensive restoration work, the church reopened to the public on Saturday, 27 June 2026.

Hidden sculptures in the village

The Bestiaire de la Vègre offers a different kind of discovery: an open-air gallery featuring sculptures made from recycled tools and glass ornaments. The sculptures are hidden around the village and are intended to spark surprise, admiration and curiosity in children. Unlike the manor, the focus here is not on a single historic building, but on discovering artworks throughout the village. The different highlights range from architectural history and wall paintings to a playful search for hidden sculptures.

Discover more destinations: Mont-Saint-Jean, Saint-Germain-D'arcé, Saint-Georges-De-La-Couée, La Milesse, Dureil, Sainte-Osmane, Crissé, Valennes

See the overview of destinations: Sarthe.