The protected church, trails of very different lengths and the Cidrerie Sophie Ammann give a stay in Cormes clear points of interest: architecture, outdoor activity and local production. The GR®235 passes through the village to the church; the tramway discovery trail is a 1.5-kilometre footpath with information panels. Visiting arrangements also vary: advance booking is required for guided tours at the Cidrerie farm.
Church, architecture and remembrance
Église Saint-Denis is one of the rural churches of the Perche Sarthois with high-quality Renaissance stained-glass windows. It also has tall pointed-arch windows with flamboyant tracery; construction of these windows took place between 1500 and 1544. The church is protected as a historic monument; it was listed on 6 January 1926. These dates refer to different things: 1500 to 1544 is when the windows were built, while 1926 is when the church was listed as a monument.
Pointed arches and tracery describe different design features: a pointed arch refers to the shape of the top of a window, while tracery is its ornamental framework. Together with the stained-glass windows, these details draw attention to several aspects of the church’s architecture. The washhouse is in the village centre near the church and is another landmark. A marble plaque added later to the war memorial commemorates the victims of the 1939–1945 war.
On foot: a short route and a longer hiking trail
The tramway discovery trail in Cormes is a 1.5-kilometre, maintained footpath with information panels. Check local access conditions before your visit. A much longer option is the GR®235: this 73-kilometre hiking route runs from La Ferté-Bernard to Bessé-sur-Braye through the Perche Sarthois and is rated easy. In Cormes, it passes through the village to the church.
The 73 kilometres refers to the total distance between the two endpoints, not just the section through Cormes. This gives you two different scales to consider when planning: the 1.5-kilometre footpath and the longer hiking route. Check the GR®235 trail conditions before setting out.
Traces of the former tramway
Between Cherré and Cormes, the route of the former tramway line can be seen in an embankment in the fields beside the road. This landform provides a tangible clue to the former route. It adds a different historical perspective to the village church and war memorial: here, an earlier transport line can be traced through a visible change in the terrain.
Cider and farm produce
The Cidrerie Sophie Ammann welcomes visitors to its farm in Cormes. Guided tours are available by prior arrangement, so confirm the visiting arrangements before you arrive. The farm produces cider, apple juice and vinegar from local varieties. The cider is naturally fermented using indigenous yeasts from the orchards.
The products and production process offer two specific insights into the Cidrerie’s work: the stated range includes apple juice and vinegar as well as cider, while the cider is described as fermenting with yeasts from the orchards. As the product range may change, check in advance whether a particular product will be available during your visit.
Discover more destinations: Brette-Les-Pins, Piacé, Bouloire, Marçon, Tuffé, Vivoin, Luché-Pringé, Épineu-le-Chevreuil
For the main travel guide: Sarthe.
