A sundial that must be moved and aligned in order to read the time draws attention to the GEOPOLE in Courgains. It is located at the summit of the Butte du Teil, also known as Mont de la Garde. Alongside it, the Église Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul shapes the cultural character of the town: it is dedicated to Saints Peter and Paul and was already in existence in 1050. In Courgains, practical questions of orientation thus sit alongside a church history stretching far back in time.

GEOPOLE: Orientation and Timekeeping

The GEOPOLE combines a named location with an orientation board. The board features a rhumb-line pointer, which shows the exact distance to a city and that city's position in relation to the location. Distance and position are two different kinds of information: the distance gives a value, while the second piece of information situates the city in relation to the location. An exact distance and a spatial position are thus presented side by side.

The GEOPOLE also includes an analemmatic sundial. To read the time, you must move and align it. Alignment is not an extra step after reading the time; it is part of reading the time on this sundial. Orientation and timekeeping each have their own instrument: the rhumb-line pointer and the movable sundial.

Church History and Furnishings

The Église Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul is dedicated to Saints Peter and Paul and was already in existence in 1050. The choir contains a carved, gilded stone altarpiece from the 18th century. The two dates refer to different things: the year 1050 marks the church's early existence, while the 18th century dates the altarpiece. This makes it possible to distinguish the history of the building from the dating of a specific furnishing.

Another feature is the complete seigneurial funeral band. It runs around the inside of the building, excluding the choir. According to Bâtiments de France, seigneurial funeral band paintings are quite rare. The two furnishings are clearly distinct in terms of their location: the altarpiece is in the choir, while the funeral band encircles the rest of the interior. The church therefore brings together two different forms: a carved and gilded stone altarpiece in a specific location, and a painting that runs around the building.

Panorama of the Butte du Teil

The landscape, too, becomes tangible through a specific point of reference. The Randonnée découverte de Courgains offers a panorama of the Butte du Teil. The hill thus appears in two different contexts: the GEOPOLE is at its summit, while the walk offers a panorama of it. This distinguishes the location itself from the view of the hill. Those interested in geographical orientation can compare this perspective with the information provided by the GEOPOLE. The church's history is highlighted by the dedication of the Église Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul and its furnishings, dating back over several centuries.

Discover more destinations: Saint-Jean-du-Bois, Changé, Sargé-lès-le-Mans, Pirmil, Cherré, Aigné, Souvigné-Sur-Sarthe, Marçon.

For the broader travel overview: Sarthe.