A waymarked walking loop in Guécélard passes through heathland and pine forest beside the Ruisseau des Fillières, takes in historic sites and offers a panoramic view from the Butte de Monnoyer. The Centre équestre Château Gaillard also offers several horse-riding activities; the market and cinema have their own schedules. For planning your trip, it is worth keeping these different highlights in mind separately.
A walking loop between landscape and history
The Boucle le ruisseau des fillières is a waymarked walking trail starting in Guécélard. The route passes through heathland and pine forest along the Ruisseau des Fillières; from the Butte de Monnoyer, you can enjoy panoramic views of the surrounding area. Local landmarks along the walking loop include the church of Notre Dame de la Nativité and Château Gaillard. The church dates from the 19th century, while Château Gaillard dates from the 18th century. The loop offers a clear contrast in terms of its points of interest: the church and château represent two different centuries, while the Butte offers views of the landscape. If you want to focus on both architectural history and nature while walking, these features offer different points of interest. Local trail conditions may vary depending on the season; check them before your walk.
The Pierre des 3 communes, a memorial stone, is also located on the Butte de Monnoyer. This means the hill is associated both with the panoramic views along the walking loop and with this named local memorial site.
Horse-riding activities and the location of the equestrian centre
The Centre équestre Château Gaillard in Guécélard is set on a 25-hectare property with meadows in the forest between Guécélard and Moncé-en-Belin. Activities include riding lessons, courses during school holidays, rides for adults and outings on Shetland ponies. The formats differ: lessons and holiday courses are distinct from rides or pony outings. If you want to include a particular activity in your stay, consider which format you prefer and check which offering suits your travel dates. This lets you plan around the specific horse-riding activity you have in mind.
Market and cinema screenings throughout the week
A market is held on the morning of every Thursday and Sunday at Place du 8 mai 1945. Vendors and dates may change, so check the specific market day if you are planning a visit. Cinema screenings follow a different schedule: in partnership with Ciné'Ambul, current films are shown on one Sunday per month, except in July and August. The programme may change. So a Sunday is not automatically a cinema day, even though the market is held that morning. If you are planning your travel dates around either of these events, check the market and cinema schedules separately.
Discover more destinations: Villaines-sous-Malicorne, Sceaux-Sur-Huisne, Saint-Paterne, Vion, Sargé-lès-le-Mans, Brette-Les-Pins, Mézeray, Coulaines.
For the broader travel guide: Sarthe.
