La Fontaine-Saint-Martin can be explored from a clear starting point: the Fontaine Saint-Martin spring rises behind the church and gave the village its name. The village’s history and architecture can also be discovered at the monument, in the Église Saint-Martin and at the Maison-musée de Louis Simon. This cultural focus is complemented by “La balade Fontainoise,” a signposted PR hiking trail. When planning your visit, two distinct questions matter: Which buildings and collections interest you, and would you also like to discover the sights along a designated hiking route?
The Spring, Monument and Church
The Fontaine Saint-Martin monument was built in 1818 by Paul Simon, Louis Simon’s son. The stone structure above the spring was built in the early 19th century using columns from the former priory. A statue of Saint Martin holding a shell in his hand stands in a niche above the monument. The spring thus brings together a specific architectural history and a religious image; at the same time, it explains the village’s name and serves as a prominent landmark.
The Église Saint-Martin was built around 1120–1130; it contains the stained-glass window “Histoire de saint Martin.” Today, the church is open to the public on selected occasions, particularly during the Heritage Days and for concerts and artistic events. A visit therefore combines architectural history with a specific work of art, but the church is not open at all times.
House Museum and Village History
The Maison de Louis Simon offers a different perspective: its collection of antique furniture recreates the atmosphere of an 18th-century village home. When you visit the Maison-musée de Louis Simon, you can discover both the house museum and the village of La Fontaine-Saint-Martin. The house is intended to be preserved as a place of remembrance. While the Église Saint-Martin focuses on its age and stained-glass window, this site is about furniture and the recreated domestic atmosphere. The two places therefore offer different ways to explore the village’s cultural history.
Discover La balade Fontainoise on Foot
“La balade Fontainoise” is a signposted PR hiking trail in La Fontaine-Saint-Martin. Sights along the route include Château du Maurier; the trail also passes the Fontaine Saint-Martin spring and the Lavoir (wash house). Château du Maurier has been listed as a historic monument since 29 September 1992; the listing covers the château and its outbuildings. The route thus brings together a historic château, the spring that gave the village its name, and the wash house as distinct landmarks.
When planning, bear in mind the difference between the hiking trail and the church: the route is signposted and passes the stops mentioned above, while the church is open to the public only on selected occasions. If you would like to see the stained-glass window inside the church, check the dates of the Heritage Days, concerts and artistic events. This lets you plan your church visit around one of these occasions, while the hiking route offers a separate way to discover the village on foot.
Discover more destinations: Assé-Le-Boisne, Coulans-Sur-Gée, Marigné-Laillé, Jupilles, Saint-Ulphace, Changé, Saint-Michel-De-Chavaignes, Roézé-sur-Sarthe.
For the broader travel overview: Sarthe.
