During a stay in Louplande, you can choose to focus on architectural history, gardens, military remembrance or a circular cycling route. The themes range from the ruins of a medieval castle, on which the Château de Villaines was built, to a memorial to the Allied airfield from the Second World War. They also include the 19th-century church of Saint-Léonard, old houses in the Vieux bourg and a 20-kilometre cycling loop through forests and open plains. You can tailor your time here according to whether you are mainly interested in historic buildings or would like to make a bike ride a focus of its own.

The Church of Saint-Léonard and its architecture

The Church of Saint-Léonard in Louplande was built between 1875 and 1880 and designed in the Neo-Romanesque style. Its main masonry is made of limestone and roussard sandstone. The construction period, style and materials offer different ways to understand the building: its date places it in the late 19th century, the style identifies its architectural direction, and the stones specify the material used for the main masonry. If you are interested in architecture, you can consider these features together rather than focusing only on the name of the style. This gives the church its own place in Louplande’s cultural history without reducing the other historical themes to the same period.

Houses and military remembrance

The Vieux bourg of Louplande is home to old houses made from roussard sandstone. The main masonry of the Church of Saint-Léonard also contains roussard sandstone. For a focus on building materials, this shared material provides a tangible connection between the houses and the church. The U.S. A-36 Airfield Memorial offers a different historical perspective: the memorial stands at a road junction and commemorates the Allied airfield and the units stationed there during the Second World War. You can include architectural history and military remembrance as distinct themes when planning what interests you in Louplande.

The Château de Villaines and its gardens

The Château de Villaines was built in the first half of the 17th century on the ruins of a medieval castle and has not been significantly altered or extended since. Its history therefore brings together two periods: the medieval predecessor and the 17th-century château. The Jardins du Château de Villaines are part of a listed estate with dry and water-filled moats, an orchard and a vegetable garden. The château’s history and the gardens offer two different ways to explore this historic site: the development of the building on the one hand, and the features of the grounds on the other.

The Boucle de la Foucaudière by bike

For an active addition, consider the Boucle de la Foucaudière, an easy 20.0-kilometre circular cycling route in Louplande. It passes through forests and open plains on the way to the Château de Maquillé. The route is listed as taking one hour; stops and trail conditions may affect the actual time. The easy rating and distance apply to this particular loop. Check trail conditions before setting off. This lets you plan the ride as a stand-alone part of your stay and take both the distance and any possible breaks into account when estimating the time.

Visits to the gardens of the Château de Villaines are offered as part of “Rendez-vous aux Jardins”. During the French Heritage Days, visits include the gardens and part of the château’s ground floor. As the visiting programme is seasonal, check the specific dates for the relevant programme before your trip.

Discover more destinations: Moulins-le-Carbonnel, Précigné, Chantenay-Villedieu, La Bosse, Juigné-sur-Sarthe, Le Mans, Aigné, Marigné-Laillé.

For the broader travel overview: Sarthe.