Montfort-Le-Gesnois reveals its history on different scales: from the few surviving arches of the Pont Romain to churches and merchants’ houses, and the neoclassical château. A walking path along the Huisne and Sittellia add practical leisure options to the historic sights.
Churches and layers of history
The Church of Saint-Gilles is generally associated with the founding of the adjoining priory around 1092. Its stained-glass windows depict scenes from the lives of the Virgin Mary and Christ. The Chapel of Saussay was built in the Romanesque style at around the same time as the Church of Saint-Gilles. It has a cemetery and a cross that is preserved there. The comparison highlights different details: the stained-glass windows are a focal point at Saint-Gilles, while the cemetery and cross are part of the described site at the Chapel of Saussay.
The churches of Notre-Dame and Saussay also have their own heritage-protection dates. The entire Church of Notre-Dame has been protected as a historic monument since October 8, 2007. The Church of Saussay has been protected as a historic monument since November 13, 1973; this protection also includes the wall paintings. The dates and respective scope make the two designations specific without treating them as equivalent.
Bridges, streetscape and staircase
Today, only a few arches remain of the original structure of the Pont Romain, dating from around 50 AD. The area around the bridge includes the ruins of a mill on the Huisne and a restored washhouse. The Pont sur l'Huisne marks a different moment in history: it has been protected as a historic monument since March 26, 1927. Here you can encounter both the few surviving remains of a very early structure and a bridge with a specific heritage-protection date.
Numerous merchants’ houses dating from the 15th and 16th centuries survive along the Grande rue; some retain stair towers at the rear. The monumental staircase in Montfort was built in 1890 and has 110 steps. Together, these details offer a different perspective on history than the bridges: the focus here is on the streetscape, the houses and a clearly defined urban staircase.
Château de Montfort and landscaped park
The present-day Château de Montfort is a 19th-century neoclassical building. It replaced the former feudal fortress in 1820. The château’s landscaped park was redesigned in 1860 and includes an orangery. This makes it possible to distinguish the history of the building from the later design of the park: the château represents the transition from fortress to neoclassical building, while the park’s redesign marks a further stage.
Walks, water activities and travel planning
Sittellia in Montfort-Le-Gesnois has a 25-metre sports pool with four lanes, a leisure pool with a current channel and counter-current system, a children’s paddling pool and a 55-metre slide. Check the current opening hours and operating arrangements before your trip.
A walking path along the Huisne runs from the wastewater treatment plant to the Pont Romain, offering a safe and pleasant promenade in the heart of the natural and historical heritage. As path conditions can change, check them before your visit. La Pécardière station is on the TER railway line between Paris and western France; check current timetables for your journey.
Discover more destinations: Saint-Christophe-Du-Jambet, Le Tronchet, Ruillé-en-Champagne, Thoiré-sur-Dinan, Avezé, Pontvallain, Lavernat, Guécélard.
For the regional travel overview: Sarthe.
