Saint-Jean-de-la-Motte can be explored during a stay through specific themes: medieval and megalithic remains, a botanical educational trail, a longer walking route and fishing at the Plan d’eau. When planning your trip, it helps to distinguish between these interests: the trails differ in length and focus, while the motte, chapel and stones each offer their own traces of local history. This lets you choose your destination based on what you would like to do during your stay.

Motte, Chapel and Megaliths

At the site of La Motte, the medieval motte is well preserved, as are the ditches surrounding it. Right next to the motte is a partly buried chapel, whose stone vault is still visible. A preserved motte with its ditches and a partly buried religious building with a visible vault thus stand side by side—two distinct architectural traces of local history.

The megaliths differ in name, form and what remains of them. The megalith “La pierre potelée” takes its name from its heavily weathered appearance. Le Palet de Gargantua is a table-shaped stone that projects over a small stream and serves as a ford; it is thought likely to have belonged to a dolmen. The menhirs “La mère et la fille” on the Lande des Soucis are remnants of a larger structure that has since disappeared. Four stones remain, three of them aligned. These examples offer different points of interest: a name that evokes weathering, a stone with a function at a stream, and the remains of a once-larger group.

Walking Trails with Different Focuses

The Rando’clim trail starts at the arboretum and follows the botanical educational trail for 4.5 kilometres. Ten tree stations marked with information boards cover five tree species. Walkers can use QR codes to contribute observations about the trees’ stages of development. The trail thus combines a set route with a botanical focus and an opportunity to take part. Check the signage on site, as its current condition should be verified.

The PR walking trail “Le château de Gallerande” is rated easy and is 10.0 kilometres long. It runs through the woods of Château de Gallerande and offers a remarkable view over the Loir Valley; Saint-Jean-de-la-Motte is its starting point. In direct comparison, the botanical educational trail is 4.5 kilometres long, while the route rated easy is 10.0 kilometres long. Their themes also differ: one focuses on tree species and observations, the other on woodland and views over the Loir Valley.

Fishing and Getting Around

Fishing at the Plan d’eau in Saint-Jean-de-la-Motte requires a day permit, issued on site. If you would like to fish, make sure to include this permit as a specific requirement in your plans. The D323 is an important road providing access to Saint-Jean-de-la-Motte and is therefore a useful road reference for finding your way around.

Discover More Destinations

Ruillé-Sur-Loir, La Chartre-Sur-Le-Loir, Gesnes-Le-Gandelin, La Chapelle-Aux-Choux, Rouperroux-le-Coquet, Vivoin, Saint-Mars-D'outillé, Lavernat

For the broader travel overview: Sarthe.