Vaas lies on the banks of the Loir. The Moulin de Rotrou connects the town with its river landscape: the 16th-century watermill is still in operation. Other features include a former abbey church, circular walking routes through the town and longer hiking trails. This makes it easy to tailor a stay around culture, nature or activities on the water.
Heritage between abbey and mill
The history of Vaas goes back more than two thousand years. Its landmarks include a Bronze Age dolmen, a Roman Condita and the later Notre-Dame Abbey of Vaas. The Dolmen de la Pierre Couverte is also in Vaas. Église Notre-Dame is the former royal abbey church; it was restored in the 12th century and features Plantagenet vaults and 14th-century frescoes. It is protected as a historic monument; it was listed on 16 February 1926.
The Moulin de Rotrou also reveals several aspects of the town’s history. Various tours offer the chance to discover the mill, its waterwheel and its machinery. The Musée du Blé au Pain offers guided and self-guided visits. They take you from grain and historic equipment for cultivation and threshing, through a mill with millstones, to a bakery with an oven.
Circular routes and hiking landscapes
Four circular routes start at the Espace Culturel. Sights along the way include the former abbey and its chapel, a troglodyte settlement, châteaux and townhouses, a former mushroom farm and other historic residences. For a longer hike, “Vaas – La grande boucle” is a different proposition: the route is 27.0 km long and rated difficult. Its landscapes include a tree-lined river, hamlets, farms, grand houses, apple orchards and former watermills. Vaas also offers 18 different hiking trails, covering a total of 292 km.
Near Vaas, La Prée d’Amont has reed beds and several dozen hectares of wet meadows. A path crosses the area, making it possible to discover the remarkable species found there. A visitor guide is available from Vaas town hall or can be requested from the Sarthe Departmental Council; check current availability and find out about access before visiting.
The Loir, fishing and seasonal activities
The A.A.P.P.M.A. Vaas manages 6.4 km of public fishing waters on the Loir between the Barrage du Bruant and the Barrage de Cherré. There is another fishing spot at Étang de la Gare: it covers one hectare and is a second-category water. Vaas also has a fishing spot accessible to people with reduced mobility. Confirm that it is accessible before travelling, and check the rules and any permits required separately.
Les PĂ©licans du Loir rents out canoes, kayaks, pedal boats and stand-up paddleboards on weekends in July and August during the summer season. If you plan to take part, check the seasonal dates in advance. These activities are therefore seasonal, unlike the walking routes and the heritage described as open year-round.
Festivals and regional specialities
The Fête de la pomme et des produits du terroir takes place annually in Vaas; check the date of the next edition when planning your visit. The Fête du Blé au Pain at the Moulin de Rotrou is also a recurring event. Its 24th edition in 2026 included a programme tracing the journey from flour-making to baking bread in a wood-fired oven. The Fête des Fouées is a family event held at the mill in June. Fouées are small breads filled with a choice of ingredients.
Getting there and planning your stay
Vaas has a railway station and is connected by the A28 motorway. Check train connections for your travel date.
Discover more destinations: La Bruere Sur Loir, Château-Du-Loir, Ségrie, Thoiré-Sous-Contensor, Valennes, Teloché, Louplande, La Ferté-Bernard.
Back to the regional travel overview: Sarthe.
