A specific hiking route in Mars is the Circuit des planètes – PR 16. It starts at the church car park in Le Bourg. Check trail conditions before setting out.
Hiking between hills and forests
From the centre of Mars, the route passes through the bocage landscape of the green hills in the Loire basin and into forests on the edge of Burgundy. Along the Circuit, views extend as far as the borders of Auvergne. The route therefore takes in both changing landscapes and far-reaching views: its course and the outlook offer different points of reference when choosing a hike.
Starting in Le Bourg anchors the route in the town centre, while it continues through the countryside to the forests on the edge of Burgundy. The view as far as the borders of Auvergne adds a second point of reference to this sequence. If you choose Mars based on your hiking interests, you can weigh changing landscapes and views as two separate criteria. Check trail conditions before your outing.
Events and choosing a route
The Trail de la Planète held its tenth edition in 2026, with four routes offered that year. The tenth edition shows that this is a recurring event. The four routes refer to the 2026 edition and provide a specific point of reference for choosing a route that year.
The Marche de la planète is a hiking event in Mars organised by the comité des fêtes. The 2026 edition includes six routes of 5, 10, 15, 20, 28 and 33 km, including one route suitable for pushchairs. The distances therefore range from 5 to 33 km; the designated pushchair route is another specific point to consider when choosing. If a particular distance is important for your plans, you can compare the six routes by length.
The two events offer different points of reference when choosing a route: the Trail focuses on four formats, while the Marche gives specific distances and includes a pushchair route. The Marche can therefore be assessed by the distances listed, while the number of formats is the point of reference for the Trail. The routes offered for future editions of the Marche may change; check the programme for the relevant edition if you are planning your trip around it.
A former church and two dates
The history of the former church is another specific detail of Mars. The date 1332 was inscribed on its portal. The former church was demolished in 1861, when the present-day church was built. These are two distinct details: 1332 is the date recorded on the portal, while 1861 refers to the demolition in connection with the construction of the present-day church.
The dates should therefore not be read as two years for the same event. One relates to the portal of the former church, the other to its demolition during construction of the present-day church. For the historical context of Mars, 1332 is a distinct point of reference; 1861 describes the later changes to the church site. Together with the hiking route and events, these offer different points of interest for a stay: scenery, route choice and local history.
Discover more destinations: La Ricamarie, La Grand-Croix, Villars, Champoly, La Talaudière, Les Noës, Changy, Saint-Laurent-Rochefort.
For the broader travel guide: Loire.
