The best road cycling routes around Le Ménil-De-Briouze

“Death gladly strides through the realm of joy, Gladly he presses his hand upon flowery brows. In ashes tomorrow and torn garments, Head bowed, joy's memory becomes our reproach and pain. Funeral processions follow our games; Saturnalia can be our cradle, Woe is us! only of dirges!” Text: Victor Hugo, (1802 – 1885): “Ode sur la mort du duc de Berry” (1820)

There was already a church in Bellou-en-Houlme in 1053, when the building was donated by Guillaume de la Ferté-Macé to the Abbey of Saint-Julien in Tours. The bell tower-porch appears to be of Romanesque origin, having been built in the 11th century and then remodeled in the 12th century. Several architectural elements bear witness to this: "the semicircular arches, the small round interior door above the gallery, the narrow openings of the bell tower, the modillions bordering the dripstone" recall the 11th century, while "the pointed arches which are inscribed in the semicircular arches and especially the underside of the tower where the tore-shaped arcades intersect, each ending in a abacus" (Le Pays Bas-Normand, 1962 n°2) show that the tower was modified at the end of the 12th century. The rest of the building was largely transformed during the first half of the 18th century, as indicated by the date 1718 inscribed on the lintel of the door of the south arm of the transept and that of 1749, inscribed on the lintel of one of the south bays of the chevet. The church was originally surrounded by a cemetery, transferred outside the town in 1840.

This church was built in the 16th century. It was remodeled and enlarged starting in 1850 (with the construction of chapels, the choir, and the sacristy). The Heritage Foundation organized a fundraiser for the restoration of the church: the purpose of the fundraiser is to restore the exterior of the church (stained glass windows and bell tower), as well as the interior (altarpiece, master paintings, baptismal font, fixing the pews to the floor, Stations of the Cross). The cost of this work is estimated at approximately €70,000. February 9, 2022: Renovation work on the church building completed, carried out by the Beauvain History and Heritage Association (restoration of the altarpieces, stained glass windows, baptismal font, as well as the roof, bell tower, clock mechanism, the Calvary on the Rock, the church door, and the heating system).

Very beautiful castle. The outside area is very interesting and a nice walk. Unfortunately I didn't see the inside of the castle. The bicycle parking area is behind the archway on the inside on the right.

318m of pure happiness

Super grocery store with local products and on-site catering

The castle is one of the largest in Normandy. It has been a listed building since 1927. From the free car park, a gravel path leads first to a gatehouse, then to the square castle, which is as defensive as it is representative and stands next to the small castle garden and a pasture. Beyond the castle stretches the beech and oak forest of the Forêt d’Ecouves, which is part of the Normandy-Maine Regional Nature Park. Inside, the Château de Carrouges invites you to travel through three centuries. The dining room with its marble fireplace and the bishops’ room with its wood-paneled prayer chamber are particularly beautiful.

Pretty district of Bagnoles-de-l'Orne with magnificent villas.