Attractions and Places To See around Saint-Paul-Le-Gaultier - Top 20

very varied and pleasant hike

beautiful region

Charming city of character. I highly recommend. On the other hand, the positive altitude difference is unavoidable since the village is in a hollow with significant cliffs around it.

Starting from the center of the village and crossing the bridge to this point, remember to look back and appreciate the view of the village and the church towering above you.

Céneri, then cardinal of Rome, deacon and preacher, undertook around 669 to build a first wooden building that he dedicated to Saint Martin. It was in this church that Céneri was originally buried. The tomb generating miracles, the church soon took the name of its founder, to whom the people awarded the title of saint. This name became that of the village grouped around the Benedictine abbey that surrounds the church. Two centuries later, the Normans made incursions into the region and destroyed the original church. Thus for a long time there was no church in Saint-Céneri. It was in 1089 that the construction of the current church was undertaken. It was completed in 1125 but underwent several modifications and restorations until the beginning of the 20th century. The end of the 19th century saw the arrival of painters and a new life linked to artistic activity began for the village. The beauty of the landscapes and the quality of the light inspired artists such as Corot, Courbet, Harpignies, Cogniet, the Veillon brothers, Mary Renard and Paul Saïn. This artistic activity lasted for more than half a century. It ended on the eve of the First World War and was reborn in the 1950s and 1960s, giving new life and tourist appeal to this small town, ranked among the most beautiful villages in France.

This small castle is built on a rocky promontory which dominates the main access roads to Alençon, Le Mans and Angers.

The Château de Fresnay-sur-Sarthe ensured the defense of the city in the Middle Ages. Although its construction dates back to the 10th century, it was modified and enlarged several times during the Middle Ages. From the 18th century, it fell into disrepair due to lack of maintenance. After being purchased by the municipality, the castle now houses the public garden. The two-towered châtelet recalls the physiognomy of the place in the 18th century.

The town of Saint-Léonard-des-Bois invites you to stop at one of the bars and restaurants on the main street or at the picnic area on the banks of the Sarthe. Nestled in the heart of the Alpes Mancelles, the town includes an area classified as a natural site. The Haut Fourché mound and the Misère valley which border the village have made it famous.