La Madeleine-Bouvet: Paths, Water and Heritage

In La Madeleine-Bouvet, architectural and church history, a hiking route that follows a historic road, and themes relating to agriculture and waterways come together. The various activities have different conditions: a reservation is required to visit Ferme de l'Aritoire, while downloadable guide booklets support self-guided visits to the village and church.

The Bridge and the History of the Road

Pont Chartrain is a four-arched bridge dating from the 17th century. It stands at the confluence of the Corbionne and the stream of La Coignardière. Its design and location at the meeting point of two waterways make it a tangible landmark in the local history.

The Tour de la Madeleine Bouvet hiking route starts at the church square. Along the Chemin ferré, it follows an old Roman road reinforced with slag from iron smelting. The road’s course thus connects the hike with tangible evidence of its earlier use. The route also passes La Thomaserie, where agricultural products are sold. The history of the road and direct sales therefore feature in different sections of the same route. If you are planning the hike, check local trail conditions in advance, as they may change.

A Visit to Ferme de l'Aritoire

Ferme de l'Aritoire combines agricultural products with a visitor experience. The farm shop sells soaps and cosmetics made with goat’s milk; the specific range may change. A 1.5-hour visit is available year-round by prior reservation. You can factor this time into your stay, but the visit must be arranged in advance.

Customers can also visit the animals independently. If you plan to do so, confirm the visit conditions before travelling. This means the animal visit is not something you should assume is available without prior arrangements. Reservations and visit conditions are therefore important points to consider when making specific plans.

Church, Grotto and Self-Guided Visits

Église Sainte-Madeleine contains a high altar and an altarpiece with statues of Saint Mark, Saint Firmin and Saint Madeleine. There is also a painting of Saint Madeleine. The church’s furnishings offer several named points of interest rather than focusing on a single work of art.

Another religious landmark is the Grotte de Sainte-Marie-Madeleine, mentioned as early as the 16th century and home to a statue of Saint Mary Magdalene. The church and grotto thus represent two different aspects of the local heritage: the furnishings of a church interior and a historically documented site with a statue of a saint.

The tourist office provides downloadable guide booklets for self-guided visits to the village and church. You can use these materials to help you find your way on an independent walk.

Waterways and Nature

Near La Madeleine-Bouvet, the Corbionne is classified as a first-category river on account of its water quality. A biotope protection order safeguards the Corbionne and the Donette. These waterways are home to species including the white-clawed crayfish, grayling and brown trout. Water is therefore not only a reference point for the location of Pont Chartrain, but also part of a protected habitat with named animal species.

A Regional Route Connection

A route towards Le Mans, Angers and Nantes crosses the Cœur du Perche via La Madeleine-Bouvet, Rémalard en Perche and Perche en Nocé, heading towards Bellême. This route adds a named regional connection to the local hiking route. While the Tour de la Madeleine Bouvet starts at the church square and includes the Chemin ferré and La Thomaserie, the other route description passes through several places in the Cœur du Perche. This makes it possible to distinguish between a local hike and a broader regional route.

Discover more destinations: Écouché, Le Sap, Longny-au-Perche, Heugon, La Ferté-Frênel, Ménil-Vin, Condeau, Saint-Fraimbault.

For the broader travel overview: Orne.