Discover Malétable: Church, nature and circular trail

Malétable can be explored through specific cultural and nature themes. The Église Notre-Dame-de-la-Salette tells the story of a 19th-century building project; the La Fonte circular trail starts and ends in the village. Each offers a different focus for planning your trip. There is also a wetland with a remarkable peat layer and insights into vegetable growing.

Church and tower of the Église Notre-Dame-de-la-Salette

The Église Notre-Dame-de-la-Salette was built between 1865 and 1872. Funding for the construction came from the Abbé’s own resources, support from donors, and help from the residents of Malétable. The tower is decorated with brick arabesques. Four corner turrets support two large cast-iron angel statues and a terracotta statue beneath copper canopies. At the top, a glazed structure houses a sculptural group depicting the Virgin and two children. Brick, copper, cast iron, terracotta and glass thus define the tower’s decorative features. Those interested in religious architecture can take in the materials and figurative ornamentation as well as the overall form.

The church also has a dedicated outreach programme: the Association de sauvegarde du patrimoine Rêv’neuve La Salette was founded in 2008. Each year, it offers guided tours of the church and organizes exhibitions, concerts and art competitions, including competitions for children. Tours of the church and its restored tower are offered on set dates, by prior arrangement only. At other times of the year, tours are also possible under the same conditions. If you would like to plan a tour, arrange a date in advance.

Wetland and biodiversity

The peat layer at the Tourbière de la Commeauche is three or four metres thick in places and formed over several centuries. Its thickness and formation period give the area its own sense of time: the focus is on a process unfolding over centuries, not a single event. Marsh helleborines and numerous dragonflies can be found in the wetland environment. This brings together two specific nature themes: a named plant and the diversity of dragonflies. If you include nature observation in your plans, you can look out both for the wetland environment and for the species found there.

La Fonte: circular trail and a possible break

The La Fonte circular trail is rated very easy, covers 7.9 kilometres and takes about two hours. It starts and ends in Malétable. The approximate duration is useful for planning your day; bear in mind that it refers to the walk and does not automatically include extra time for other sightseeing. This way, you can decide whether to make the trail your main activity or combine it with other plans.

The trail leads to the Moulin de Sévoux and a restored former washhouse with two picnic tables. These destinations provide specific landmarks along the route, in addition to the trail itself. If you plan to stop at the tables, bear in mind that picnic facilities may change. Trail conditions can also change, so check the latest conditions before setting out. The stated duration is an approximate guide, not a precise time limit.

Vegetable growing and produce from the Moulin des Sablons

At the Moulin des Sablons, visitors can discover how vegetables are grown. The farm grows various kinds of vegetables without pesticides or fungicides. The growing methods themselves can provide a topic of conversation during your visit. The farm also sells its produce to consumers and regional shops, and regularly takes part in Sunday markets in the surrounding area. Sweet summer strawberries are also available there. Market participation may vary depending on the season. If you would like to visit the farm, confirm the visiting arrangements before you arrive; this does not mean that a dedicated shop for visitors is guaranteed.

Moulin de Sévoux: rooms, table d’hôtes and garden

The Moulin de Sévoux is a former 19th-century mill building with four charming rooms, a table d’hôtes and a flower-filled garden. This describes several aspects of a stay: the rooms, the table d’hôtes and the garden. The La Fonte circular trail also leads to the Moulin de Sévoux.

Discover more destinations: Carrouges, Omméel, Les Champeaux, Essay, Gacé, Lonlay-L'abbaye, Banvou, Sainte-Marguerite-de-Carrouges.

For the broader travel overview: Orne.