Brissarthe between walking trails and history

In Brissarthe, outdoor trails and historic buildings offer different focal points for your trip. The Bois de la Jeunerie offers walks through a wooded area; the Église Notre-Dame and the Manoir de la Coutardière offer insights into architectural and local history. You can tailor your stay according to whether you want to focus on a hike, a walk or the historic buildings.

Comparing walking routes

The Circuit des Vallons is 15.9 kilometres long and can be hiked in Brissarthe. A 3.2-kilometre walking trail runs around the wooded area of the Bois de la Jeunerie. Directly compared, the Circuit is by far the longer option; the trail in the Bois offers a shorter distance for a walk. These differences give you a concrete basis for weighing up the distance you want to cover outdoors.

The Bois de la Jeunerie covers 32 hectares. A discovery trail, play areas and picnic tables complement the walking trail. The area and trail length represent different measures: the 32 hectares refer to the wooded area, while the 3.2 kilometres refer to the trail around it. This lets you take both the size of the grounds and the length of a specific route into account when planning.

Church, older remains and local history

The Église Notre-Dame de Brissarthe is a Romanesque church dating from the 11th century. It stands on the remains of an older building from the 9th century and a Merovingian cemetery. The dates therefore point to different historical layers: the church dates from the 11th century, while the remains bear witness to an older building and a cemetery. Its Romanesque classification adds an architectural perspective to the church’s history.

The Battle of Brissarthe in 866 is also associated with the Église Notre-Dame. Robert the Strong was killed in this battle against the Normans. The year refers to the battle, not the church: the church was not built until the 11th century. These are two distinct points of reference in the history of the area—the battle and the later Romanesque building.

The Manoir de la Coutardière

The Manoir de la Coutardière was built between the 15th and 17th centuries. Its façade is adorned with windows featuring fluted pilasters. Fluted pilasters are wall piers with vertical grooves; here, they shape the design of the windows. The date and façade detail offer a distinct insight into the architectural history of the manor, alongside the older church building.

The Manoir includes the chapel of Saint Anthony of Padua. It was built in the early 16th century, recently restored and houses remarkable old wall paintings. The chapel and façade offer different points of interest: the wall paintings take centre stage here, while the windows’ fluted pilasters are the focus there.

Groups can visit the Manoir by prior reservation; the visit includes the chapel and the grounds. If you are planning a group visit, check the reservation arrangements in advance.

Discover more destinations: Chavagnes, Faveraye-Mâchelles, Contigné, Le Fuilet, Juigné-Sur-Loire, Andrezé, Saint-Barthélemy-d'Anjou, La Pommeraye.

See the broader travel overview: Maine-Et-Loire.