Saint-Rémy-En-Mauges: Churches, Chapel and Cultural Heritage

For a trip focused on history and culture, Saint-Rémy-en-Mauges is associated with two distinct subjects: the construction and furnishing history of Église Saint-Rémy, and the origins and legend of Chapelle Saint-Avoye. There is also the Trail des Croquants 2026, with three planned race distances. You can weigh up the historical themes and specific route details according to the focus of your trip.

Église Saint-Rémy: construction history and furnishings

Église Saint-Rémy was rebuilt in the Gothic style after the previous church was demolished in 1875. Construction was completed in September 1877. The year of demolition and the completion date give the construction history a clear chronology, while the Gothic style also identifies the architectural character of the new building.

The furnishings include a Stations of the Cross dating from 1881. Five panels are located on each side of the nave, with four more in the arms of the transept. That makes 14 panels in total, spread across two areas of the church. The nave is the long main area of a church, while the transept is the section that crosses it, including its arms. These terms help you picture the layout. A Stations of the Cross depicts scenes from Christ’s Passion; here, the arrangement of the panels is as distinctive a part of the description as the subject itself.

The stained-glass windows also connect the church with historical themes. Some windows dating from 1886 are listed as movable objects on the register of historic monuments. One depicts Clovis’s victory, while another shows his baptism. These are two different scenes from Clovis’s life, alongside the Stations of the Cross. The church’s construction history, layout and imagery each provide their own historical perspective.

Chapelle Saint-Avoye: a vow and a legend

Chapelle Saint-Avoye was built in 1550 at a crossroads in Saint-Rémy-en-Mauges to fulfil Ursule Megret’s vow. The year it was built and the reason for its construction are closely linked: the chapel’s origins are tied to a personal vow. It is also the setting for the legend of Ursule, who overcame her debilitating fear with the help of Saint Ursule. This story offers a different perspective from the building’s history: the focus is not on dating the building, but on Ursule overcoming her fear.

If you would like to discover the chapel on a guided tour, a free tour can be arranged through the association Les Amis du Patrimoine. A guided visit therefore needs to be arranged in advance through the association. The two religious sites also differ in how they are presented: the construction and furnishings provide the context for Église Saint-Rémy, while Chapelle Saint-Avoye is associated with both the reason it was built and its legend, as well as the option of arranging a guided tour.

Trail des Croquants 2026: comparing the routes

The Trail des Croquants 2026 in Saint-Rémy-en-Mauges is scheduled to include races of 10 kilometres with 200 metres of elevation gain, 17 kilometres with 400 metres of elevation gain, and 24 kilometres with 500 metres of elevation gain. The shortest and longest routes differ by 14 kilometres and 300 metres of elevation gain. Comparing the two shorter options, the longer one adds seven kilometres and 200 metres of elevation gain; moving from the middle distance to the longest adds a further seven kilometres and 100 metres of elevation gain. The distance and elevation gain therefore do not increase by the same amount at each step. Both figures are useful for comparing the routes. If you are planning a trip around the race, it is a good idea to check the final route details in advance.

The historic sites and the trail offer different experiences: at Église Saint-Rémy, you can explore its construction date, layout and imagery; Chapelle Saint-Avoye connects a vow with a legend. For the race, the route distance and elevation gain offer specific points of comparison. You can choose the focus of your trip to Saint-Rémy-en-Mauges according to your interest in cultural history or your planned sporting activity.

Discover more destinations: Andrezé, Coron, Montreuil-sur-Maine, Saint-Paul-Du-Bois, Saint-Pierre-Montlimart, Beaucouzé, Cizay-La-Madeleine, Montreuil-Bellay.

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