Soucelles: Dolmen, Washhouse and Walking Routes

Soucelles brings together several distinct themes for planning a trip: cultural history, walking routes through varied landscapes, and a cable ferry across the Loir. If you are looking for a hotel, you can first consider whether you want your stay to focus more on historical sites, outdoor activities or the river. The following destinations bring these themes into focus.

Dolmen and historical traces

The Dolmen de la Pierre Cesée has been classified as a historic monument by decree since 8 July 1910. It was a burial chamber surrounded by a tumulus, or mound of earth. The dolmen is one of the sites that welcomes visitors. Its protected status and its function as a burial chamber therefore go hand in hand: one aspect classifies the monument, while the other explains its former use.

The Soucelles washhouse dates from 1874. The Saint Armel spring lies near the washhouse. According to a local healing tradition, it is considered miraculous; it is said to cure blindness and gout. Its healing properties are part of local folklore and are not a medical claim. The statue of Saint Julien is also located in the chapel of Roche-Foulques in Soucelles. These represent distinct cultural themes: a building with a specific construction date, a local healing tradition and a statue in a chapel.

Walking routes with different features

Two circular routes can be distinguished by different criteria. The Tour des rives du Loir is an 8.7 km circular route. One starting point is the car park on Rue Maurice Picard in Soucelles. The Sentier du dolmen de Soucelles is a family-friendly circular walk through bocage landscapes and the “la Grande rivière” meadow. This offers two ways to choose: for the tour, the circular route, distance and a possible starting point are specified; the Sentier is defined by its family-friendly nature and the landscapes it crosses.

The Loir and Forêt de Soucelles

The Bac à chaînes de la Roche Foulques cable ferry connects the two banks of the Loir between Soucelles and Villevêque. Its operating hours may change, so check the latest times in advance if you plan to cross. What makes it special for trip planning is the connection between the riverbanks. Forêt de Soucelles can be reached from the town centre via the D 313 towards Montreuil-sur-Loir, after about 5 km. In addition to the walking routes, a river crossing and a forest offer further themes to consider when planning your trip.

When looking for a hotel in Soucelles, you can use the focus of your stay to guide your choice. If you want a stay centred on cultural history, the dolmen, washhouse, spring and chapel take centre stage; for a stay focused on the landscape, the walking routes, Forêt de Soucelles and the Loir are the clearly defined themes.

Discover more destinations: Le Longeron, Vernantes, Savennières, Sainte-Gemmes-d'Andigné, Vivy, La Pommeraye, Les Rosiers-Sur-Loire, Parnay.

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