Changé: Greenways, Water and History

Changé combines greenways with traces of local history. Around its waterways and landscapes, you can explore a variety of highlights: a walking trail in the town centre, wildlife watching in the wetland and paths through a green valley. The history of the built environment is also represented through specific dates and a vivid example of how food was once kept cool.

Nature and Waterside Trails

The Parc environnemental covers around 30 hectares around the Plan d’eau du Port, in the heart of Changé. A boardwalk passes through the wetland, allowing visitors to discover the diversity of its flora and fauna while helping to protect the area. Observation and respect for the habitat go hand in hand here: the path provides access to the wetland without losing sight of the need to protect it.

The Plan d’eau de Rochefort offers a different kind of landscape. There, a path almost 2 kilometres long leads through a green valley along the Ruisseau de Rochefort to a pond on a dry, wooded slope. The route description brings together the stream, valley and slope to create a clear picture of the landscape.

At the Plan d’eau de Rochefort, ramps, a firm path made of compacted fine gravel and a widened pontoon improve accessibility for people with reduced mobility. If these features are important for your plans, check their condition before your visit.

The natural sites each have their own focus: at the Parc environnemental, the wetland, boardwalk and observation of flora and fauna take centre stage. At the Plan d’eau de Rochefort, the description highlights the almost two-kilometre route and its course through the valley.

Washhouses and Walking Route

The Chemin des lavoirs is a walking trail in a green setting in the centre of Changé. Following the water, it introduces visitors to the history of the washhouses. The route thus combines a walk through the town centre with a theme from local everyday history. Those interested in how water was used in the past will find a different experience here from wildlife watching in the wetland.

Les 2 Rives is a 7.9-kilometre circular route starting in Changé. The route takes in Changé, the banks of the Mayenne and several steep stretches through woodland. Check the trail markings before setting out: the terrain and markings may change.

Based on the stated distances, Les 2 Rives is considerably longer than the almost 2-kilometre path at the Plan d’eau de Rochefort. The route descriptions also differ: Les 2 Rives is described as a circular route with a starting point and steep woodland sections; at Rochefort, the focus is on the green valley along the Ruisseau and the pond on the wooded slope. These details provide a concrete basis for choosing between the two routes.

Architectural History and Early Refrigeration

The present-day Saint-Pierre Church was built from 1869 and completed ten years later. This makes it easy to place the building in time: a decade passed between construction beginning and its completion.

The Black Madonna on the road to Laval was erected in 1870. Along with the construction period of Saint-Pierre, this year offers another specific reference point for the town’s 19th-century history.

The Glacière in the Châtaigneraie tells a different story. It was built in the 1830s and filled in winter with ice taken from the Mayenne. This made it possible to keep food cool. The example brings the seasonal process to life: ice collected in winter was used to preserve food.

For your trip planning, Changé can be explored through a variety of interests: paths through green spaces and wetlands, a circular route with a stated distance, or the history of the washhouses, church and Glacière. The routes differ in length and landscape, while the historic sites each have their own focus.

Discover more destinations: Ménil, Peuton, Hercé, Vaiges, Gesvres, Erbrée, Gorron, Fougerolles-Du-Plessis.

Back to the regional travel overview: Mayenne.