Désertines: Hiking and Local History

Désertines appeals to visitors with different interests: hiking through the Mayenne bocage landscape and local architectural and cultural history. The Circuit pédestre – La Grande Haie is a hiking highlight; the menhir, Château de la Haye, Église Saint Pierre and Stèle de Désertines each offer their own historical points of interest. If you are looking for a hotel in Désertines, you can first consider whether hiking or local history should be the focus of your stay.

Hiking and the Bocage Landscape

The Circuit pédestre – La Grande Haie is a 4.5 km hiking trail and is considered a typical example of the Mayenne bocage landscape. Its length and its connection to the landscape answer different questions: the route gives your trip a specific reason to get outdoors, while the bocage setting provides a landscape theme. If you would rather center your stay on a named hiking trail than on a single monument, this offers a clear focus.

Stone Traces of Local History

The Menhir of Désertines is located on Place de l'Église. It has been classified as a Monument historique since 24 November 1924. The Stèle de Désertines stands in the village square; it is a Christianized megalithic monument that was formerly attached to the nave of the earlier church. The two monuments each have a different historical emphasis: for the menhir, its dated classification is significant; for the stèle, it is its Christianization and former connection to the nave. The stèle’s name combines its megalithic classification with its Christian character; its former attachment also places it in the history of church construction.

Château de la Haye

Château de la Haye is a former manor house (Gentilhommière). The year 1762 is carved in granite on the entrance lintel; the main building was formerly surrounded by moats. These details offer different perspectives on the château: its name identifies the building type, the year marks a date at the entrance, and the moats describe the main building’s former setting. The granite date is a specific detail on the lintel, while the moats describe the main building’s former layout.

Église Saint Pierre

The present-day Église Saint Pierre stands on the foundations of an earlier church founded by Saint Pavace. Inside is a 17th-century baptismal font that comes from the earlier church and bears the coat of arms of the Abbaye Fontaine-Daniel. Here, architectural and object history come together: the foundations point to the predecessor building, while the baptismal font comes from it. Unlike the year 1762 carved in granite on the entrance lintel of Château de la Haye, the font’s 17th-century date is accompanied by information about its origin and coat of arms.

Local Produce

In 2024, organic Entrammes cheese was associated with on-farm sales by Emmanuel Pavis in Les Forges. If you are considering a visit, ask the producer about sales hours in advance.

Discover more destinations: Louverné, Erbrée, Villepail, Aron, Ruillé-Froid-Fonds, Saint-Quentin-Les-Anges, Bouère, Hambers.

For the broader travel overview: Mayenne.