Izé: Church Art, Menhir and Routes

When planning a stay in Izé, there are two thematic areas to explore: church and monument history, and routes through the countryside around Izé. You can weigh up whether artworks and historical sites or a specific route length are more important for planning your trip. Tangible points of interest include a church with dated windows, the Menhir de Gué Péan, classified as a historic monument, and two routes of different lengths.

Church, Windows and Monument History

The Church of Saint-Pierre in Izé dates from the 17th century. Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul in Izé was rebuilt after a tornado in 1978. These details offer different points in time: the 17th century as the period of construction, and 1978 as the year of rebuilding after a tornado.

The 1981 Resurrection window in the Church of Saint-Pierre depicts two Roman legionaries with the facial features of François Mitterrand and Georges Marchais. The image thus combines the Resurrection scene with two specifically identified faces. Another window has its own timeline: the window depicting Saint Jean-Baptiste Marie Vianney, created in 1933, was destroyed by a storm on 13 December 1978 and replaced in 1981 with a new window featuring the same saint. This places a Resurrection motif alongside a story of destruction and replacement as distinct window themes.

The church is open free of charge all year round; nevertheless, check the current visiting conditions before your visit.

The Menhir de Gué Péan in Izé is also part of the town’s monument history. It was classified as a historic monument on 5 July 1978. This adds another point of interest to the church-related themes. You can focus your trip planning on religious art, the history of the church or the menhir as a monument; Izé’s historical themes are not limited to its windows.

Routes Through the Countryside Around Izé

The Circuit de la Vaudelle No. 35 around Izé is 9.4 km long and easy. The route passes through bocage countryside and along hilly paths. It therefore gives you both a clear distance and a difficulty rating to help you choose. The landscape features mentioned give this route a different character from the Circuit du Bois d’Izé.

The Circuit du Bois d’Izé No. 36 is an 8.6 km circular route that starts in Izé. It passes through the forests of Izé, along sunken lanes and over hilly paths. Its length, circular route format and starting point help distinguish it from the Vaudelle route.

In a direct comparison of distances, the Circuit du Bois d’Izé is 0.8 km shorter than the Vaudelle route. The landscape features described also offer a basis for comparison: the Vaudelle route highlights bocage countryside, while the Bois d’Izé route features forests and sunken lanes; hilly paths are mentioned for both. This lets you consider distance and the respective surroundings together when choosing. Check route conditions before setting out, as route specifications may change.

Discover more destinations: Louverné, Saint-Loup-Du-Dorat, Chammes, Mayenne, Ruillé-Froid-Fonds, Placé, Saint-Aignan-Sur-Roë, Lignières-Orgères.

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