Levaré: Hiking, Pilgrimage History and Cultural Heritage

Levaré combines hiking with a clearly distinctive pilgrimage and cultural history. Different scales are available when planning your trip: the Sentier botanique No. 23, an easy 9 km loop, and the 320 km Grand Chemin Montois. There are also botanical information boards at Taillis-Laurent, a pilgrim symbol in the town centre and a castle with building phases spanning three centuries. This lets you choose between a specific hiking route, a historic pilgrimage route and architectural heritage as the focus of your visit.

Hiking on Two Scales

The Grand Chemin Montois is a 320 km pilgrimage and hiking trail from Tours to Mont-Saint-Michel. It passes through Le Mans and Mayenne, linking the tomb of Saint Martin with the sanctuary of the Archangel. In the Middle Ages, Levaré was one of 13 stage towns along this route. Between Levaré and La Dorée, the historic Grand Chemin Montois follows a large curve. The route as a whole, Levaré’s historic role as a stage town and this curve offer different perspectives on the route.

The hiking options also differ in length: the Sentier botanique No. 23 is a 9 km loop, while the Grand Chemin Montois is 320 km in total. This makes it possible to choose between a single circular walk with a botanical theme and a regional pilgrimage route. If you would rather focus your trip on a specific loop than on the longer route, the stated length of the Sentier botanique offers a clear point of reference.

Botany Along the Trail and at the Viewpoint

Along the Sentier botanique No. 23, information boards identify the plants found along the route. The easy circular walk combines a defined length with a botanical theme: the signs draw attention to plants along the way and give their names. This offers a distinct focus alongside the pilgrimage history of the Grand Chemin Montois, and can guide your choice if plants and hiking go hand in hand for you.

Another botanical focus is Taillis-Laurent. At 251 metres, it is the highest viewpoint in the northwest of the Mayenne département. Information boards on the siliceous hill describe the various plants that grow there. While the information along the Sentier botanique relates to plants along the trail, at Taillis-Laurent it focuses on the plants growing on the hill. A route at Taillis-Laurent also passes a sunken lane and a picnic table at the edge of a private wood.

Pilgrim Symbols and Castle History

In the centre of Levaré, the Croix de la Cervelle displays the attributes of a pilgrim: a staff, hat and bag. The pilgrimage theme is thus present not only as part of a long route, but also in the depiction of a historic landmark in the town. These three identifiable attributes give the connection to pilgrimage history a concrete, distinctive focus.

The castle in Levaré has building phases dating from the 11th, 16th and 18th centuries. On 30 October 2006, it was partly listed as a Monument historique. The partially protected castle complex includes moats, the remains of defensive structures, a chapel and a former walled kitchen garden. Its building phases therefore span several centuries, and the features mentioned provide further specific details of the complex. For your trip, they complement the trails and pilgrim symbols with a glimpse into Levaré’s architectural history.

Discover more destinations: Pré-En-Pail, Montaudin, Ruillé-Froid-Fonds, Villiers-Charlemagne, Larchamp, Préaux, Saint-Mars-Sur-Colmont, Azé

For the broader travel overview: Mayenne.