Pré-En-Pail: Hiking, Nature and Views

Pré-En-Pail offers plenty for travelers looking to include hiking trails, nature watching and scenery in their travel plans. Mont des Avaloirs reaches 416 meters, making it the highest point in western France. The Corniche de Pail stretches between Pré-en-Pail and the Forêt de Pail, offering sweeping panoramic views. The Corniche de Pail is designated as a ZNIEFF site because of its ecological, faunal and floral interest.

Landscape and Nature on Mont des Avaloirs

The Mont des Avaloirs Regional Nature Reserve (RNR) is located in the communes of Boulay-les-Ifs and Pré-en-Pail-Saint-Samson. Covering 321 hectares, it encompasses four landscape units and helps preserve heathland, peat bogs, scree slopes, meadows and forests. It is considered one of the Parc & Géoparc’s most important biodiversity centers. More than 3,000 species have been recorded in the RNR, including over 150 remarkable species and 100 protected species. The focus here is therefore on both the variety of habitats in this landscape and the diversity of species that live there.

Hiking Trails and Views

The Mont des Avaloirs Reserve Tour starts at the Belvédère and includes twelve themed stops. They explore how the landscape has changed since the Middle Ages, the history of the quarry, the restoration of the heathland, the use of the bocage landscape and the species that live there. A four-kilometer out-and-back section of this tour leads to a wildlife hide, where you can discreetly observe the local wildlife. Nature watching and the history of the landscape go hand in hand here.

The Boucle du Belvédère (No. 101) is an 8.7-kilometer circular hike starting at the parking lot by the Mont des Avaloirs Belvédère. It is marked with yellow signs numbered 101. As trail conditions can change, check the latest conditions before setting out.

Another circular route is “À la conquête de l’Armorique” (No. 37): it is 6.2 kilometers long and starts in Pré-en-Pail. The route takes hikers along the Corniche de Pail through heathland; it can be used on foot, by mountain bike and on horseback. At the Mont des Avaloirs Belvédère, there are 108 steps to climb. At the top, enjoy a 360° panorama with views stretching up to 100 kilometers.

The two circular routes differ in more than length: the Boucle du Belvédère starts at a parking lot and has its own trail markings, while “À la conquête de l’Armorique” starts in Pré-en-Pail and accommodates several ways of getting around. These details offer a concrete comparison when deciding what to focus on during your trip.

Cycling Route, Heritage and Local Life

For cyclists, the Voie verte Pré-en-Pail/Mayenne runs along a former railway line and connects La Véloscénie with La Vélo Francette. It is equipped with kilometer markers and picnic tables. Its former railway alignment and the facilities mentioned here set this cycling route apart from the hikes described above.

Heritage and local life can also shape your trip. The monumental paintings in the Sainte-Thérèse church in Pré-en-Pail were created by Pierre Chadaigne of Alençon in 1876–1877. The murals include cycles depicting the Virgin Mary and Saint Joseph. A weekly market is held every Saturday morning in the commune of Pré-en-Pail-Saint-Samson. Le Comptoir in Pré-en-Pail is a grocery store offering organic and local products, as well as a bar and a canteen.

If you’re looking for hotels in Pré-En-Pail, you can base your choice on the focus of your stay: hiking and views, nature watching, the cycling route, or heritage and local life. The routes mentioned offer different lengths, starting points and ways to explore.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Saint-Germain-Le-Fouilloux, Craon, Peuton, Chemazé, Lignières-Orgères, Laval, Préaux, Bouère.

For the broader travel overview: Mayenne.