Discover Préaux: Church Art, Winegrowing and Countryside

When planning a trip to Préaux, you can choose from several interests: historic buildings, winegrowing and a tour through the countryside of Mayenne. The Eglise Saint-Martin and Manoir de Favry offer different perspectives on architecture and history. At Maison du Pin, the focus is on winegrowing and a tour with wine tasting. The walking trail adds a marked route and an approximate duration to these themes. This lets you shape your stay around what matters most to you.

Church history and interior furnishings

The Eglise Saint-Martin was rebuilt from 1856 to 1869. Its interior furnishings from the second half of the 19th century remain fully intact. The same building thus brings together two aspects: its reconstruction and its historic furnishings. The church has been listed as a Monument historique since 9 November 2000. The rebuilding dates to the 19th century; the listing date marks its later protected status. If you are interested in church art, you can consider the building’s history, interior furnishings and heritage protection separately.

Manoir de Favry and its gardens

Manoir de Favry centres on a large residence dating from the 16th and 17th centuries. The estate includes four well-kept gardens with centuries-old trees. The residence and gardens offer different points of interest: the age of the house provides an architectural context, while the old trees shape the character of the gardens. The number of gardens gives you a specific point of reference for this part of the cultural offering. If you are interested in historic residences and landscaped gardens as well as religious architecture, the manor offers a distinct focus.

Winegrowing at Maison du Pin

Maison du Pin is a pioneering winery in Mayenne and is home to one of the department’s few vineyards. The estate organically grows Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pineau d’Aunis, Syrah and Chenin on 2.2 hectares. The area and five varieties give the winery a distinctive profile. The grape varieties grown may change over time; if a particular variety matters to you, check the current selection.

A tour includes a visit to the historic fortified farm complex, the rebuilt manor house, the vineyards and the wine cellar, and ends with a wine tasting. The visit thus combines the estate’s buildings with its vineyards and cellar, before concluding with a tasting. Tours are by reservation and subject to availability. It is best to check availability in advance and book accordingly.

The walking trail through the Mayenne countryside

The “Circuit de la Croix de Pierre à Ballée et Préaux” walking trail is 12 kilometres long and takes approximately three hours. It passes through the landscapes and rural surroundings of Mayenne. Its length and approximate duration give you a concrete guide for planning your day. The route also highlights the 3-metre-high Croix des Chouans monument. It was erected in the 19th century and bears a medieval cross. The route thus combines a clearly specified walk with a historic landmark; the monument’s construction date and the age of the cross belong to two different periods.

When choosing between them, you can compare the guided wine tasting and the walking trail in terms of planning: the tour requires a reservation and depends on availability, while the route has a stated length and approximate duration. Decide whether you would rather learn about winegrowing on a guided tour or include a walk with a set route in your travel plans.

Discover more destinations: Le Ham, Nuillé-Sur-Vicoin, Renazé, Couesmes-Vaucé, Saint-Saturnin-Du-Limet, Levaré, Daon, Désertines

For the broader travel overview: Mayenne.