Saint-Laurent-des-Mortiers: Hiking and Architectural History

Saint-Laurent-des-Mortiers can be explored through two different interests: hiking and historic buildings from several centuries. If you are looking for a hotel, you can first consider whether trails should be the focus of your stay or whether you are primarily interested in architecture. For planning, you can choose between two routes with different lengths and layouts; the buildings mentioned date from the 11th to the 19th century.

Hiking by Length and Route Type

The Circuit des trois villages connects Saint-Laurent-des-Mortiers with Saint-Michel-de-Feins and Argenton-Notre-Dame, linking three towns. The municipal route description gives a length of 17.5 kilometres and notes no particular difficulties. As trail markings and conditions can change, check the information locally before setting out.

On the Circuit des trois villages, a shaded path leads to the Étang du Douai. Access conditions may vary seasonally, so take the time of year into account when planning this section of the route.

The Circuit de la Roche Thoreau is a 5.58-kilometre circular hiking trail in Saint-Laurent-des-Mortiers. It is rated easy and takes approximately one hour and 40 minutes. The start and finish are at the church car park.

The two routes differ not only in length: the Circuit des trois villages connects three towns, while the Roche Thoreau route is a circular trail. At 5.58 kilometres, it is considerably shorter than the 17.5-kilometre route linking the three towns. An approximate duration is also given for the Roche Thoreau trail. These differences can help you tailor your hiking plans to your preferred route type and available time.

Church and Historic Buildings

The church of Saint-Laurent-des-Mortiers dates from the 11th century. Herringbone masonry can be found in at least two places on the south exterior wall. In this type of masonry, stones are laid at an angle to one another; it is characteristic of buildings from the early Middle Ages. The church thus brings together a specific date for the building and a masonry pattern with a broader architectural-historical context.

The Logis seigneurial de la Juquaise is a manor house dating from the mid-18th century and is privately owned. The 19th-century chapel at the logis houses funerary monuments from the second half of the 17th century. The monuments are therefore older than the chapel in which they are located. These different dates give the site a remarkable historical depth, without suggesting that the manor house, chapel and funerary monuments all date from the same period.

At the Château de Noirieux and its orangery, the façades and roofs were listed as historic monuments by decree dated 11 April 1990. The estate is privately owned. The listing expressly applies to the façades and roofs mentioned, not to every part of the estate as a whole.

Plan Your Stay Around Your Interests

When looking for a hotel in Saint-Laurent-des-Mortiers, you can first decide what you would like to focus on. If hiking is your main interest, you can take the length, route type and approximate duration of the Roche Thoreau circular trail into account when planning your trip. If you are more interested in architectural history, the church, the Logis seigneurial de la Juquaise and its chapel offer examples from different periods. This can help you choose a destination based on which of these subjects is most important to you during your stay.

Discover more destinations: Villiers-Charlemagne, Bazougers, Bouère, Contest, Sainte-Suzanne, Montaudin, Longuefuye, La Rouaudière.

For the wider travel overview: Mayenne.