Villiers-Charlemagne: Church, Mills and Walking Routes

Villiers-Charlemagne brings together church architecture, historic buildings and traces of former mills, along with walking routes and a fishing lake.

Saint-Martin Church: Architecture and Organ

Saint-Martin Church is open to visitors today. Its large nave and two side aisles give the interior its structure. The church is designed in the Neo-Romanesque style and also features Gothic elements, including pointed-arch vaults. This combination of different stylistic elements makes the church a specific place to visit for anyone interested in architectural forms.

The organ is another distinctive feature of the church. It is used several times a year. Its case is made of oak and designed in the Gothic style. The information about its use and case describes two different aspects of the instrument: how it is used throughout the year and the design of its outer casing.

Pont de la Valette and Traces of the Mills

Pont de la Valette is a five-arch bridge built of sandstone rubble masonry. Its description includes not only its construction but also its connection to riverside paths: the abutments have openings for such paths, including the towpath on the right bank. The bridge can therefore be considered both in terms of its five arches and materials, and in terms of its connection to a riverside path.

Different kinds of surviving traces are the focus when it comes to the former mills. The ruins of the Moulin à farine de Cée are still visible. Of the former Moulin à foulon de la Valette, which later served as a boathouse, only a few wall remains overgrown with vegetation survive today. One site is thus described as a visible ruin, while only a few sections of wall remain at the other. Its former use as a boathouse is also part of the history of the Moulin à foulon de la Valette.

Comparing Two Walking Routes

The La Valette circular route in Villiers-Charlemagne is 12 kilometres long and takes about three hours on foot. It passes the village ponds and follows the Mayenne. Its length, approximate time required and route along the water give you several specific criteria for planning your day.

The Le Coudray circular route is 13 kilometres long and takes about three hours and 15 minutes. In direct comparison, the stated route lengths differ by one kilometre, and the estimated times are about 15 minutes apart. The time given for La Valette is explicitly walking time. Trail conditions may vary, so use the time estimates as a guide when planning.

Erveux Fishing Lake

The Erveux fishing lake in Villiers-Charlemagne bears the Fédération Nationale de la Pêche en France's national “PARCOURS FAMILLE” label. This adds a specifically designated fishing lake to the architectural highlights and walking routes. If current certification is important to your decision, check it before your visit.

Discover more destinations: Brains-Sur-Les-Marches, Nuillé-Sur-Vicoin, Craon, Mézangers, Gesvres, Trans, Quelaines, Saint-Denis-De-Gastines

Go to the main travel overview: Mayenne.