Discover Aigné

Aigné’s defining features include sacred architecture, historic hemp ovens, tours about the village’s history and the Voie Verte de l’Antonnière. This gives you different options when planning your trip: the church’s architecture and furnishings, the ovens’ construction methods and a cycling route that runs as far as Aigné.

Église de l’Assomption: architecture and furnishings

The Église de l’Assomption dates from the 12th century. Its floor plan is in the shape of a Latin cross and includes two chapels. A square bell tower with a campanile adds to its architectural features. The floor plan describes the building’s shape; the chapels and tower offer further specific details to look for when viewing the church.

The furnishings also reflect different periods. The Pietà dates from the late 14th or early 15th century and has been restored to its original polychromy. The stained-glass windows were created by Auguste Alleaume in 1930–1932. Alongside the 12th-century building, then, are works of art from much later periods. The architecture, sculpture and stained glass can be considered as distinct aspects of the Église, rather than assigning the building and its furnishings to a single period of creation.

Hemp ovens and local building methods

The local ovens add further architectural forms to the church’s architecture. The Four du Vieux Maquère was restored by its residents. The Four à chanvres du Buisson is the last oven in the region made of earth with an interior wooden structure. The Four des Tursins stands out for its shape: it is a square hemp oven, and square ovens are less common than round ones. The Four de la Fabrice, meanwhile, has a stone dome. These examples thus differ in their restoration, materials and form.

Tours and events

Aigné Patrimoine organizes events and tours about the village’s history and present day. Topics include hemp in Aigné, the church and the hemp ovens; activities are also offered as part of the Heritage Days. The program thus connects village history with specific buildings and hemp as a topic in its own right. If you would like to plan a tour as part of your trip, check the dates and registration requirements in advance. Dates and booking arrangements may vary.

Voie Verte de l’Antonnière

The Voie Verte de l’Antonnière runs as far as Aigné and is 5.6 kilometers long. The route has a stabilized surface, is easy to ride and is suitable for bicycles away from paved roads. Its length, surface and suitability for cycling give you specific considerations when planning a cycling leg. For your trip planning, the cycling leg offers a separate focus alongside the cultural and historical themes.

The church and hemp ovens represent different architectural and artistic features; the Voie Verte offers a different focus on cycling. Tours complement these themes with organized activities about the history and present day of the area. You can plan which of these aspects will shape your stay by checking the tour dates and the route details described above.

Discover more destinations: La Milesse, Sainte-Sabine-Sur-Longève, Poncé-Sur-Le-Loir, Vion, Saint-Georges-De-La-Couée, Solesmes, Guécélard, Fresnay-Sur-Sarthe.

For the broader travel overview: Sarthe.