Challes: Nature, Craft and History

The themes surrounding Challes range from the architectural history of the Église Saint-Laurent to the traditional craft of the “Le Crin” workshop. For nature lovers and hikers, specific route details are available: an easy circular walk in the Espace naturel sensible de la Vallée du Vivier is considerably shorter than the longer circuits, including two routes in Challes. History and landscape can also be explored as distinct themes.

Nature Trails and Landscape

In the Espace naturel sensible de la Vallée du Vivier, an easy circular walk covers 4 kilometres; the stated duration is approximately 1.5 to 2 hours. Check local access conditions before setting out. The Vallée du Vivier is part of a peat bog network in the Vallée du Narais, which is rare in the Sarthe. The semi-peaty meadows are home to species including the marsh gentian (Gentiana pneumonanthe) and the approximately 2-millimetre-long Desmoulin’s whorl snail. This short walk combines specific route details with a landscape distinguished by its peat bog network and the species preserved there.

The Lavoir du Vivier marks the source of the Vivier stream. You can reach it via the first path on the right after the hamlet of Vivier, on the road to Le Grand-Lucé. The Vallée du Narais also has numerous sandy paths and heathland trails. Deer, roe deer and wild boar may be spotted there. Sightings are a possibility, not something to expect on every outing.

Comparing Circular Routes

The Circuit de la Croix du chêne is a 20-kilometre PR circular route that starts and ends in Challes. Hiking, mountain biking and horse riding are possible on this route. Check the route details again before setting off. The “Le bocage du Narais” trail is also a circular route in Challes: it is 19.7 kilometres long, rated moderate, and has an elevation gain and loss of 203 metres each. The stated duration is approximately two hours.

At 20 and 19.7 kilometres, the two longer circular routes are similar in length. Their details emphasize different things: the Circuit de la Croix du chêne lists three possible activities, while the “Le bocage du Narais” trail gives its difficulty, elevation gain and loss, and approximate duration. By comparison, the 4-kilometre circular walk in the Vivier Valley, at approximately 1.5 to 2 hours, is clearly shorter. These figures provide an objective basis for weighing route length and estimated time when planning.

Église Saint-Laurent: Construction Phases and Heritage Status

The Église Saint-Laurent was probably built in the Romanesque period. In the 12th century, a transept with two apses and a flat-ended choir were added; the bell tower dates from the 14th century. The church has been listed as a historic monument since 5 December 1973. This chronology distinguishes its probable origins from the later additions and the more recent tower. The building’s history can thus be understood through several clearly identified phases, rather than attributing the church to a single period.

Horsehair Craft at the “Le Crin” Workshop

The “Le Crin” workshop is in the centre of Challes and has been operating since at least the early 19th century. Horsehair is still traditionally handwoven there on looms that are more than a century old. The materials are specified: cotton or linen form the warp, and horsehair and/or sisal the weft. The resulting fabrics are used to restore armchairs and for tapestry and leather goods.

The workshop’s development is also part of the town’s history. Production shifted from upholstery fabrics for carts and carriages to home textiles. At “Le Crin”, both the craft technique and the change in products are central. The present-day description of the weaving and the longer history of production offer different insights into the same craft, without implying that visits are possible.

Commemorating 6 August 1944

The Stèle du Gué de l'Aune commemorates eight people killed and two injured in an Allied bombing raid on a farm in Challes on 6 August 1944. The memorial was inaugurated in November 2024. The two dates refer to different events: 6 August 1944 is the date of the raid, while November 2024 is the date the memorial was inaugurated. Those interested in the town’s history will find a specific connection here to the wartime period and the people affected.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Poncé-Sur-Le-Loir, Bourg-le-Roi, Assé-Le-Boisne, Aubigné-Racan, Thoiré-Sous-Contensor, Changé, La Bosse, Beaumont-Pied-De-Boeuf

For the main travel overview: Sarthe.