Coulombiers: History, Church and Getting There

Visitors looking for a hotel in Coulombiers can get to know the town through its history, church and transport links. Particularly notable are the memorial site at the lieu-dit “Le Chenil,” the church’s architecture and La Hutte-Coulombiers railway station. Together, these topics offer different perspectives on the town: remembrance of 1944, historic art and orientation for rail and road routes.

Memorial Site and Local History

At the lieu-dit “Le Chenil” stands a granite monument featuring a Cross of Lorraine. It commemorates five soldiers of the 2e DB who were killed in an attack on their tank. Memorial ceremonies are held every year for the men who fell on 11 August 1944. The events of that day are also part of the town’s history: Coulombiers was spotted at around 8:30 a.m. and occupied without resistance at around 9 a.m. An order was then issued to occupy the crossroads area known as “Le Chenil.”

Church: Architectural Features and Historic Furnishings

The church in Coulombiers has a semicircular apse and a square bell tower with one tier of pointed-arch openings. An apse is the semicircular end of a church interior; together with the angular tower, it creates a combination of different forms. Pointed-arch means that the arch tapers to a point at the top; the description refers to one tier of openings.

A blocked-up Romanesque doorway is set into the south wall of the nave. Its archivolt has a roll molding. An archivolt is the arched frame of a doorway or portal; a roll molding is a rounded, projecting profile.

The two statues on the high altar date from the 17th century and are made of polychrome-painted, gilded wood. They were designated historic movable objects in 1982. The two dates have different roles: the 17th century dates the figures, while 1982 is the year they were designated.

Railway Station and Getting There

La Hutte-Coulombiers railway station is in La Hutte, a former municipality of Coulombiers, on the Le Mans–Alençon–Caen line. The distinction in the name is useful for finding your way around: the station is called La Hutte-Coulombiers but is located in La Hutte. Facilities include an outdoor platform with a shelter, a secure bicycle locker, a car park with 40 spaces and an electric vehicle charging station. These provide specific facilities for arriving by train, bicycle or car.

Road Routes Through Coulombiers

The country-road option on the tourist route through the Alpes Mancelles follows the D118 through Coulombiers and then the D129 to Piacé. Another route reference is the Voie de la 2e DB, which lists Coulombiers at kilometre 342. The two references serve different purposes for orientation: the country-road option names Piacé as the next destination, while the kilometre marker locates Coulombiers on the Voie de la 2e DB.

Discover more destinations: Piacé, Mansigné, Loué, Ruaudin, Pezé-le-Robert, Souvigné-Sur-Sarthe, Challes, Montfort-Le-Gesnois.

For an overview of the wider region: Sarthe.