Dissay-Sous-Courcillon: Rivers, Hiking Trail and Heritage

Dissay-Sous-Courcillon brings together a riverside landscape, a signposted circular hiking trail and several historic sites. When choosing where to stay, you can opt for a hike associated with the Long or focus on church art, menhirs, the château and the priory. The various sites range from a protected church choir and listed statues to a former mill building that has served different purposes over time.

Rivers and circular hiking trail

The Long and Escotais rivers cross Dissay-Sous-Courcillon and meet outside the town centre. The Long is also a reference point for the Circuit de Vauperon. The trail starts in Dissay-Sous-Courcillon, follows the Long valley and is designated as a PR hiking trail. This easy circular walk is 8.8 kilometres long. Its length, difficulty level and circular route offer different points of reference when choosing your hike. The trail also allows you to discover the Château de Courcillon, after which the village is named today. Check the route details before setting out, as they may change.

Church and historic objects

The choir of the church in Dissay-Sous-Courcillon has been listed as a historic monument since 4 February 1927. Two statues stand in the south aisle: John the Baptist and Saint Genevieve. Both date from the 17th century and were classified as historic objects on 15 April 1907. The dates refer to different items: 1907 for the two statues and 1927 for the choir. This makes it easy to distinguish the respective protection statuses.

Menhirs and Château de Courcillon

The menhir known as the Pierre Levée is located at La Pierre Levée in Dissay-Sous-Courcillon. The Menhir de la Serpinerie has a historic protection status with a specific date: it has been listed as a historic monument in Dissay-Sous-Courcillon since 24 November 1984. The Château de Courcillon and its park are also designated heritage sites. The area surrounding the château is designated as a protected area. The château and park on the one hand, and the protected surroundings on the other, are distinct parts of the local cultural landscape.

Priory and Moulin Saint-Jacques

The priory of Dissay-Sous-Courcillon contains monumental paintings depicting animals and people. They were classified as historic objects on 10 June 1987. The Moulin Saint-Jacques reflects a different kind of historical development: it was first a grain mill, then a cotton-wool factory, followed by an industrial dairy and cheese factory. Today it serves as a residence. This succession of uses shows a shift from commercial production to its current residential purpose, adding its own local history to the church and stone monuments.

Highlights for your stay

For planning purposes, a circular trail with a specified length and an independent visit with an estimated duration are both options. An independent visit to Le Prieuré takes an average of at least 45 minutes. If you plan to visit, check the latest visitor information; for the Circuit de Vauperon, check the route details in advance. This will help you choose the focus of your stay, depending on whether you mainly want to hike or explore the historic sites.

Discover more destinations: Bouloire, Le Grand-Lucé, Cogners, Berfay, Piacé, Thorigné-Sur-Dué, Ruaudin, Vallon-sur-Gée

For the wider travel overview: Sarthe.