Marolles Les Braults: Heritage and Walking Routes

Marolles Les Braults offers several ways to shape your stay: historic buildings, walking routes with specified distances, and a landscape of limestone plains crossed by small rivers. These rivers include the Dive. You can therefore plan your visit around architecture, a specific walking route, or the character of the landscape.

Cultural history across several eras

The Priory of Saint-Symphorien was founded in the 12th century and is partly protected as a historic monument. A decree dated April 11, 1995, placed the chapel and the priory house under protection. The priory house was rebuilt in the first half of the 16th century. The founding, rebuilding and protection order thus mark different stages in the history of the complex.

Saint-Symphorien-en-Saosnois is a former priory of La Couture Abbey in Le Mans. The present walls of Saint-Symphorien-en-Saosnois date from the 15th century. The chapel has pointed-arch windows from the Late Gothic period; pointed arches rise to a peak, shaping the windows. The restored chapel also has an intricately crafted roof structure dating from the early Renaissance. The window shape and roof structure reflect different architectural features.

The Maison du Parc dates from the 19th century. The building was converted into a cultural center and municipal library; the former park is now a public garden. This brings the cultural use of the house and the present-day form of its former park into focus alongside the building’s history. The Maison du Parc represents a different era from the priory founded in the 12th century.

The organ in Église Saint-Rémy also has a clear historical connection: the parish acquired it in 1766, and it came from Beaugé.

Walking routes and historic paths

The Circuits du Prieuré comprise three circular walking routes of 3 km, 6 km and 9 km. Along them, you can discover Marolles Les Braults and the Priory of Saint-Symphorien. The 3 km loop is the shortest, while the 9 km option is the longest, with a middle distance of 6 km in between. The six-kilometer difference between the two outer options provides a clear guide when choosing a route length.

Marolles Les Braults has 18 km of walking paths. The Sentier du coeur follows the route of the former Mamers–Saint-Calais railway line. The Circuits du Prieuré offer three circular distances to choose from; the Sentier du coeur has a specific historical connection to the former railway line. You can therefore consider the routes from two different perspectives: their stated loop distance or the history of the route.

Landscape and market

The limestone plain is crossed by small rivers, including the Dive. Alongside the historic buildings, this offers another perspective on your stay: you can take in the character of the local landscape as well as the buildings.

La Ferme de La Forge takes part in the weekly market in Marolles Les Braults, where visitors can sample fresh local produce. If you plan to visit the market, check the date in advance.

Discover more destinations: Cherreau, Villaines-sous-Malicorne, Jupilles, Beaumont-sur-Dême, Domfront-En-Champagne, Saint-Gervais-en-Belin, Vaas, Chantenay-Villedieu

For the broader travel overview: Sarthe.