Ruillé-sur-Loir: Heritage, Wine and Walking

If you’re looking for a hotel in Ruillé-sur-Loir, you can plan your trip around heritage, walking or wine visits. When choosing, it’s worth considering these interests separately: architectural history and church art tell different stories from a walk along vineyard slopes or a visit to a wine cellar. So start planning by asking which of these themes you’d like to shape your stay.

Heritage and Architectural History

The Manoir de l’Aurière and its two associated pavilions have been listed as historic monuments since 30 December 1983. Its architectural history dates back to the 15th and 17th centuries, encompassing different historical periods.

The Église Saint Pierre et Saint Paul dates from the 12th century, was completed in the 16th century and was altered in the 19th century. This sequence reveals several phases of construction. A fresco of the Last Judgment was also discovered in the church tower, a striking motif in religious art. The church is open year-round and admission is free; nevertheless, check access arrangements before your visit. The church’s architectural history spans the 12th to the 19th century, while the Manoir’s construction phases date to the 15th and 17th centuries.

The Maison « La Petite Providence » was established in 1806. It was founded to educate, care for and evangelize people living in extreme poverty. Here, the focus is therefore not on a construction phase but on the social and religious purpose of the foundation.

Walking Among the Vineyard Slopes

The “Entre Loir et coteaux de Ruillé” walking route starts in Ruillé-sur-Loir and runs along the vineyard slopes of the Loir Valley. Its appeal lies not only in the walk itself but also in the vineyard landscape. Compared with a cellar visit, the focus here is on walking through this landscape. Follow the current trail markers locally. The route is a stand-alone option for your plans if you’d like to make a walk the main focus of your stay.

Wine Cellars and Types of Visits

La Cave de Dauvers has tuff-stone cellars at the foot of the Jasnières vineyards. Individual guided tours and self-guided visits are available. This lets you choose between the types of visits offered; check the arrangements before you travel.

Domaine Lelais offers private visitors and tourists tours of its troglodyte cellars as well as wine tastings. Visiting arrangements vary by season and should be checked in advance. The offerings have different focuses: La Cave de Dauvers offers a choice between a guided tour and a self-guided visit, while Domaine Lelais lists cellar tours and wine tastings. This helps you decide between a particular type of visit and an offering that includes a wine tasting.

Discover more destinations: Saint-Victeur, Saint-Germain-D'arcé, La Bosse, Épineu-le-Chevreuil, Saint-Christophe-Du-Jambet, Avessé, Tresson, Château-Du-Loir.

For the broader travel overview: Sarthe.