Saint-Jean-De-La-Motte – Motte, Megaliths and Walking Routes

Saint-Jean-De-La-Motte combines medieval earthworks and megaliths with two walking routes that offer different experiences. When planning a stay, you can first decide what you are looking for: would you like to take a closer look at historical landmarks or focus on a walk? The Rando’clim trail combines a botanical educational trail with tree observations; the PR trail “Le château de Gallerande” passes through forests and offers a view of the Loir Valley.

Motte and chapel at La Motte

A medieval motte is well preserved at La Motte, along with the ditches surrounding it. Right next to the motte is a partly buried early chapel, whose stone vault is still visible. The motte and chapel are two distinct historical landmarks at the same site: the motte includes its surrounding ditches, while the chapel’s stone vault remains visible.

Megaliths and their distinctive features

The megalith “La pierre potelée” got its name from its heavily weathered appearance. Le Palet de Gargantua is table-shaped, extends over a small stream and serves as a ford; the stone probably belonged to a dolmen. The menhirs “La mère et la fille” are located on the Lande des Soucis. They are remnants of a larger, now vanished structure: four stones remain, three of them aligned. These features distinguish the sites from one another: at Le Palet, the shape, stream and function as a ford go hand in hand with its probable connection to a dolmen; the menhirs, meanwhile, are the surviving parts of a larger group.

Comparing two walking routes

The Rando’clim trail starts at the arboretum and follows the botanical educational trail for 4.5 kilometres. Ten tree stations are marked with signs and are spread across five tree species. Hikers can use QR codes to contribute observations about the trees’ stages of development. This means the route combines the walk itself with the opportunity to take part in the observations. Check the condition of the signs on site.

The PR walking route “Le château de Gallerande” is rated easy and is 10.0 kilometres long. It leads through the forests of Château de Gallerande and offers a remarkable view of the Loir Valley. Directly compared, this route is more than twice as long as the Rando’clim trail. They also differ in theme: the shorter route focuses on tree stations and QR-code observations, while the longer one features forests and views of the Loir Valley. When comparing the routes for your plans, their length and themes provide a clear guide.

Fishing and road access

A day permit, issued on site, is required for fishing at the Plan d’eau in Saint-Jean-De-La-Motte. The D323 is a useful reference point for navigation and is an important road providing access to the town.

Discover more destinations: Thoiré-Sous-Contensor, Pontvallain, Poille Sur Vegre, Vion, Mansigné, Loué, La Bruere Sur Loir, Vaas.

For the overview of the wider region: Sarthe.