Saint-Léonard-Des-Bois: Discover Nature and Heritage

Saint-Léonard-Des-Bois lies within the classified natural area of the Alpes Mancelles. The village has nature trails, an animal park, protected art and attractions at the Domaine du Gasseau. When planning your trip, you can decide whether to focus on landscapes and hiking or include wildlife and heritage as well.

The Landscape of the Vallée de Misère

The Vallée de Misère is one of the Espaces Naturels Sensibles in the Sarthe département. Its landscape includes heathland, dry grasslands and woodland. It is also home to species-rich pioneer vegetation, including several species that are rare in the region. This gives the valley a range of nature-related features to consider when choosing a destination for an outing.

The Vallée de Misère circular trail starts at a small chapel on Route de Fresnay, before the bridge in Saint-Léonard-Des-Bois. If you plan to use this starting point, check access before your visit: details may change if parking or trail arrangements are adjusted.

Hiking Trails and Routes

The GR36 long-distance trail and its GR36A variant pass through Saint-Léonard-Des-Bois. There are also three hiking trails that are freely accessible day and night. The trail information may be updated by the tourist office, so check the latest details when planning your trip. This lets you consider the hiking routes as a focus in their own right, without conflating them with the long-distance trails.

One route in Saint-Léonard-Des-Bois consists of two loops that together form a 10-kilometre circuit. The number of loops and the total distance provide a concrete guide when choosing a route. Along with the starting point of the Vallée de Misère circular trail, this gives visitors a range of options if they want to focus their stay on trails and scenery.

Wildlife and Heritage

The Parc animalier de Saint-Léonard-Des-Bois is located on Mont Narbonne. Its animals include llamas, sika deer, fallow deer, mouflons, Ouessant sheep, Roux goats, pygmy goats, ponies and Cotentin donkeys. The park is open every day throughout the year, free of charge and without access restrictions, except in the event of exceptional closures. The animals present may change over time.

The Église Saint-Léonard houses a sculptural group depicting the Dormition of the Virgin Mary. It dates from the 17th century and has been protected as a Monument historique since 1905. Saint-Léonard-Des-Bois also holds the Petite Cité de Caractère® label. For visitors interested in religious art and historical heritage as well as nature and wildlife, the village offers another way to explore the area.

Domaine du Gasseau

The Domaine du Gasseau includes a natural climbing site, an adventure park with a high ropes course and a disc golf course. These activities offer a different focus from the village’s landscape and cultural attractions. The Domaine is located on Route La Vélobuissonnière. Its 1,500-square-metre vegetable garden is a place to discover plants. There is also a barefoot trail, whose seasonal opening may vary.

When looking for a hotel, you can first decide which aspect of Saint-Léonard-Des-Bois you want to shape your stay: the Vallée de Misère and its hiking trails, the wildlife, or a combination of heritage and activities at the Domaine du Gasseau. This way, you can choose a destination based on the interests actually available locally, without assuming that a particular accommodation will have specific amenities.

Discover more destinations: Château-Du-Loir, Flée, Aigné, Cogners, La Chartre-Sur-Le-Loir, La Flèche, Chemiré-en-Charnie, Rouperroux-le-Coquet

For the wider travel overview: Sarthe.