Saint-Paterne: Heritage and GR 22

Saint-Paterne brings together local history, landscape, and walking trails. If you are looking for a hotel, the protected architectural and cultural heritage and the GR 22 can shape your travel plans. When choosing, consider whether you would prefer to focus your stay on cultural history or spend time outdoors. The details below will help you decide based on specific places and activities.

Cultural history and protected heritage

The Maison au cabinet peint at 11, rue d'Alençon was listed as a historic monument by decree on 14 November 1997. The protected features are the room with panoramic wall paintings, the ground floor, and the associated façades and roof. The protection description therefore covers both a decorated interior and specified exterior parts of the house.

The small Saint-Paterne church is also part of the local heritage. The Chapelle Saint-Gilles in Saint-Paterne is a 19th-century building. The church houses a baptismal font that has been protected as a movable cultural object since 22 June 1982. An inscription on the font names Pierre Nicolas Tardif as its donor and refers to a first mass established in the church. It also houses a Bible printed in Rouen by David and Pierre Geoffroy. The church and chapel offer different points of cultural and historical interest: the chapel is dated by its period of construction, while the baptismal font, inscription, and Bible are specific heritage objects in the church.

The Château de Saint Paterne, a Renaissance château, is also associated with the love affairs of Henry IV. This adds another historical focus to your trip, alongside the heritage protection details for the Maison and the baptismal font.

Landscape, trails, and leisure activities

The GR 22 long-distance footpath runs along a section from La Hasardière near Contilly to Saint-Paterne. It passes through varied, wooded landscapes, including the Forêt de Perseigne. If you plan to include this trail in your trip, check the route details before setting out.

There are also a few traces of vineyards in the village. Together with the wooded landscapes along the GR 22, these offer different connections to the landscape: traces within the village and woodland along the described section of the long-distance trail.

The grounds of the Château de Saint Paterne cover ten hectares. Guest facilities there include a table-tennis table, a boules game, and badminton. As leisure facilities may change, ask directly before your trip which are currently available. The château also lends bicycles for short excursions around Saint-Paterne; confirm availability directly if you are planning an excursion.

Bus connection and planning your stay

The bus connection to Alençon is 200 m from the Château de Saint Paterne. Check the current service before travelling, as bus routes and stops may change. This will help you choose your destination based on what matters to you during your stay.

Discover more destinations: Ancinnes, Savigné-Sous-Le-Lude, Saint-Pierre-Du-Lorouer, Bousse, Marigné-Laillé, Domfront-En-Champagne, Asnières-sur-Vègre, Saint-Mars-D'outillé

For the overview of the wider region: Sarthe.