Discover Sillé-Le-Philippe

Sillé-Le-Philippe offers several concrete reasons to visit: its early Gallo-Roman history, Château de Passay, memorial sites commemorating the fighting at Chanteloup, and hiking and cycling routes.

History and memorial sites

In Gallo-Roman times, Sillé-Le-Philippe was the main town of the Condita Siliacensis, one of nine divisions of the land of the Cenomani. Château de Passay is one of the town’s historically significant features and has been listed as a historic monument since 12 July 1993. The listing covers the château’s façades and roofs, the detached pavilions facing the courtyard, and the moats. This brings together a Gallo-Roman heritage and a clearly dated historic-monument listing from two widely separated periods in the town’s history.

The Chanteloup memorial was erected in 1904 to commemorate the fighting in the hamlet of Chanteloup on 11 and 12 January 1871 during the Franco-Prussian War. The stele bears a relief medallion of Commander Arnould and is surrounded by four cannons. Nearby, a grave slab marks the resting place of 25 French mobile guards from the départements of Lot-et-Garonne, Gironde and Finistère, as well as 26 German soldiers killed in the fighting. The memorial and the grave slab serve different purposes: the stele commemorates the fighting, while the slab marks the resting place of those buried there.

The town’s building history is also marked by specific dates: the new church was rebuilt after the earlier church was completely destroyed; work was completed in September 1874. The traditional washhouse was restored in 2001/2002. The town’s history therefore spans the church’s reconstruction in the 19th century and a restoration at the beginning of the 21st century.

Hiking and cycling

One specific walking option is La Fosse aux Saneux, a yellow-marked walking trail of the Sentier de Promenade et de Randonnée (PR) type in Sillé-Le-Philippe. The route is rated moderate, is 14.3 kilometres long, and has a stated duration of three hours. The distance, time and difficulty level give you a clear framework for planning your hike. Check local conditions before setting out.

For cyclists, the 67-kilometre loop route no. 15, “Héritage de la Vallée de l’Huisne,” passes through Sillé-Le-Philippe. At the Château de Chanteloup campsite, cyclists can discover Château de Chanteloup. Compared with the 14.3-kilometre walking route, the cycle loop is a considerably longer route and a different kind of tour. This gives you two distinct options: a moderate hike with a stated duration, and a 67-kilometre cycling loop.

Getting there and farm shop

Sillé-Le-Philippe is served by regular Aléop route 212 between Le Mans and Mamers. If you plan to travel by bus, check the timetable before your trip, as service times may change.

Ferme de Passay sells Aubrac beef, lamb, poultry and pork directly from the farm in Sillé-Le-Philippe. Opening times vary; check them before your visit.

Discover more destinations: Ancinnes, Connerré, Saint-Calais, Marçon, Précigné, Saint-Corneille, Beaumont-sur-Dême, Villaines-sous-Malicorne.

For the broader travel overview: Sarthe.