Discover Vivoin

Vivoin has been awarded the Petite Cité de Caractère designation. For travellers wishing to combine their stay with cultural history, the Benedictine priory in the heart of the village, the Église Saint-Hippolyte and themes relating to art and hemp are the main attractions.

The Priory: Architecture and Art

The Prieuré de Vivoin combines Gothic and Renaissance architectural influences. It was probably founded around 1060 by Raoul I, Viscount of Beaumont. Today, the priory is open to visitors and houses a contemporary art centre, the Centre d’Art Plastique et Contemporain. From the remains of the former cloister, visitors can see the church. The architecture, art centre and view of the church offer different ways to experience this historic site.

The priory is also home to the Musée du Chanvre et de la Vie d’Autrefois. It showcases traditional crafts and a former traditional interior from the Sarthe. One focus is the processing of hemp: the exhibit follows it from cultivation to the loom, highlighting the different stages in the material’s journey. Alongside the priory’s architecture, a traditional craft takes centre stage.

Church Art and Historic Buildings

The Église Saint-Hippolyte preserves fragments of 13th-century figurative wall paintings in its north chapel. A rare stained-glass window from the same century is set in the eastern gable. It consists of three lancets within a single tracery panel. The École de Filles adds to the historic buildings: it is listed as a Historic Monument, and its Romanesque doorway has been protected since 6 January 1927. Visitors interested in architectural history will find, alongside the priory, further distinctive examples from different areas of architecture and art.

Park and Cultural Programme

The priory sits on the banks of the Sarthe, and its park covers 3.5 hectares. Features include a textile garden, an orchard, a wildflower meadow and a natural wetland area. The different spaces bring together garden themes with connections to nature and textiles, without any single feature needing to take centre stage.

The Festival de Vivoin focuses on music from the repertoire, from its earliest beginnings to the present day; its programme also welcomes theatrical forms. The public programme at the priory also includes classical music festivals, theatre performances and artistic events. If you are planning your stay around a particular event, check the latest dates in advance, as individual editions and dates may vary.

Routes and Getting There

The Circuit du Chanvre starts at the museum in Vivoin and covers just under 30 kilometres. The priory is also on a pilgrimage route towards Mont Saint-Michel and Santiago de Compostela. The locations differ: the museum is the starting point for the Circuit, while the priory lies on the pilgrimage route. This is useful to bear in mind when planning if you want to focus on a particular route rather than a general cultural visit.

Vivoin-Beaumont station lies between Vivoin and Beaumont-sur-Sarthe. If you are planning to travel by train, check the current timetable for your travel dates. When choosing a hotel, you can then consider whether you want to focus mainly on the historic buildings, the arts and cultural programme, or a themed route.

Discover more destinations: Vibraye, Coudrecieux, La Chapelle-Aux-Choux, Sablé-Sur-Sarthe, Ruillé-en-Champagne, Bousse, Précigné, Le Grand-Lucé.

For the broader travel guide: Sarthe.