Mars: Discover Hiking and Church History

For a trip to Mars, you can focus on different things: the Circuit des planètes – PR 16 hiking trail, whose tourism listing was updated in 2021; the Marche de la planète hiking event organized in Mars; or the history of the former church. These topics take you from the landscape to specific route details and a historical trace. When planning your stay, you can consider whether you would mainly like to hike, include an event, or learn more about the town’s history.

Hiking Through the Landscape

The tourism listing for the Circuit des planètes – PR 16 was updated in 2021 and gives the church parking lot in Le Bourg in Mars as the starting point. According to the listing, the trail leads from the town center through the bocage landscape of the green hills in the Loire basin and on into forests on the edge of Burgundy. The listing also mentions views as far as the borders of Auvergne. This gives the route description several specific points of reference: the starting point in Le Bourg, the transition from hilly countryside to forest, and the expansive views. If you would like to familiarize yourself with the route before setting out, you can use this sequence as a guide. Check trail conditions before you leave.

Hiking Events and Routes

The Trail de la Planète held its tenth edition in 2026, offering four routes that year. The edition number places the trail in the context of its history so far, while the four routes describe the selection available in 2026. If you are considering a future edition, check the date and route options for that year.

The Marche de la planète is a hiking event in Mars organized by the comité des fêtes. The 2026 edition features six routes of 5, 10, 15, 20, 28, and 33 km, including one suitable for strollers. The distances can help you choose a route based on how far you want to walk; the stroller-friendly route is another specific selection option. For a later edition, check the dates and route options again, as these details refer to 2026.

For planning purposes, the Circuit and the Marche differ in their focus: the Circuit centers on a named starting point and the route through the landscape, while the Marche offers a choice of event routes with specified distances. The four routes of the Trail de la Planète, in turn, indicate the number of options offered for its 2026 edition. This gives you different starting points to consider: a hiking trail, an event with specific distances to choose from, or another selection of routes.

Church History in Mars

The year 1332 was inscribed on the portal of the former church in Mars. The former church was demolished in 1861 during the construction of the present-day church. These are two distinct historical reference points: a year recorded on the former portal and the later demolition of the church in connection with the construction of the present-day one. For travelers interested in local history, this sequence brings a specific historical change in Mars to life.

Hiking, event routes, and church history offer different ways to get to know Mars. The Circuit describes a route through the landscape, the Marche offers a selection of distances for 2026, and the church’s history connects a recorded year with the demolition of the former church. These differences can help you choose a focus for your trip planning.

Discover more destinations: Montverdun, Malleval, Champdieu, Saint-Paul-en-Jarez, Arthun, Villars, Chambœuf, Aveizieux.

For the regional travel overview: Loire.