The best walks and hikes around Saint-Georges-Le-Fléchard

The Catholic Church - Saints Cyr and Julitte d'Argentré dates from Roman times and is dedicated to Saint Cyr and Saint Julitte, two martyrs of the early Christian church. You can admire the fresco in the vault above the main altar, which features geometric patterns from the 12th century. You can also admire the marble altarpieces from the 17th and 18th centuries, the clock from 1875, the paintings and stained glass windows from the 20th century. The church is open to visitors during Heritage Days which take place every year in September.

If you are looking for a hike combining nature, history and art, you can visit the Caves of Saulges and the prehistory museum. This site offers a unique opportunity to explore the caves and shelters that were occupied by humans around 25,000 years ago, during the Paleolithic period. Some caves are decorated with rock art, such as paintings, carvings and graffiti. You can also visit the Prehistory Museum, which features archaeological collections and interactive exhibits related to prehistoric life in Mayenne. The site is located in the Erve valley, which is a protected natural area with rich biodiversity. The hiking trails allow you to admire the landscapes of the valley and the limestone cliffs. The site is open from April to November. You can check opening hours and prices on the website. Don't forget to bring comfortable shoes, a flashlight and a camera to immortalize your experience.

The Gô mill is a water mill which dates from the 15th or 16th century. It is located on the Erve, between the old Moulin aux Moines and the Moulin du Pont, in the town of Saint-Pierre-sur-Erve. You can admire the architecture and mechanism of the mill, which was renovated with the help of volunteers and won an award for its restoration in 2018. The mill is also surrounded by a beautiful natural environment, with green hills, forests and streams. You can follow the hiking trails along the river or explore the surrounding villages and castles. Le Moulin de Gô is a place where you can enjoy culture and nature in a peaceful setting.

The Saint-Sylvain chapel in Saint-Pierre-Sur-Erve is a 15th century chapel dedicated to an eremitic who lived on the hill in the 6th century. You can admire the panoramic view of the Coëvrons hills and discover the graffiti engraved on the walls by pilgrims over the centuries. The chapel is accessible by a wooded path which leaves the village. You can also extend your hike to discover other attractions in the region, such as the Saulges caves and canyon, the Thévalles mill or the ruins of old lime kilns.

This fascinating edifice was built on top of a cave in 1849 to protect the statue of the saint therein, Céneré, a 7th-century Benedictine monk. He would have caused the manifestation of the source which springs from the rock at this place. This continuous stream of water from the spring gave the saint the nickname "saint who pisses".

Cyr and Julitte are figures of saints who have marked Christianity for more than a millennium. Cyr is a 5-year-old child, very mature for his age, who lived in Tarsus, near Antioch (in present-day Turkey), in the 3rd century AD, when the Roman Empire massacred Christians en masse. . During one of those horrific trials where Christians were sentenced to death, Cyr snuck into court running and shouting "I'm a Christian too!". When the judge caught him, he smashed his head against a wall. His mother, Juliette, was also martyred. The horror of their treatment and the heroic hope they demonstrated made them popular as far away as Gaul, especially around Versailles and Nevers. 42 villages bear the name of "Saint-Cyr". see https://nominis.cef.fr/contenus/saint/1329/Saints-Cyr-et-Julitte.html

The oratory of Saint Céneré is located on the banks of the Erve, one kilometer from the town of Saulges. For 13 centuries, without stopping, the inhabitants of Maine and Anjou come to Saulges around August 15 to celebrate their protector. A spring has been flowing since the 7th century in this oratory built over the cave of its former hermitage. SourceWikipedia

These Japanese steps are superb, the light is magnificent on the outskirts of the Erve