Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Château de Carrouges
Until 1936, when it was
bought by the state, this imposing
red-brick château had been in the
Le Veneur de Tillières family for
almost 500 years. Founded by
Jean de Carrouges in the 14th
century, it has all the attributes
necessary for a grand château:
moats, terraces, a park and
gardens, and a particularly
elegant 16th-century gatehouse
with four pepperpot towers
(see
p112)
.
d
Map E6
•
02 33 27 20 32
•
Open daily except public hols
Exploring the Perche
Morning
Pick up a “Circuit du
Patrimoine” from the
tourist office in the old
market in
Mortagne-au-
Perche
(pl du Général-de-
Gaulle), and walk its route,
popping into the Église de
Notre-Dame to see the
glorious altarpiece
(see
p110)
. Finish with a coffee
in the
Hôtel Tribunal
(see
pp113)
.
Leave Mortagne-au-Perche
on the D931 toward
Mamers. Turn left on the
D275 and follow signs to
La Perrière
, an enchanting
village of colourful cottages
and tempting
brocantes
(antiques shops), with a
glorious view. Take the
RF225 through the peace-
ful
Forêt de Bellême
(see
p67)
as far as the D931.
Turn right for
Bellême
(see
p110)
. Go through the
town and turn right onto
the D203 to Nocé, where
the
Auberge des 3J
(1 pl
Docteur-Gireaux) is an
excellent lunch stop.
Alpes Mancelles
In the Parc Naturel Régional
de Normandie-Maine on the
southern border of Normandy is
this landscape of plunging hills,
steep valleys and forests. Not
quite comparable with the Alps,
it is more rugged (particularly
around the Sarthe Valley) than
the rest of the region. At 417 m
(1,368 ft), Mont des Avaloirs, to
the west of Alençon, is joint
highest point in western France.
Among its charming villages,
St-Céneri-le-Gérei is the jewel
(see p110)
.
d
Map E6
•
Tourist office:
19 ave du Docteur Riant, Fresnay-sur-
Sarthe. 02 43 33 28 04
Afternoon
Leave Nocé on the D9,
stopping for a glimpse of
the handsome
Manoir de
Courboyer
before
spectacular vistas open up
along the route. Turn right
onto the D5 to the huge,
incongruous
Chapelle-
Montligeon
. After a look,
follow the road through
the village until it meets
the D213. Turn left through
the
Forêt de Réno-
Valdieu
(see p66)
to
Monceaux and the
glorious
Manoir de
Pongirard
gardens (open
May-Oct: pm Sat-Sun).
Take the D291 to St-Victor-
de-Réno for a well-
deserved meal at the
charming
Auberge de
Brochard
.
Alpes Mancelles
109
