A lovely walk along the 2 banks of the Sarthe, taking in the scenery of the Basses Vallées Angevines and the villages of Cheffes and Briollay.
A family trail with a flat profile, mainly on footpaths.
Suitable for occasional walkers and accessible to mountain bikes.
Starting from the church square in Cheffes, you can admire this 12th-century religious building with its twisted bell tower, dedicated to Notre-Dame and boasting fine examples of Romanesque architecture.
You then head for the Cheffes bridge.
After crossing the Sarthe and seeing the Chapelle Saint-Sulpice on your left, which was restored in 1882 in the Renaissance style, you will pass the lock, before taking the towpath and footbridge back to the mill and heading towards Briollay.
You will then pass Vérigné, a locality in the Briollay commune, where you can take a break on the banks of the Sarthe.
A rare example of 11th-century civil architecture, the former courthouse of the barony of Briollay was founded in the 12th century by Foulques Nerra, who held the rights of high, medium and low justice.
From this vantage point, you can admire the Vérigné hillside to your right and the Soulaire-et-Bourg hillside to your left, both of which frame the Sarthe Valley.
On your way back to Cheffes, you will pass the Manoir des Grandines (private), dating from the second quarter of the 17th century.
Please note: This route is subject to flooding in many places. For further information, contact the
Cheffes (02 41 42 61 41) and Briollay (02 41 42 50 28)
Toilets in Cheffes: opposite the town hall, to the right of the church, square René Goujon and at the river stop, opposite the lock.
Picnic tables along the way in Cheffes, Vérigné and Briollay.
All shops in the centre of Cheffes and Briollay.
Restaurants in Cheffes (closed in August) and Briollay.
Camping de l'Écluse in Cheffes (open mid-June to mid-September)
Motorhome parks in Cheffes and Briollay.
Public transport :
- Tiercé train station (3 km)
- Coaches: information about Angers bus station
(02 41 36 29 46)
You can also enjoy cruises on the Sarthe in summer:
The electric passenger boat La Gogane docks at Cheffes for guided cruises.
There's also a riverside stopover where passing boats can spend the night. And an electric boat and pedal-boat hire base will delight young and old alike for an experience along the Sarthe.
