Ercé-près-Liffré can be explored through two specific hikes and a multifaceted historical heritage. Les Rotes des Huguenots passes through the Forêt de Haute-Sève, while Les Rotes du Hen Herveleu leads to viewpoints. At the same time, local history and architectural heritage range from Château du Bordage, with its Huguenot history, to the parish church of Saint-Jean-Baptiste and manor houses dating from the 16th and 17th centuries. This gives you both a clear choice based on hiking time and a range of cultural themes to consider when planning your trip.
Hiking: comparing two routes
The Les Rotes des Huguenots hiking route starts at Place de la Mairie (Relais des Cultures) in Ercé-près-Liffré. It is 6.5 km long, with a stated duration of 1 hour 45 minutes. The route passes through the Forêt de Haute-Sève. This means you can plan the hike based on a specific starting point, a stated distance and an estimated time. Check local conditions before setting out.
The second route, Les Rotes du Hen Herveleu, leads to viewpoints. It is 7.7 km long, with a stated duration of 2 hours 10 minutes. Compared with the first route, that is 1.2 km farther and a stated duration that is 25 minutes longer. The options therefore differ both in time and in the described landscape: forest on one route, viewpoints on the other. You can choose a hike that suits the time you have available and your interest in these different route features.
Château du Bordage and Huguenot history
Château du Bordage was listed as a historic monument by decree of 11 September 2012. It stands on the Ilet River; today, the surviving structures are the bases of two ruined towers and a logis. Bordage became an important Calvinist centre and a refuge for Huguenots from the Rennes area. This combination of surviving architectural features and Huguenot history gives the château both architectural and religious-historical significance.
Church and manor houses
The parish church of Saint-Jean-Baptiste also has a clearly defined building history: it was rebuilt between 1847 and 1849 to plans by the architect Jean-Marie Anger de la Loriais. Two manor houses mark other historical periods. Le Rocher des Amis is a small manor house dating from the 16th century; L’Aubressonnière is a well-preserved manor house from the mid-17th century. The examples also differ in the nature of their building history: the church was rebuilt, while the manor houses date from the 16th and 17th centuries.
Community culture
Relais des Cultures is a popular venue for community cultural activities, particularly for promoting Gallo culture, in partnership with the Gallo Tonic association. This focus offers a distinct cultural way to experience Ercé-près-Liffré alongside its hiking and architectural history.
Discover more destinations: La Mézière, Redon, Montreuil-Le-Gast, Martigné-Ferchaud, Paimpont, Vieux-Viel, Beaucé, Saint-Coulomb.
For the broader travel overview: Ille-Et-Vilaine.
