Short trips on the Mayenne are possible in small boats or electric boats; along the riverbank, the towpath opens up the countryside on foot, on horseback or by bike. There are also cycling routes and cultural sites that showcase different sides of the département: from a château with a history stretching back around 1,000 years to archaeological sites and prehistoric caves. The interests that appeal to you can help shape your choice of destinations.
River and cycling routes
The towpath along the Mayenne is suitable for walks, horse rides and bike rides. The cycling distances are also specific: the Vélo Francette passes through Mayenne, Laval and Château-Gontier-sur-Mayenne. Its route through the département covers 105 kilometres, including 85 kilometres along the towpath. The département also has 130 kilometres of greenways on former railway lines. The greenway network connects the Véloscénie, the Vélo Francette and the Régalante, offering various starting points for planning a route.
One clearly defined option is the 53-kilometre Mayenne–Laval loop. It is described as very easy and runs mostly on greenways and cycle paths. It can be compared with the longer Vélo Francette: the loop is a specific ride, while the Vélo Francette connects several towns across the département. This gives you the choice between a named circular route and a longer route corridor, without conflating the two.
Short trips on the river are also possible in small boats or electric boats. Between the town of Mayenne and Daon, a 85-kilometre stretch has 37 locks. The river is classified as an « espace naturel sensible » and is managed and studied by the département. A river trip and the towpath offer different ways to experience the Mayenne: on the water or along a route used on foot, on horseback and by bike.
Châteaux and archaeological history
The Château de Mayenne is considered an exceptional palace from the Carolingian period and was built shortly before the year 1000. Its history spans more than a thousand years. Excavations unearthed around a hundred medieval gaming pieces dating from the 10th to the 12th centuries. The Musée du château de Mayenne is accessible to visitors with reduced mobility. Check the venue’s current access information before your visit.
In Jublains, the département’s museum is devoted to archaeological collections from Mayenne dating from the Bronze Age to the Early Middle Ages. The exhibition is linked to the archaeological remains of Noviodunum. The ancient city, known as Noviodunum, covered around 25 hectares and included a sanctuary, a forum, baths and a theatre. The museum and the remains offer two different ways to explore the same ancient city: through its collections and through the physical traces of its former layout.
The Château de Sainte-Suzanne tells a different chapter of history. It stands on a rocky outcrop above the Erve valley and resisted William the Conqueror in 1087. The Saulges valley is home to 22 caves and is considered an important prehistoric site for the study of the first settlements in western France. The château’s history and the study of the caves focus on different periods, offering different directions for a cultural itinerary.
Art and landscapes
The Robert Tatin Museum in Cossé-le-Vivien is built around Robert Tatin’s home. Its striking features include the Allée des Géants, lined with 19 monumental statues made of painted cement. Those interested in art on the scale of large figures will find a different emphasis here than in Jublains’ archaeological collections.
The Mont des Avaloirs is associated with the forests, heathland and bocage of the Normandie-Maine Regional Nature Park. Visits to cider producers are also among the region’s recommended discoveries. So, alongside cycling and river routes, landscapes and local produce are other possible focuses for a trip through Mayenne.
Discover more destinations
Discover more destinations: Château-Gontier, Daon, Neuilly-Le-Vendin, Gesvres, Oisseau, Saint-Loup-Du-Dorat, Saint-Mars-Sur-Colmont, Villiers-Charlemagne, Andouillé, Aron, Azé, Carelles, Chammes, Désertines, La Baconnière, Quelaines, Châtillon-Sur-Colmont, Bouère, Villaines-La-Juhel, Vaiges, Saulges, Mayenne, Erbrée, Saint-Quentin-Les-Anges, Longuefuye, Le Ham, Montigné-Le-Brillant, Laval, Beaulieu-Sur-Oudon, Préaux, Moulay, Saint-Pierre-Des-Nids, Évron, Saint-Mars-Sur-La-Futaie, Hambers, Ambrières-Les-Vallées, Sainte-Suzanne, Placé, Congrier, Craon, Montaudin, Fougerolles-Du-Plessis, Larchamp, Gorron, Brécé, Saint-Denis-De-Gastines, Neau, Saint-Denis-D'anjou, Nuillé-Sur-Vicoin, Louverné, Saint-Aignan-Sur-Roë, Saint-Germain-Le-Fouilloux, Bazougers, Méral, Bais, Pré-En-Pail, Montsûrs, Saint-Georges-Buttavent, Sainte-Gemmes-Le-Robert, Montjean, Saint-Saturnin-Du-Limet, Coudray, Trans, Lignières-Orgères, Saint-Germain-De-Coulamer, Champfrémont, Ballots, Saint-Pierre-Sur-Orthe, Meslay-Du-Maine, Hercé, Blandouet, Brains-Sur-Les-Marches, Renazé, Pontmain, Loigné-Sur-Mayenne, Changé, Port-Brillet, Cossé-Le-Vivien, Landivy, Ernée, Torcé-Viviers-En-Charnie, Bonchamp-Lès-Laval, Juvigné, Ménil, Saint-Ellier-du-Maine, Bouchamps-lès-Craon, Saint-Georges-sur-Erve, Saint-Calais-du-Désert, Chemazé, Saint-Laurent-des-Mortiers, Saint-Samson, Couesmes-Vaucé, Hardanges, Saint-Thomas-de-Courceriers, Villepail, Mézangers, Peuton, Lassay-les-Châteaux, Cossé-en-Champagne, Levaré, La Rouaudière, Izé, Ruillé-Froid-Fonds, Contest, Lesbois, Saint-Germain-le-Guillaume, Montenay, Montourtier.
For the broader travel overview: Pays De La Loire.
