Aron offers two distinct themes to consider when planning a trip: walks and local history. In Parc des Forges, an eleven-hectare pond is encircled by a path about four kilometres long; Aron has eight kilometres of trails in total. Its heritage includes the remains of a 14th-century castle, the Chapelle Sainte Anne and the covered megalithic site of Petite-Giraudière. You can tailor your stay to the balance of outdoor activity and culture you are looking for.
Trails and Parc des Forges
Aron has eight kilometres of trails to explore on foot. Parc des Forges has a pond and a place to go for a walk. The pond covers eleven hectares and can be circled on a path about four kilometres long. For planning walks, the figures refer to different scales: eight kilometres describes the trails available in Aron, while around four kilometres is the specific loop around the pond.
There is a children’s play area at the entrance to Parc des Forges, and shelters for picnics are available along the pond. If you are out with children, you can make the play area a separate stop; the shelters provide a convenient place to plan a picnic along the way.
Heritage and local history
The Tour Eugène Sue is a remnant of a 14th-century castle. This connection to the castle gives Aron’s heritage a different emphasis from its religious and archaeological sites: here, the focus is on a specific link to architectural history.
The Église Saint-Martin in Aron has a set of six stained-glass windows. As the parish church, it is dedicated to Saint Martin, Bishop of Tours. This brings together two distinct aspects: the specific collection of windows and the church’s patron saint. The dedication explains the name Saint-Martin, while the six windows are a distinct feature of the church.
The Chapelle Sainte Anne des Eaux is in Aron and is part of the town’s heritage. The covered megalithic site of Petite-Giraudière is also located in Aron. The chapel and megalithic site complement the church and castle remnant with other, distinct forms of heritage.
Remembering the Second World War
Aron’s history also includes a battle during the Second World War that lasted nine days. Twenty-two civilians were killed in connection with the events at that time. The duration of the battle and the number of civilians killed refer to different aspects of these historical events. Thus, in addition to buildings and religious sites, local history also encompasses a sobering wartime past.
When planning your trip, you can give these themes different emphasis: the pond loop gives an approximate length for a specific walk, while the network of trails describes the broader options in Aron. Among the historical sites, you might be more interested in architectural history, the church and chapel, or the covered megalithic site. This can help you decide whether outdoor activity or local history will shape your stay more.
Discover more destinations: Bouère, Gorron, Neau, Carelles, Contest, Izé, Couesmes-Vaucé, Bouchamps-lès-Craon
For the main travel overview: Mayenne.
