Erbrée can be explored through two distinct questions: What building history shapes the local sights, and what opportunities do the paths and water offer? The Église Saint-Martin provides concrete insights into architecture and bells; at Lac de la Valière, the area, path length and three types of use go hand in hand. There are also building phases at Château de Bois le Beau and Manoir de la Picotière. This allows you to give cultural topics and time outdoors separate consideration, rather than turning the different places into a fixed itinerary.
Church and Bells in Erbrée
The Église Saint-Martin in Erbrée is a neo-Gothic church made of sandstone, granite and limestone. It was built under the direction of architects Audrouin and Gelly. It is 41 metres long and 18 metres high beneath the vaults. The originally planned church tower could not be completed because the foundations could not safely bear its weight. The architecture, materials used and unfinished tower plan offer different insights into the building’s history.
Each of the three bells also has a name: Aline weighs 500 kilograms, Louise-Agathe 900 kilograms and Pauline-Emilie 600 kilograms. They come from Villedieu-les-Poêles in the Manche department and are associated with the local château-owning families Hay des Nétumières, Modeste de la Borderie and de Legge. Louise-Agathe is therefore the heaviest of the three, and Aline the lightest. The names, weights and family connections make the set of bells a subject in its own right, alongside the church’s architecture.
Different Building Phases
Two building phases can be distinguished at Château de Bois le Beau: the central section was built in 1842 for the de La Plesse family of Vitré. The château also includes a neo-Romanesque chapel, built between 1890 and 1900. The timeline for Manoir de la Picotière begins with a qualification: it was probably built in the 16th century. A chapel, living quarters and an orangery were added in the 17th and 18th centuries; the manor was remodelled in the 19th and 20th centuries.
The difference in precision matters when comparing dates: the central section of the château is dated to 1842, while the manor’s construction date is explicitly described as probable. These buildings thus offer different ways to explore building history, from a dated construction to a sequence of additions and changes spanning several centuries.
Paths at Lac de la Valière
Lac de la Valière in Erbrée is a 100-hectare body of water. Six kilometres of paths offer opportunities for walking, horse riding and cycling. The lake is accessible all year round; check access conditions before your visit. The area and path length describe two different aspects: the size of the body of water and the distance available for the activities mentioned.
For orientation, there is also a wider selection of local circular routes: Erbrée’s 80 circular routes are available through the free Visorando app and on the Vitré Communauté website. These are distinct from the Tour des Portes de Bretagne walking trail, which runs for just under 100 kilometres through the area and links the four lakes of Châtillon, La Valière, la Cantache and la Haute Vilaine. The number 80 refers to the local circular routes; just under 100 kilometres is the length of this named trail. Erbrée also has the Sentiers des Papillons, des Abeilles and des Fourmis paths.
Discover more destinations: Loigné-Sur-Mayenne, Ambrières-Les-Vallées, Neau, Cossé-Le-Vivien, Moulay, Fougerolles-Du-Plessis, Renazé, Saint-Germain-le-Guillaume.
For the broader travel overview: Mayenne.
