Neuilly-Le-Vendin combines walking with natural and cultural heritage. Circuit 12 and La Véloscénie offer different points of reference for choosing a route; the church, chapel and mill add historical and religious details to the picture. Check local trail conditions before setting out.
Choosing a Route and Nature
The municipal Circuit 12 walking trail passes the church and the Moulin à farine Rioux. La Véloscénie is a greenway open to walkers, cyclists, runners and horse riders. The routes are described differently: Circuit 12 has specific landmarks, while La Véloscénie accommodates various forms of non-motorised use. Check local conditions before using the routes.
The church is also a special natural landmark. The “Eglise de Neuilly-le-Vendin” area is a ZNIEFF Type 1, a regionally important breeding site for bats. The church attics are home to a colony of greater mouse-eared bats. For nature enthusiasts, a specific focus in the area is therefore bat breeding and the greater mouse-eared bat.
Church and Chapel
The Église de Neuilly-le-Vendin has been dedicated to Saint Calais since 1384. Small window openings and a round-arched doorway in the nave suggest that the building was originally Romanesque. The 1698 altarpiece includes a painting of the Virgin Mary crushing the serpent, flanked by statues of Saint Calais and Saint Christopher. Its dedication, possible Romanesque origins and artwork give the church a range of historical and artistic associations. If you would like to visit the interior, check in advance whether visits are possible, as access arrangements may vary.
The Chapelle Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours has its own religious significance. It was renovated from 1927 to 1930 and serves as a site for processions during rogation processions, communions and on Whit Monday. The renovation dates place its more recent architectural history in context, while the events mentioned reflect its religious tradition. The chapel’s renovation from 1927 to 1930 took place after the 1698 altarpiece.
The Mill and the Baking Trade
The Moulin de Neuilly, now known as Minoterie Rioux, is marked on the 1813 cadastral map. Its buildings were extensively remodelled in the second and third quarters of the 19th century. The mill was supplied by two retention ponds; one of them was fed by a canal about 1,500 metres long that diverted water from the Mayenne. The ponds and canal show the role water management played in the mill’s history. This makes it possible to understand the site not only through its buildings but also through its technical infrastructure. Since 1885, Moulins Rioux has supported customers in the artisan baking trade. The connection with artisan baking is therefore also among the themes associated with Rioux.
Discover more destinations: Contest, Aron, Sainte-Gemmes-Le-Robert, Château-Gontier, Erbrée, Brains-Sur-Les-Marches, Saint-Germain-Le-Fouilloux, Saint-Georges-Buttavent
For the main travel overview: Mayenne.
