At the Belvédère des Mont des Avaloirs, you have to climb 108 steps; at the top, a 360° panorama opens up, with views stretching up to 100 kilometres. Pré-en-Pail also offers circular hikes, trails through heathland and a route with opportunities for wildlife observation. The different starting points and route types help you choose excursions based on the focus of your stay.
Hiking on routes with different profiles
The Boucle du Belvédère (No. 101) is an 8.7-kilometre circular hike. It starts at the car park at the Belvédère des Mont des Avaloirs and is signposted with a yellow marker numbered 101. Another circular route is “À la conquête de l’Armorique” (No. 37): it is 6.2 kilometres long and starts in Pré-en-Pail. You can explore it on foot, by mountain bike or on horseback; for hikers, it runs along the Corniche de Pail through heathland.
The two circular routes therefore differ not only in length, but also in their stated starting points and permitted uses. The Boucle du Belvédère is described by its route marker; “À la conquête de l’Armorique” offers two other stated options in addition to hiking. Check the current conditions for each route before setting out.
Heathland, biodiversity and wildlife observation
The RNR Mont des Avaloirs is located in the municipalities of Boulay-les-Ifs and Pré-en-Pail-Saint-Samson. Its four landscape units cover a total of 321 hectares; conservation efforts include heathland, peat bogs, scree slopes, meadows and forests. The RNR is considered one of the most important biodiversity centres in the Parc & Géoparc. More than 3,000 species have been recorded there, including over 150 remarkable species and 100 protected species.
The Tour de la Réserve Mont des Avaloirs starts at the Belvédère and features twelve themed stops. They cover the development of the landscape since the Middle Ages, the history of the quarry, the restoration of the heathland, the use of the bocage landscape and the species that live there. A four-kilometre out-and-back section of the tour leads to a wildlife hide, from which local wildlife can be observed discreetly. The walk thus combines the history of the landscape with a look at nature today.
Panoramas and trails through the landscape
At 416 metres, Mont des Avaloirs is the highest point in western France. The Corniche de Pail also offers far-reaching panoramic views. It stretches between Pré-en-Pail and the Forêt de Pail and is classified as a ZNIEFF area of ecological, faunal and floral interest. Those interested in heathland will find it mentioned both in the description of the Corniche and on the “À la conquête de l’Armorique” route.
For a cycling trip, there is also the Voie verte Pré-en-Pail/Mayenne. It follows a former railway line and connects La Véloscénie with La Vélo Francette. Along the Voie verte, there are kilometre markers and picnic tables. In addition to the circular hikes, this provides a cycling route with marked waypoints and places to stop and rest.
Art and everyday life in Pré-en-Pail
The church of Sainte-Thérèse in Pré-en-Pail contains monumental paintings created in 1876–1877 by Pierre Chadaigne, a painter from Alençon. The murals include cycles devoted to the Virgin Mary and Saint Joseph. The details about the artist, date and subjects provide a specific point of reference for the commune’s art history.
The weekly market is also part of what the area has to offer: in the commune of Pré-en-Pail-Saint-Samson, it takes place every Saturday morning. Le Comptoir in Pré-en-Pail is a grocery shop selling organic and local products, with a bar and a canteen. If you would like to include the market in your stay, plan for Saturday morning.
When looking for a hotel in Pré-en-Pail, you can first decide which excursions you would like to shape your stay: the signposted circular hike at the Belvédère, wildlife observation, trails through the Corniche de Pail or a ride on the Voie verte. The starting points vary, including the car park at the Belvédère and the village of Pré-en-Pail. Use this focus as a guide when looking for accommodation.
Discover more destinations: Bouchamps-lès-Craon, Saint-Mars-Sur-Colmont, Juvigné, Changé, Champfrémont, Contest, Louverné, Saint-Mars-Sur-La-Futaie.
For the main travel overview: Mayenne.
