A 50-kilometre network of trails offers various ways to enjoy the outdoors in Mézeray: walkers, joggers and mountain bikers all use the trails. There are also horse-riding activities, basket-weaving courses and local history that stretches from medieval predecessors to craft and culinary traditions. For your planning, it is worth treating these topics separately: the trail network caters to different user groups, while horse riding and culture have their own activities, each with specific conditions.
Local history between the church and the moats
A notable place to explore the area’s architectural history is the Etappengîte des Mésangères. It is located in a fortified 16th-century farmstead surrounded by moats. The site thus combines the character of a historic farm with fortifications, whose moats remain part of the described landscape.
The Church of Saint Martin de Mézeray also tells a story of change: it was built around 1912 in place of a medieval church. The present building and its predecessor thus represent two different periods in local history. Mézeray is also on the Martinian routes; the Sablé/Solesmes–Tours Martinian route passes through the village. Pilgrimage routes and local history are therefore part of the same geographical story here, though this does not imply a particular visitor itinerary.
Walking trails and horse-riding activities
Those wishing to explore on foot will find a specifically named route alongside the 50-kilometre trail network: the Boucle des Mésangères is an easy-rated, 10-kilometre walking trail (PR) starting in Mézeray. Its distance and difficulty rating help you assess it as a distinct option; for the current route, check the local trail information.
There are also several options for riders. A riding trail awarded by the Conseil général de la Sarthe opened in Mézeray in September 2010. Check locally whether it is currently available before planning your visit. Along the Boucle équestre de Mézeray, the routes are lined with hedgerows planted with centuries-old oaks; they also pass through deciduous and pine forests. This route description thus provides a specific landscape complement to the information about the trail network.
La Cavalerie Des Mésangères is an FFE riding school in Mézeray. It offers rides for individuals and groups, as well as two-hour riding lessons. If you would like to include one of these activities in your trip, confirm the dates and prices in advance, as operational details may change. This keeps rides and lessons distinct as two options: the lessons are specified as lasting two hours, while no duration is given for the rides.
Crafts, nature and local traditions
Nature et Balade offers basket-weaving courses for children and adults. Formats range from half a day to one- or two-day courses. Nature et Balade also invites visitors to care for apple and pear trees in a conservation garden, plant hedgerows and take part in a project to create an arboretum. Basket weaving and gardening thus feature as different kinds of activities: one is a course with a set duration, the other involves practical participation in gardening and planting projects.
Another craft can be experienced on a heritage day: you can then visit the Atelier Chaudemanche, discover pottery with distinctive designs and glazes, and work with clay at the potter’s wheel. Visits take place on the heritage day; specific dates vary. Plan to visit only if the event falls within your travel dates.
Mézeray’s traditional horse festival is another local event. The municipality describes it as a festival held in September; check the specific dates if you are planning a trip around that time. Another strand of the area’s culinary history goes back a long way: poularde (fattened chicken) has been raised in Mézeray since the 15th century. The hen known as “La Flèche” is considered to have originated in Mézeray. The local food history and equestrian tradition thus add further facets of the area to its trails and crafts.
Discover more destinations: Marçon, Chaufour-Notre-Dame, Saint-Léonard-Des-Bois, Luceau, La Fontaine-Saint-Martin, Crosmières, Saint-Saturnin, Marigné-Laillé.
For the regional travel overview: Sarthe.
