In Moncé-en-Belin, historic memorial sites, walking trails and live culture come together. The town’s history ranges from a Roman road and a memorial to fallen airmen to a chapel that served as a stop for processions. To plan your stay, you can complement these cultural themes with two differently described walks and the year-round programme at Le Val’Rhonne.
History between memorials and buildings
The Monument des Alliés commemorates eight airmen who lost their lives in an air raid on 23 May 1944: six Canadians, one Englishman and one Australian. The monument was inaugurated in 1949. The dates refer to different events: 1944 to the fatal air raid, and 1949 to the inauguration of the memorial. This distinguishes the date of the event itself from the later act of commemoration.
A Roman road from Le Mans to Poitiers crossed Monciacum; today it corresponds to the Route du Lude. Unlike the monument, which commemorates a specific event, this historical reference represents a route between two cities. The town’s history therefore offers both a specific memorial and a reminder of a longer connection.
La Chapelle was built in 1828 by Joseph Rottier de Madrelle, known as “l’abbé de Moncé” and the last Count of Belin. It served as a stop for processions. Its year of construction, builder and former function give this place a different focus from the Monument des Alliés: here, the interest lies in a building and its religious use. For a cultural and historical visit, you can explore these themes separately rather than assigning them to a single period.
Near Vaux lies the Motte castrale du Haut Maine, an artificial, cone-shaped earthen mound about 10 metres high and 30 metres in diameter. The two measurements convey different dimensions of this feature: its height and its diameter. The type of site also sets it apart from the other historical references: the motte is an earthen mound, while the monument and chapel are buildings, each with its own significance.
Walking trails with different points of interest
The Circuit de Moncé is a 10 km walking route marked in yellow. It starts at the Le Val’Rhonne car park and passes the Monument des Alliés. Seventy percent of the route follows unpaved paths. Its length, markings and surface provide practical information for planning; the route also links the walk with the memorial site without making it the trail’s sole point of interest.
The Circuit des Buttes leads to the medieval crossing known as the Gué du Moyen-Age. This ford on the Lunérotte was discovered when the walking trail was opened. The Lunerotte stream belongs to the Rhonne drainage basin and adds to the area’s landscape features.
The two routes have different points of interest: the Circuit de Moncé is described in terms of its length, yellow markings, unpaved paths and route past the monument. The Circuit des Buttes focuses on a medieval crossing as its destination. You can therefore choose between them based on whether practical route details or a named historical destination matters more to your walking plans.
Live culture at Le Val’Rhonne
Le Val’Rhonne offers a varied programme of live performances throughout the year, including circus, theatre and music. This adds a distinct cultural focus alongside local history and walking. If you would like to include a performance in your stay, check the dates for your travel period. This will help you fit a visit to the area and a possible cultural event into your travel plans.
Which of these influences your choice depends on whether you want to focus your stay more on local history, time spent walking or live performances.
Discover more destinations: Avezé, Savigné-Sous-Le-Lude, Aubigné-Racan, Bourg-le-Roi, Domfront-En-Champagne, Saint-Georges-le-Gaultier, Bonnétable, Saint-Aubin-Des-Coudrais.
For the broader travel guide: Sarthe.
