©Christian Dupont, Club photo d'Alençon
EXPLORE
THE ALPES MANCELLES
Protected site
This is a real gem! It is said that the name "Alpes Mancelles" was chosen by Céneri, a hermit who, after crossing the Italian Alps, decided to settle in this region where the scenery reminded him of the mountains. In the 7th century, he founded a chapel and a monastery, on a meadow tucked in a bend of the River Sarthe, and gave his name to the village of Saint-Céneri. Traversed by the steep Sarthe valley, the Alpes Mancelles region invites visitors to explore its superb natural features, as well as a remarkable heritage of traditional buildings, of which Saint-Céneri-le-Gérei and Saint-Léonard-des-Bois are both rich examples.
Among the must-see sights, we recommend the Belvédère des Toyères, the Haut Fourché, the Vallée de Misère and the Pierre Bécue. The Alpes Mancelles make perfect terrain for outdoor activities like canoeing, dog-hiking, swincar rides, microlight flights, mountain biking and, of course, hiking.