Villaines-la-Juhel to Pré-en-Pail
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Villaines-la-Juhel to Pré-en-Pail
Pays de la Loire

5. Villaines-la-Juhel to Pré-en-Pail

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A day to cross cultures, forests and meeting a rural heritage.
At the exit of Villaines-la-Juhel, the Via Columbani follows the Red and Yellow markings of the Chemin de la Mayenne Profonde for 2.5 km. This is a hilly route with a general North-East orientation.

5 points of interest

  • Tourist

    Saint-Georges Church in Villaines-la-Juhel

    The name Villaines could come from the Latin "villa" which corresponds to an isolated agricultural estate. The locality is mentioned in a 7th century manuscript under the name "Vilhena".
    Juhel was the name of a family of barons related to the Carolingians who lived in Mayenne and owned a fortress in Villaines, of which only the base of the 11th century keep remains. The Roman road Jublains-Lisieux passed close to the present town.
    Neo-Gothic church from the 20th century which replaces the old church. The bell tower on the entrance porch seems to be quite short awaiting a later elevation.
  • Historical

    The Dungeon at Villaines-la-Juhel

    The medieval dungeon of Villaines-la-Juhel is located on the heights of the town, at an altitude of around 210 metres. The date of construction of the keep is not known, as documentation is very incomplete. It seems that it was never inhabited, but a garrison must have been posted there.
    Around the vestiges of the latter, several recent districts have been developed.


  • Tourist

    Saint-Etienne de Rouvadin Chapel, 53700 Gesvres

    Romanesque style chapel with a rounded shape and a small choir. Like many buildings from the Middle Ages a cemetery surrounded the church until the 17th century.
    The chapel depended on the abbey of Saint-Evroul.

  • Tourist

    Saint-Julien des Églantiers Chapel in Pré-en-Pail

    Located about 14.8 km from the start, on the left side of Via Columbani, just before a crossroads.
    The site is promoted by the Brotherhood of Fins Goustiers du Haut-Maine and Pail.
    The present construction dates from 1450 and the chapel is mentioned in 1451 as capelliana sancti Juliani. It was rebuilt in 1692 but according to the Société d'archéologie et d'histoire de la Mayenne (SAHM) the wooden pillars supporting the old bell tower near the choir (still anonymously decorated with flowers) seem to rest on older foundations.
    Continue the discovery of the history of this site on the very complete blog of the Brotherhood.
  • Tourist

    Sainte-Thérèse des Avaloirs Church in Pré-en-Pail-Saint-Samson

    The church is closed for repairs. In 2020 the commune started the mechanical re-equipment of bells 1 and 2 with flying bells.
    The church probably dates from the 19th century.

Description

In front of the Saint-Georges church in Villaine-la-Juhel turn left on rue Gervaiseau D 20, straight ahead at the crossroads rue des Rondelles, at the crossroads second street on the left under the trees, rue du Château, rue du Pire, third street on the right, take the grassy path on the right on the D 20
  1. Turn right at the roundabout, immediately left, Chemin de la Surale, cross the D 20 straight ahead towards La Houlberdière, take a dirt road on the right at the first houses in La Houlberdière, turn left onto the D 20, after 300 metres turn left onto a stone path, signposted in red and yellow Chemin de la Mayenne Profonde.
  2. Turn left between two fields, 200 meters after crossing the D 511, straight ahead, follow the red and yellow signs, turn right at the Signal de Villepail.
  3. Cross the asphalt road, straight ahead, signposted in red and yellow, right onto D 218, left onto D 20, right onto D 218, left onto D 245 in Rouvadin.
  4. First road on the left, Les Loges du Bas, at the sharp left turn continue straight on a field road, on the right after going along the wood, take the asphalt road and turn right at 100 meters, Le Vieux Saint-Julien.
  5. Turn left onto the D 204 after 200 metres turn left onto a dirt road, left onto the D 204, route de Gesvres
  6. After the industrial zone, turn right on rue des Magasins, left on rue Amédée Fichet, right on rue de l'ancien marché, you are in front of the church of Pré-en-Pail.
  • Departure : Saint-Georges Church, 1 rue Gervaiseau, 53 700 Villaines-la-Juhel
  • Arrival : Sainte-Thérèse des Avaloirs Church, place du Marché 53 140 Pré-en-Pail-Saint-Samson
  • Towns crossed : Pays de la Loire

Altimetric profile

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