itinerary (cont.) Historical background

HISTORICAL Retrace your steps to arrive on the Old Extensive remains on the banks of the Vegre HERITAGE Bridge . Looking down you can see the show human activity since the Paleonithic ITINERARY ford which shows how ancient the Period. Founded in the 5th century, the The “Petites Cités de Caractère” distinction Asnières site is and how the village has parish of Asnières is one the oldest in the is awarded to the little towns and villages in our region progressively developed. The Vieux Pont .From the 9th century to the that have a remarkable architectural and natural crosses a bend in the river and was rebuilt Revolution, the lands of Asnières belonged Heritage, and meet the essential criteria when it comes in the Romanesque style in 1806. On its to the Chapter Canons of Cathedral. to welcoming their visitors. As a guarantee for quality, roadway you will notice grey marbles Becoming owners of the church in the 11th, this label urges the communes belonging to the stones, veined in white and pink, which they ensured that their nave and choir were network to keep on improving the emphasis placed on come from the Asnières quarry. decorated in successive stages up to the their attractions through restoration, promotion and 16th century. Possibly they were the 13th activities. The Petites Cités de Caractère of the Pays de 69 century builders of the Manoir de la Cour, la present a wide range of historical authenticity also called the Temple. and are a reflection of the geographical territory to Asnières-sur-Vègre From the 17th, village growth was stimulated which they belong to. eastward by quarrying, marble work, Petite Cité de Caractère en weaving, and later, mining. In the 19th a second bridge and another road on which the combined school/town-hall were built. Petites Cités de Caractère During this period the waters of the Vegre des Pays de la Loire turned the wheels of the town mill and those of the Moulin Neuf (New Mill) both Les Petites Cités de Caractère en Sarthe of which ground corn. One could hear the steady noise of some fifteen textile trades coming from their cellars. Alençon On the other bank you will see Basse Cour manor and to the right Arcis . Information/visits

By continuing up the hill you will arrive at E N Château de Moulinvieux which was N Mairie (Town Hall) E Y Fresnay- extensively rebuilt in the 18th century. The A Rue du Lavoir ~ 72430 Asnières-sur-Vègre M s-Sarthe Vivoin La Ferté- grounds and gardens Bernard Tél. 02 43 95 30 07 Ste-Suzanne

A28 7 are listed in the [email protected] N23 supplementary St-Pierre- A11 Montmirail Maison du Patrimoine et du Tourisme s-Erve inventory of A81 Association Patrimoine d’Asnières

Historical Brûlon rthe. 11 Monuments (the 5, rue Saint-Hilaire ~ 72430 Asnières-sur-Vègre Saulges A LE MANS Saint-Calais Tél. 02 43 92 40 47 Asnières- grounds are open to sur-Vègre the public as [email protected] St-Denis- d'Anjou Sablé A28 Le Grand-Lucé arranged by the patrimoinevalleesarthe.org Parcé- N23 Guided tours according to the schedule listed s-Sarthe owner). La Flèche on the website. Rental of audio-guides for the Luché- Do not forget to visit Pringé visit of Saint-Hilaire church. the conservancy One of the most beautiful villages in Sarthe. Le Lude orchard located on the outskirts of the Le Jardin Mosaïque, eco-garden MAINE-ET-LOIRE Patrimoine village on the road to Sablé. Established in www.lejardinmosaique.com d’Asnières The shaded banks of the Vègre are spanned by a 1996, le orchard guarantees the safe- Verr i Kiti picturesque old bridge surrounded by 15th to 17th keeping of old varieties of apples and Design workshop - glass artisan farming technique. Named “Jardin century houses. The “Manoir de la Cour”, Glass and flame fusing, jewelry... Association des Petites Cités ASNIÈRES SUR VÈGRE de Caractère de la Sarthe Petite Cité de Caractère d’Oiseaux”, the orchard is also devoted to www.verrikiti.fr a chateau and the exceptional wall paintings of the biological control. 1, rue de la Mariette

72000 Le Mans Sa la de Caractère de Cités Petites Fonds 02 Floquet, 41 87 F. 67 19 ~ juillet 2011. Photos Tél. 02 43 75 99 25 church all add to the charm of this village.

E-mail : [email protected] teatime Asnières-sur-Vègre historical heritage itinerary

POILLÉ-SUR-VÈGRE BRÛLON Jardin Mosaïque century ecclesiastical authorities, a gentleman’s manor in the 15th P century, a farm in 18th century

Ch and eventually divided into e Historical heritage itinerary m apartments in the 19th century. Starting point: Place de l’Eglise in

The commune bought the Starting point Saint-Hilaire (St Hilary’s d

e

building in 1972. Enter by 3 Church). The nave was built in the Historical heritage marker 2 Manoir de

T the porch to the interior r middle of the 11th century and is i Information point o la Cour m court-yard to see its old the oldest structure in the village. p 2 Parking e

garden and rose beds. Look at the doorway and the S ou Take the rue du Temple to harmonious mix of grey and red ris sandstone and white stone. At the reach the Rue du 14 beginning of the 19th century, aire Nivôse on your left. It

-Hil was the main road.

following new public hygiene laws, rands St

the Asnières commune R. Admire the view down to 1 Place de the Old Bridge. During transferred its cemetery to the ue du Temple R des Tisse C l'église your walk allow yourself to Poillé road, however one can still h Verr . St-Hilaire e R St-Hilaire 3 m I Kiti Church enjoy the village see a tomb-stone in front of the in

d atmosphere: its low walls, church. Inside the church one u 14 Rue du finds a collection of medieval wall- Te Le rt Nivôse 3 re 4 paintings which are of high R. de la Grange 4 Pavillon Place Old artistic quality. Executed between Anne Bridge 1 Aldric Du Guesclin the 12th and 16th centuries they St- 6 Basse-Cour aim not only to decorate the R. 7 Manor e 5 church but also to teach the nt Wash faithful Christian doctrine. In the Sai House past they were covered with lime 8 Lavoir Les Arcis Rue plaster which protected them for three centuries. Their exposure Rue du Château flowered lanes, roofs of slate and Town Arcis which was begun in 1951 is still Hall Rue du tile, and ochre-coloured plaster. At the end one finds the turreted not completed (see the notices des e Sablé Pavillon . It was built for d Château de

1 Rue 9 Moulinvieux commercial purposes in the 17th ute Ro century and is typical of detached houses of that period. Take a right and head towards the Saint-Aldric’s Fountain which was SABLÉ- 1 SUR-SARTHE converted into a wash house in the 19th century. The village produced by the Asnières Local was enjoying a period of Verger prosperity at that time and History Society for more conservatoire information which are found in expanded to the east where a new the church). bridge was built on the Sablé Go up rue Saint-Hilaire then turn road. The houses on rue du N left to reach Manoir de la Cour Lavoir survive as an example of also called “The Temple.” It was contemporary town architecture successively the home of the 13th of that era. CHANTENAY