Sainte-suzanne

The time has stopped in the Middle Ages
Time stopped at Sainte Suzanne. Here you have an appointment with the Middle Ages. You find intact all the emotion and atmosphere of the twelfth century updated, animated, and illustrated by guided tours and performances. Alone, with family or group, Sainte-Suzanne opens the doors in the past. This jewel of the medieval heritage is nestled in a green setting for the romantic walk in a rich natural and protected. At Sainte-Suzanne, everything invites you to find the troubadours, knights, princesses and write the most beautiful pages of your story.

Fortress: A heart of stone in a green…
The known history of the fortress began under the leadership of viscounts of Beaumont as evidenced by the stone tower at the entrance to the castle. It was one of the strongest dungeons of Maine, its mass is large. It bears witness to the defeat of William the Conqueror, Duke of Normandy who, upon the seat for 3 years, could not ever take it. Other testimony: "The camp Beugy" 1 km from the city whose pregnant earth are still visible. In 1604, Fouquet Guillaumes of Varenne buys from Marguerite de Navarre fortress of Sainte-Suzanne and built a few years after a main building, a perfect example of the provincial architecture of that era.

In the old Auditorium of Justice and six rooms, the "Sainte-Suzanne thousand years of history" traces the history of the city documents and real objects, texts and illustrations, staging events, models, invite you back in time. At a place called Clairbois, 2 km from Sainte-Suzanne, a fortified farmhouse from the twelfth century has been reconstructed by Gilles Raab, a lover of the Middle Ages.
La Ferté-Clairbois field of Knight: The Middle Ages alive before your eyes ...
Ferté a real home with her, the towers of wood, his dove, his forges, his chapel, his estables, 400 m walk and herbarium (medieval garden), not to mention its motte castle with drawbridge ... The "sire of Clairbois" also fighting horse running in the specially equipped with bleachers covered with 300 seats. Tours, shows historical medieval meal, internships can find the daily lives of our ancestors.

Cultural Activities
Sainte-Suzanne offers to lovers of history, entertainment and various activities.
The walk mills :
17 mills along 1.8 km of river. You can recognize along the way the paper mills, fulling mills (for working linen, wool and linen), mills tan (to reduce the bark of oak and chestnut powder tanner) or flour: the story of an industry that has developed along the Erve the Middle Ages to the last century.
Balade commented (2.5 miles) every first Sunday of the month (except January). Departure at 14h45 from the tourist office. Information tel. 02 43 01 43 60.

Natural Activities
Sainte-Suzanne, a paradise for hikers
Here, we RANDONNE in bocage in Charnie forest on the banks of the river Erve, near the hamlet of River and its many mills. The scenery is beautiful there.
There is no age to indulge your passion for walking through the 100 km of hiking trails open to all the desires (small rides, walk a few kilometers around the city or large loops to the "big "walkers).
Circuits hiking, horseback or mountain bike, which is organized around two main loops of 23 and 25 km (routes "The heart of the Charnie" and "Around the City") offer their landscape of groves, their meadows, and sunken roads, paths of their forests, their broad vistas and stunning views of the medieval town of Sainte-Suzanne on its rocky outcrop. Information and guides at the Tourist Office.
Cycling is in the spotlight on the side of the wooded roads and the many paved rural roads. "Blue Bike - Cycling Green Freedom" *: circuit loops from your accommodation.