Sablé-sur-Sarthe, round trip, 5 nights

Halfway between Sablé-sur-Sarthe and Pincé-sur-Sarthe, you can access the Sablé-Solesmes Golf Course directly from the river by mooring your rental boat. During a stop in Pincé-sur-Sarthe, you have two great options for an outing: explore the medieval garden of the Manoir des Souches (8 km away), or go for a hike in the forest of Pincé-sur-Sarthe.

Boule de fort is a traditional Loire-region bowling game played… in slippers! Learn more at the local factory or watch a game at the Boule de Fort Club.

Stroll through the picturesque streets and visit the 12th-century church, then head to the Bois de la Jeunerie for a nature walk on an educational trail highlighting local wildlife and flora.

A must‑stop for fluvial tourism fans,at the River House museum, learn how barges and gabares navigated rivers before the advent of modern locks and canals. A local equestrian centre is also nearby.

Juvardeil grew thanks to its riverside location on the Sarthe. In the past, barges paid tolls here, and the town thrived with the construction of 30-meter-long flat-bottomed freight boats. Discover this heritage via a hiking circuit and a stop at the water sports base (canoe rentals, etc.).

Terms like épinette, dulcimer, and psaltery unfamiliar? These are types of zithers. In Etriché, luthier and musician Didier Beauclair welcomes you to his Atelier de la Cithare (by reservation). Patrimoine enthusiasts can also explore the Chapel of the Moulin d’Ivray and the historic hemp oven.

The vast floodplains, submerged every winter, provide an exceptional site for migratory birds to rest and feed,keep your eyes open for black-tailed godwits, greylag geese, or curlews. On the heights of Briollay, the botanical garden offers a unique panoramic view over the Basses Vallées Angevines. Good to know: the park is home to more than 70 species of small red fruit shrubs, which visitors are free to pick.

With a village interpretation trail, a sensory garden at the Town Hall, the Sablières Park (with supervised swimming in summer), and Anjou Aventure treetop park, Écouflant is perfect for a family stopover.

Make a stop in Angers, the city of King René. Its 13th-century castle is one of France’s finest fortresses and houses the famous Apocalypse Tapestry. Other attractions include the cathedral, Terra Botanica (Europe’s first plant-themed amusement park), several museums, and green spaces. Conveniently, the city’s river port is located directly opposite the château,ideal for sightseeing on foot.