Sablé-sur-Sarthe, round trip, 7 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’ll have two walking options: explore the medieval garden at the Manoir des Souches (8 km away), or go for a hike in the Pincé-sur-Sarthe forest.

Avoise offers two gems for history lovers: the Château de Dobert and the “La Perrine de Cry” manor. Nearby, visit the medieval village of Asnières-sur-Vègre (4 km), famous for its mosaic gardens.

This charming town nestled in a bend of the Sarthe boasts architecture from the 15th and 16th centuries, including Saint-Pierre Tower and Saint-Joseph Chapel. From your boat, enjoy views of Château de Pescheseul.

Home to the Ceramics Museum and the Faïencerie artistic center, Malicorne is famed for its pottery tradition. Three historic mills and a château on the water (open in summer) complete this cultural stop.

Moor your houseboat at the harbor master’s pontoon and explore the riverside island: an open-air amphitheater, wildlife observatory, fishing dock, and picnic tables await. To explore further, head to the local Hiking Center (5 km away).

From the river stop, take your bike to explore notable local churches and chapels over a 20 km circuit. Hikers can opt for a loop through the “three cantons.” History enthusiasts should visit the Château de Vaulogé, dating from the 15th and 17th centuries, just 1.5 km away.

For a nature walk, stop your boat at the Port of Saint-Benoît and follow the hiking loop along the river. Also worth seeing: the listed church of Notre-Dame d'Athenay (10 km away).

Legend has it that Gilles de Rais once lived in La Suze-sur-Sarthe. To investigate, visit the Château de la Suze, a 12th-century fortress known as “Bluebeard’s Castle.” Want to stretch your legs? Try the fitness trail in the Bois des Épinettes. Looking for more history? Head to Château de Villaines in Louplande (8 km away).

Your cruise ends with a highlight: Le Mans, officially recognized as a Ville d'Art et d'Histoire, with its unmissable Cité Plantagenêt. Stroll through twenty hectares of cobbled streets lined with timber-framed houses and Renaissance mansions, all enclosed by Roman walls and crowned by the majestic Saint-Julien Cathedral (half-Romanesque, half-Gothic). In July and August, don’t miss the Night of the Chimeras,a magical light show projected on the city’s historic landmarks, including the cathedral, the Queen Bérengère Museum, and the Saint-Hilaire ramparts.