Travel Guide Aillières-Beauvoir

This commune in the Pays de la Loire region of Sarthe, close to the Perseigne forest, has just over 200 inhabitants. The Perseigne forest is a real treasure trove. Although it is made up of oak, beech and redwood trees, it is also the last place in Sarthe where wolves lived. What's more, the commune was born in 1965 from the merger of Aillières and Beauvoir, the stronghold of the d'Allières family. Beauvoir is the birthplace of photographer and inventor of microfilm, René Dagron (1819-1900). It was he who in 1870, during the siege of Paris by the Prussians, came up with the idea of using this process to send messages by carrier pigeon. More than 100,000 dispatches arrived safely. Today, the commune of Aillières-Beauvoir is best known for its castle of the same name, which offers one of the finest views of the Park. Built in the 17th century on the site of a medieval fortress destroyed by the English during the Hundred Years' War, the château was enlarged and restored at the end of the 19th century. Situated at an altitude of 260 metres, on the southern edge of the Perseigne forest, it enjoys a beautiful panoramic view, even if the château is not open to the public. Aillières-Beauvoir is a charming little village that will win you over. If you're passing through, don't hesitate to take a look at the church of Saint-Denis, dating from the 12th and 16th centuries and listed as a Monument Historique since 1927. The Col des Quatre Gardes is also a great place for hiking.