Discover

From La Girouardière – Family & Wellness Home, you can explore the Loir Valley, Le Mans, Anjou, Saumur and many historical and cultural sites, while keeping the same accommodation each night.

Whether you are passionate about animals, history, automobiles, military heritage, castles, abbeys, nature or simply curious to discover our region, here are our ideas to organize your stay according to your desires.

A day, a weekend, 3 or 4 days or even a week: put down your suitcases at La Girouardière and choose your program.

A day in La Flèche: discover our town

If you only have one day, take the time to discover La Flèche in a different way.

Take a walk in the city centre and along the Loir, discover the Parc des Carmes and then continue towards the Moulin de la Bruère when it is open to visitors.

The Monnerie Lakes, located very close to La Girouardière, also allow you to enjoy a walk along the water and a nature break.

In summer, depending on the dates of opening to the public, the discovery of the Prytanée national militaire is also one of the emblematic heritage visits of La Flèche.

Housed in the former royal college founded under Henry IV, this place steeped in history allows visitors to discover several centuries of French military and educational history.

And if you prefer animals, simply dedicate your day to the La Flèche Zoo, located just 7 minutes from La Girouardière.

Two very different ways to discover La Flèche, with or without the Zoo.

A 2-day weekend: La Flèche and the Loir Valley

Day 1 – La Flèche Zoo or La Flèche heritage

For your first day, choose according to your preferences.

Animal lovers can spend the day at La Flèche Zoo.

History and heritage enthusiasts will be able to discover La Flèche, its history, the Prytanée when visits are offered, the banks of the Loir, the Moulin de la Bruère and the Lacs de la Monnerie.

At the end of the day, return to La Girouardière.

Enjoy the peace and quiet of the house and, depending on your package and upon reservation, treat yourself to a moment in our Nordic whirlpool bath or our sauna.

Day 2 – The Château du Lude

Explore the Château du Lude and its gardens.

This visit is the perfect way to complete a weekend in La Flèche by combining nature, architecture and history.

Then take the time to explore the Loir Valley before returning leisurely to La Girouardière.

3 days around La Flèche: choose your world

From three days onwards, your stay becomes truly flexible.

You can keep the La Flèche Zoo in your program… or build a stay entirely devoted to history, heritage or automobiles.

For car enthusiasts: a day at Le Mans

Le Mans is inextricably linked to the history of the automobile and the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Dedicate a day to discovering the automobile museum linked to the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the world of the famous circuit.

https://www.m24-musee.com/

Then completely change eras by joining the historic center of Le Mans and its Plantagenet City.

Its ancient streets, half-timbered houses, Roman walls and cathedral offer a striking contrast to the automotive world discovered a few hours earlier.

Depending on your pace, complete this day with a visit to the Royal Abbey of l'Épau.

https://www.sarthetourisme.com/incontournables/

An ideal day to combine mechanics, automobiles, architecture and history.

In the evening, calm returns to La Girouardière.

For military history enthusiasts

Our location also allows us to create a particularly interesting stay centered around military history.

In La Flèche, discover the Prytanée national militaire when visits are open to the public.

Then dedicate another day to Saumur and its famous Tank Museum.

https://museedesblindes.fr/

Tanks, military vehicles and the history of conflicts allow us to explore an important part of contemporary military history.

Saumur also has a Cavalry Museum, allowing visitors to extend this theme.

https://musee-cavalerie.fr/

From La Flèche to Saumur, it's another way to discover our region, far from the classic tourist routes.

A day in Saumur: to each their own Saumur

Saumur is well worth a full day, and even more.

Depending on your interests, several programs are possible.

Those interested in military history may prefer the Tank Museum and the Cavalry Museum.

Horse enthusiasts will be able to discover the Cadre Noir through scheduled visits, presentations and events.

Heritage enthusiasts will be able to discover the Château de Saumur and the historic center.

And those who are curious can explore the troglodytic world so characteristic of this part of Anjou.

The same destination can therefore offer several completely different days.

Doué-la-Fontaine: animals, troglodytes and roses

Doué-la-Fontaine is not just about its Bioparc.

https://www.bioparc-zoo.fr/

Of course, animal lovers can dedicate a day to the Bioparc de Doué-la-Fontaine and thus create our famous stay:

2 ZOOS – 2 WORLDS – 1 SINGLE STAY.

But Doué and its surroundings also allow you to discover an amazing troglodytic heritage.

The Mystery of the Faluns, Rochemenier, the Troglodytes and Sarcophagi or various sites dug into the tuffeau tell another story of Anjou.

Doué is also closely linked to the rose and its cultivation.

An excellent destination for alternating between animals, heritage and natural wonders.

https://le-mystere-des-faluns.com/

https://troglodyte.fr/

Following in the footsteps of King René: Baugé and Angers

History enthusiasts can also follow in the footsteps of King René of Anjou.

In Baugé, discover the Château de Baugé, Palace of King René.

Built in the 15th century on the initiative of René d'Anjou, the castle now allows visitors to discover the world of this emblematic figure in Angevin history.

Take the opportunity to discover Baugé, its heritage and its Hôtel-Dieu with its exceptional apothecary.

To continue this story, then head towards Angers.

Angers Castle and its impressive fortifications house, among other things, the famous Apocalypse Tapestry.

A magnificent day or two days to devote to the history of Anjou.

https://chateau-bauge.fr/

The great abbeys to discover from La Girouardière

Lovers of religious history, architecture and emotionally charged places also have several remarkable destinations to choose from.

The Abbey of Saint-Pierre de Solesmes

Solesmes is world-renowned for the major role played by its monks in the restoration and transmission of Gregorian chant from the 19th century onwards.

This tradition is still alive.

At certain services during the day, it is possible to hear the chants of the monastic community in the abbey church.

Solesmes is therefore not just a heritage to look at.

It's also an experience worth listening to.

In Solesmes, heritage is not just something to be visited: it is something to be listened to.

https://www.abbayedesolesmes.fr/

Combine this discovery with Malicorne-sur-Sarthe to create a wonderful day filled with religious heritage, village life, and the expertise surrounding earthenware and ceramics.

https://www.faiencerie-malicorne.com/

The Royal Abbey of Épau

On the outskirts of Le Mans, the Royal Abbey of l'Épau can easily complement a day spent in Le Mans.

Combine motoring and heritage by visiting the 24 Hours Museum, the Plantagenet City and then the abbey depending on the time you have available.

https://www.sarthetourisme.com/incontournables/labbaye-royale-de-lepau/

The Royal Abbey of Fontevraud

For a great day dedicated to history, head to Fontevraud.

The Royal Abbey of Fontevraud is intimately linked to the history of the Plantagenets and in particular to Eleanor of Aquitaine, Henry II Plantagenet and Richard the Lionheart.

This visit can be combined with Montsoreau, the banks of the Loire or Saumur to create a particularly rich day.

Malicorne-sur-Sarthe: earthenware and know-how

For a more relaxed day, discover Malicorne-sur-Sarthe and its Museum of earthenware and ceramics.

This getaway goes particularly well with Solesmes.

In the morning, explore the abbey and, if your schedule allows, attend a sung service.

In the afternoon, head to Malicorne to discover the history of earthenware and take a stroll through the village.

Then back to La Girouardière for a peaceful evening.

3 to 4 days: our suggested discovery stay

For a first visit to the region, you could, for example, organize your stay like this.

Day 1: La Flèche Zoo or historical discovery of La Flèche.

Day 2: Château du Lude and Loir Valley.

Day 3: Le Mans, automobiles and the Plantagenet City.

Day 4: Saumur, according to your passions: castle, armored vehicles, Cadre Noir or troglodytes.

But this program is only a suggestion.

You can perfectly replace the Zoo with Baugé, Solesmes, Fontevraud or Doué-la-Fontaine.

Here, everyone builds their own stay.

A week around La Flèche without changing accommodation

What if La Girouardière became your home for a week?

A week allows you to discover our region without rushing and especially without changing accommodation every night.

Here is an example.

Day 1: Discovering La Flèche, its heritage, the Lacs de la Monnerie and settling in comfortably at La Girouardière.

Day 2: Day at La Flèche Zoo.

Day 3: Château du Lude and Loir Valley.

Day 4: Le Mans, automobile museum, circuit, Plantagenet City and possibly Royal Abbey of l'Épau.

Day 5: Saumur with, as a choice, Tank Museum, Cadre Noir, castle or troglodytic heritage.

Day 6: Baugé and King René's Palace, or Angers and its castle.

Day 7: Solesmes and Malicorne-sur-Sarthe, or simply a slower day around La Flèche before departure.

And for animal lovers, replace one of these days with the Bioparc in Doué-la-Fontaine.

Would you prefer a stay without a zoo? That's possible.

La Flèche is often associated with its famous Zoo.

But our region has a lot to offer travellers who do not wish to visit a wildlife park.

Imagine your stay instead:

Le Mans and its automotive history.

The National Military Academy and the Tank Museum for military history.

Baugé, Angers, Le Lude and Saumur for the castles.

Solesmes, Fontevraud and l'Épau for the great abbeys.

Doué and Saumur for the troglodytes.

Malicorne for arts and crafts and earthenware.

The Loir Valley for its landscapes and slow tourism.

It is perfectly possible to spend several days in La Girouardière without visiting a single zoo.

Are you here for the zoo? Stay to discover the rest.

Conversely, if the La Flèche Zoo is the primary reason for your visit, why leave the very next day?

An extra night could allow you to discover Le Lude.

Two extra nights can take you to the Bioparc of Doué-la-Fontaine or to Saumur.

Three or four nights open the doors of Le Mans, Baugé, Solesmes and a whole part of Anjou.

Your visit to the Zoo can thus become the starting point of a real holiday.

La Girouardière: unpack your bags and explore the surrounding area

The reason for staying several nights at La Girouardière is simple.

You don't change accommodations every day.

You leave in the morning to discover the destination that appeals to you and you return to your room and the calm of the house each evening.

Our 4-star guest rooms include a homemade buffet breakfast.

Depending on your package and upon reservation, you can also enjoy our Nordic whirlpool bath or our sauna.

You have access to Wi-Fi and secure private parking.

ANCV Connect holiday vouchers are accepted and payment in 3 installments without fees with Klarna is available when booking on our site.

And you, what kind of traveler are you?

Animals and nature?

Motor racing and the 24 Hours of Le Mans?

Military history?

Castles and King René?

Abbeys and religious heritage?

Horses and the Cadre Noir?

Troglodytes and curiosities?

Heritage, villages and know-how?

Or simply a few days to explore without rushing?

At La Girouardière, you don't need to choose just one destination.

You simply choose the length of your stay and the experiences that suit you.

La Girouardière – Family & Wellness Home
La Flèche – Sarthe

The art of slowing down.

Book your stay and make La Girouardière your starting point to discover La Flèche, the Loir Valley, Le Mans, Saumur and Anjou.

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Carte des visites et activités à faire autour de La Flèche en Sarthe et en Anjou depuis La Girouardière : Zoo de La Flèche, Le Mans, Saumur, châteaux, abbayes et sites culturels.