Domfront was one of the most important priories of the Augustinian abbey founded in 1070 at Beaulieu.
Domfront was one of the most important priories of the Augustinian abbey founded in 1070 at Beaulieu. The chapel of the Habit was an outbuilding. The word Habit in Old French means "distress, pity". In fact, the chapel is dedicated to Notre-Dame-de-Compassion. You will also discover the town hall, the former presbytery, the church of Saint-Front and the hemp kilns.
Approximately 15 km south-east of Sillé-le-Guillaume.
Start/Finish point: Car park at the entrance to the village on the way in from Le Mans.
- Leave the car park and head towards the village.
- Turn right onto route de La Chapelle-Saint-Fray, then left after the railway line.
- Go down to the crossroads, les Croix Couplées. Take the chemin montois, then follow the railway line.
- Turn left to cross the railway line and go through the hamlet of L'Habit.
- Turn right to see the manor house and chapel of l'Habit.
- Make a U-turn and take the path back to the village on the right before the railway line.
- When you reach the D304, look out on your left for the former Presbytery dating from 1777, now the Mairie (Town Hall).
- Drive past the church of Saint-Front. Turn right towards Cures.
- At the STOP sign, you will see a cemetery cross on the left, dated 1573 and bearing a coat of arms, probably that of a local lord.
- Turn left onto the Vieux Chemin du Mans. At the crossroads, continue along the Vieux Chemin du Mans, then take the road on the left, where you will see a hemp kiln and a Yew tree measuring 4m in circumference, to return to the centre of the village.
- At the crossroads, turn right to reach