This trail takes in Lac de Sillé and its lakes. It also passes close to the Etang des Molières (an alieutic reserve).
FFCT "Base d'activité VTT de randonnée" label.
Tours depart from the Cercle de voile.
History :
In the Middle Ages, the forest had 3 ponds: the Grand Etang, the Etang des Fontaines (now drained, it gives way to the Hippodrome), and the Etang des Moulins (De Defays) near which stood the communal mills (the people of the barony were obliged to use them for a fee). Fishing was practised here from this period onwards.
What to see:
- Lac de Sillé: since the beginning of the 20th century, the people of Sillé have been coming to lunch on the banks of this magnificent 32-hectare lake. It is a convivial place where popular festivals take place. "Coco plage" was renamed "Sillé-plage" in the 1970s, then "Lac de Sillé" today, and has become a renowned spot where friends and families still come to enjoy the site's fun and recreational activities. "The beauty of the site is undeniable, recognised by all and praised by tourist guides" declared the State in 1947, which decided to classify the Grand Etang and its banks. This protection is still in force today. This is why the site is not a leisure centre, but a listed natural site! This makes it a unique site, different from the other lakes in the region.
- L'Oppidum (or the old castle): on the wild banks of the lake, in the forest on the edge of the lake, stand the silent ruins of a second fortress, the Carolingian oppidum, an ancient 9th-century fortress built to protect against invasions.
- (Les) Molières: in Sarthe, this term refers to a marshy area, the soft part of marshy places, where there is a risk of getting stuck. This damp spot is often confused with Morlière.