Cossé-le-Vivien is a town in Mayenne, in the Pays de la Loire region, 18 km southwest of Laval.
Its vast territory of 44 km² is still predominantly made up of agricultural land (95%), divided into fields and meadows.
Historically attached to the province of Anjou, already occupied during Antiquity (Gallic settlements and traces of the Roman road have been brought to light), the locality was torn during the Ancien Régime between two seigneuries.
Before the French Revolution, in addition to agriculture, the activity linked to the production and trade of yarn and canvas was important. It will not last. In the meantime, as in the whole region, Cossé-le-Vivien is marked by clashes between the Chouans and the republican armies.
Today, there are nearly 3,200 inhabitants in the town, which has a town and many hamlets.
In addition to its heritage and its green environment, Cossé-le-Vivien is renowned for its museum dedicated to the contemporary artist Robert Tatin who spent the last part of his life in the hamlet of Frénouse. If we add the potential offered in terms of hiking, enough to justify a step!
In terms of heritage, the parish church of Saint-Gervais and Saint-Protais was rebuilt in a neo-Romanesque style from 1866 to 1876. The building appears to be large (considered one of the largest in the diocese), with its three naves and a very substantial transept. The interior sculpted decorations are rich, and we also notice the beautiful windows. However, although of good appearance, the church did not appear so solid: many walls had to be taken again at the beginning of the XXth century and the bell-tower which presented signs of fragility was brought down in 1897 (the arrow oscillated when the bells were ringing!). Thus was immediately erected a campanile out of work (not attached to the building) to house the bell towers, consisting of a square base with bays. It was supposed to be provisional but it is still there today!
In another register, see the castle of Alleux: the current building dates from the 17th and 18th centuries, but since the Middle Ages, the estate was the seat of a seigneury. Long surrounded by the course of the Oudon, the castle once hosted a community of Jesuits in the 19th century. The latter are credited with the work which made it possible to fill one of the arms of the river. The building is still private.
On the cultural side, in addition to the activities regularly offered at the media library, in the village, such as readings or meetings (information on +33 2 43 91 79 77), it is towards the hamlet of La Frénouse that you have to go to discover the Robert Tatin museum. Born near Laval in 1902, the artist started out as a house painter after obtaining his studies certificate. He moved to Paris after the First World War as a decorator while taking courses at the Ecole des Beaux Arts. After his military service, he began training as a carpenter and created a company in Mayenne. The company is prosperous and Robert Tatin takes the opportunity to travel (Africa, United States). In 1945, marked by war, he decided to devote himself fully to artistic creation. In Paris, he created a ceramic and painting workshop and frequented poets (Prévert, Cocteau, Breton) and artists (Giacometti, Dubuffet). He then moved to Brazil as a painter, sculptor and ceramist. It frees itself from all conventions and its notoriety becomes international. Back in France, he increased his number of exhibitions and then settled permanently in Cossé-le-Vivien where he built his "Maison des Champs" which he imagined as a monumental work in itself, and a universal crossroads of the arts. Robert Tatin died in 1983.
Since then, both a house and a museum, the place he created has been open to the public. We discover exhibition rooms retracing the work of the painter, sculptor and ceramist but also works specially created (including "giants") for these places.
The rooms of the dwelling, such as the gardens where Robert Tatin has staged the bocage de la Mayenne with his works, are also worth exploring. Thus, these gardens, which are also creations, change their appearance over the seasons.
The museum is open every day in July and August and every day except Tuesday the rest of the year. Closed in January. Price: 3.20 and 6 euros (supplement of 1.50 euros for the dwelling house). Guided tours possible. For more information, call +33 2 43 98 80 89.
Another goal for a walk, the Pré de Cossé, a 4 hectare landscaped area on the road to Laval, including unspoiled nature, stream and ponds. Near the village, this site with its rich biodiversity is crossed by a path.
For hikers, cyclists and horse riders can take part of the old railway line towards Renazé. In addition, four pedestrian loops have been marked on the territory of Cossé-le-Vivien itself: one of them runs along the course of the Oudon and another the site of the Robert Tatin museum, both being marked out with signs on wildlife and local flora... Maps and information on +33 2 43 09 61 61.
It is also possible to join the outings of the local club (contact on +33 2 43 01 27 49). Finally, for tennis enthusiasts, courts can be reserved with the local club by calling +33 6 22 24 28 20.
