Écommoy is a town in Sarthe, in the Pays de la Loire region, 20 km south-east of Le Mans.
Located on the communication axis linking Le Mans to Tours, the 28 km² territory belongs to the natural region of Bélinois, characterized by its fertile soils, bordered to the north by the Le Mans agglomeration, the Loir valleys to the south and the Sarthe to the west and the important forest of Bercé to the east.
Already crossed by a Roman road in Antiquity, Écommoy became after the Hundred Years War a stopover for pilgrims on their way to Mont-Saint-Michel or Compostela, then a commercial town from the 17th century.
Rich in a diverse and preserved heritage and a green environment, the city of nearly 4,800 inhabitants with a pleasant living environment is also popular for its sports and leisure facilities (racecourse, swimming pool).
The discovery of the heritage of the locality can begin with the astonishing Pierres Tournantes, megaliths of imposing size and weighing from 10 to 15 tons of which a legend said that they once rose in the air. During the construction of the A28 motorway, they were installed in the moors to be visible to tourists and walkers, to the northeast of the town, in the Landes de Rhône.
On the religious level, the Saint-Martin church was built in the town center from 1840 in a neo-Gothic style. Listed in the inventory, it is famous for its stained glass windows of the life of Saint Martin from 1843 in 45 paintings.
Next, in addition to the old chapels including that of the Château de Fontenaille, the calvary of La Fosse is also worth a look.
As far as civil heritage elements and sites are concerned, the jewel of the locality is the Château de Fontenaille (private château), remodeled into a residence on the foundations of a 17th century convent (known as Bethany). The two twin 17th century pavilions erected on the edge of the moat and dependent on the convent have been listed as Historic Monuments since May 31, 1943 and the driveway laid out by a gardener of Louis XIV which gave access to them. This road is now lined with major facilities (school, college, sports grounds and swimming pool, etc.).
The Grande Maison, for its part, was first an outbuilding of the château, dating from the 15th century, where the lord of Fontenaille resided before becoming a smallholding then, in the 19th century, housing a boarding school and twentieth a medical house.
A few other castles of lesser prestige still dot the territory, testimony to the prosperity of Écommoy under the Old Regime and then the 19th century… The Château du Soleil (private property, cannot be visited) was built in 1853. It is located on the departmental road Le Mans - Tours. The castle of Bezonnais, built in the 12th century, was the property of a Sarthois deputy just after the French Revolution, then was the subject of numerous developments, thus making this family property modern and accessible. Today, this remarkable 17-hectare estate bordered by a garden and a river, located about ten kilometers from Le Mans and 60 km from the Loire castles, serves as a guest house.
As far as sports and leisure are concerned, the town has a racecourse at a place called Fontenailles. Inaugurated in 1926, with concrete structures and a grass track, it includes play areas dedicated to children while adults can bet on races. Seven meetings mainly devoted to trotting take place throughout the year. Admission: 6 euros. Information on +33 2 43 42 17 10.
The Bains d'Orée aquatic complex offers different pools dedicated to swimming as well as fun and well-being equipment. Open every day. Price: from 3.50 and 4.50 euros. Information on +33 2 43 42 13 41.
There is also a city stadium, a skatepark and tennis courts in the locality (court reservations on +33 6 08 32 25 18).
Hikers have a variety of trails at their disposal, including incursions into the western part of the vast forest of Bercé (more than 5,000 hectares of deciduous trees). Maps and information on +33 2 43 42 10 14 or +33 2 43 47 02 20.
