Noyen-sur-Sarthe is a town in Sarthe, in the Pays de la Loire region, 30 km south-west of Le Mans.
Its vast territory of 43 km² is crossed from north to south by the course of the Sarthe, the river forming the southern limit of the locality after a curve to then head towards Sablé.
Presenting a rural landscape (cultivated fields, meadows, wooded plots), at the crossroads of major axes, Noyen has been occupied since Antiquity (the remains of a Roman villa have been unearthed) then the village was formed afterwards to an ordinance of Charlemagne in 802.
Apart from an ambush fomented by archers from Du Guesclin (14th century), the foundation of a convent (17th century) and the construction of bridges in the 19th century spanning the Sarthe which was canalized, the he history of the town has proven to be peaceful and prosperous due to the fertility of its land and its location at the crossroads of communication axes (this is still true with the motorway and TGV today).
Noyen-sur-Sarthe now turns out to be a small town in the countryside of around 2,600 inhabitants whose heritage and offer of "nature" leisure activities will delight lovers of green tourism, near the Loire Valley.
It is to the south of the village, in the hamlet of Voisine, that a heritage discovery trail can begin with the Petite-Voisine farm, which dates from the 16th and 17th centuries, protected as historical monuments for the quality of the main building and the beautiful craftsmanship of its chapel. Still in the countryside, the old mills built on the course of the Sarthe bear witness to the prosperity of yesteryear (cultivation of cereals and milling production).
In the center, you can then observe the Church of Saint-Germain, dating from the 16th century but altered several times. In addition, on the territory, several castles attest to the ease of the great local families: the castles of Plessis (17th century, remodeled in the 19th century, classic style and beautiful park), Montabon (19th century) and RiveSarthe, built in 1906 for Baron Albert Leret d'Aubigny, then deputy and who was called to government in the 1920s by Raymond Poincaré. The building which SNCF once owned would have inspired Hergé in Tintin's albums (under the name Château de Moulinsart).
Lastly, we will mention the remains of the medieval castle Motte (at a place called the Butte) and the road crosses.
On the cultural side, activities (meetings, readings) are regularly offered at the media library (contact on +33 2 43 92 32 71) and the multi-purpose municipal hall hosts associative events and shows (for information on +33 2 43 95 70 08).
For athletes, the municipal complex includes a football field, a bowling alley, tennis courts (reservation with the club on +33 7 81 08 56 14) and a field dedicated to radio-modeling.
From the banks of the Sarthe, fishermen have something to exercise their passion: find out about the developed sites and the regulations on +33 2 44 55 12 21.
And for those who appreciate hiking, the paths following the course from the river (on which a nautical stop on the right bank has been set up where pleasure boats can moor in season), the paths that allow you to appreciate the green countryside, the woods, dotted with viewpoints over the village and the valley, are very pleasant to walk. Likewise, routes dedicated to cyclists are signposted (the loops include neighboring towns within the framework of the "La Sarthe à Vélo" network). Maps and information from the tourist office on +33 2 43 95 00 60.
