On the banks of the Huisne, Yvré-l'Évêque, charming small town of the Sarthe, is the perfect alliance between nature and urbanism. The first trace of the commune appears in the year 616. It was then the place where the horses were erected. But the name of the small town certainly comes from a country residence built in the twelfth century by a bishop to be enlarged later and become the residence of the bishops of Le Mans. Yvré-l'Évêque has preserved of its past a rich historical patrimony which is discovered in the streets where it smells the sweetness of life. A city in the countryside or a countryside in the city, this is how one could define this friendly and warm conurbation.
The old stones punctuate the small town of Yvré-l'Évêque for the greatest happiness of the small and the big. In the unmissable, the abbey of Épau, classified as a Historic Monument is well worth a visit. Built on the left bank of the Huisne, the building dates from 1229. At the time, it was Richard Cceur de Lion's widow. Perfectly preserved, it houses an abbey church and its splendid glass roof, a magnificent chapter house and many other exceptional vestiges.
You will not be able to pass next to the stone bridge, also called Roman bridge, dating from the Gallo-Roman period spanning the Huisne. The legend of this bridge means that in the ninth century pilgrims crossed the bridge. One of them, deaf and dumb, found miraculous sight and hearing.
The church of Saint-Germain of the eleventh century, with its bell tower pointing towards the sky, is also a monument to be seen during your stay. Inside, you can admire various vestiges including the statue of Christ with the links, the windows of the chapel of the Zouaves, the baptismal font dating from the XIIth and XIIIth century.
The Ark of Nature is a preserved natural area of 450 hectares extending partly over the town. You can enjoy attractions like the prairie farm or the house of water while admiring the green and wooded landscape stretching as far as the eye can see.
And to make you discover all the beautiful places of the commune, several circuits of excursions of discovery of the heritage are proposed to you. Between nature and old stones, you will not know where to look. On foot or by bike, you can walk many paths from the village. In addition to hikers, these trails are much appreciated by joggers. The surrounding lakes and streams will delight fishermen.
Finally, the city offers an impressive number of sports facilities. You can practice football, tennis or volleyball, but also archery and cycling. To relax, you can enjoy the bowling alley to play a game of bowls.
Every Friday morning, you will have the opportunity to enjoy the Yvré-l'Évêque market. Local and regional producers display their fruits and vegetables, but also meat and cheese among others. The market is held on the esplanade of the Town Hall.
April current takes place the night of the gypsy jazz. This event is a must for fans of the genre. Several artists are present every year to play until the end of the night.
Throughout the year, the municipality and the associations organize numerous cultural and sporting events. You will have the choice between concerts, plays as well as performances of dance and contemporary arts among others. A city under the sign of art, sport and culture where you will not be bored. Events during the day or evening will mark your stay between two visits to the rich historical heritage of the town.