Les Petites Cités de Caractère® is a national label that promotes atypical communities with a unique history, exceptional heritage, and a limited population. The network was established in Brittany in 1975, and its ultimate goal is to preserve heritage as a lever for regional development.
Our 3 small towns of character
The characterful town of Sainte-Suzanne
Also designated one of the Most Beautiful Villages of France®, it has joined the network of Small Towns of Character® for the quality of its architectural heritage. First, there is its castle , dating from the 11th century, which houses a CIAP (Center for the Interpretation of Architecture and Heritage) , offering a permanent exhibition with collections presenting the history of the Mayenne department, its biodiversity, its geology, the history of the castle, and more, as well as a temporary exhibition each year. Various activities take place during school holidays. Then there is its paper mill . Sainte-Suzanne has a long medieval and industrial history thanks to the Erve River, along which tanneries, paper mills, fulling mills, and other businesses were established. Up to 17 mills once lined the Erve. The Sainte-Suzanne paper mill is one of the last in France to produce paper using traditional methods. Finally, the Auditoire Museum (temporarily closed, reopening in September 2025), located in a typical 16th-century house, offers a journey through 3,000 years of Sainte-Suzanne's history.
The characterful town of Saint-Pierre-sur-Erve
Saint-Pierre-sur-Erve is a small town of character® located in the heart of the listed site of the Erve Valley with in particular a Roman bridge, the Gô mill and an "in situ" exhibition of artists throughout the summer until the European Heritage Days.
The characterful town of Saulges
A small village, but big in history! From prehistory to the present day, through Antiquity and the Medieval period, Saulges has preserved traces of its history. On the site of the current town of Saulges, in Mayenne, was a large Merovingian necropolis. A fascinating testament to urban life dating from the 1958th to the XNUMXth century, it was rediscovered during water supply works in XNUMX. While most of the sarcophagi are found beneath the town's streets today, two are still visible on the path leading to the Oratory.
"We discovered not two or three sarcophagi, but around sixty sarcophagi."
The Saint-Pierre church in Saulges, one of the oldest in France!
A historic gem, this church or chapel was built during the Merovingian period. Located 20 meters from the 650th-century Romanesque church, this religious building houses an astonishing collection of wooden, stone, and terracotta statues. The relics of Saint Cénéré, a hermit who came from Italy in XNUMX to evangelize Maine, are still venerated here.
Discover the history of this charming village on the discovery trail. From prehistory to the present day, this town has some truly historic secrets to tell!
Trail of Small Towns of Character® in the Coëvrons
In 2023, a new activity is developing in the Coëvrons region of Mayenne: a trail running center ! First of all, what is trail running? For those who don't know, trail running is a sport, more precisely, "all-terrain" running . It takes place in natural environments such as country lanes, forest paths, or even in the mountains, unlike traditional road running which is often done on flat terrain. Trail running can also be done with poles, alone or in a team.
The Coëvrons region and its network of charming small towns have joined forces to combine trail running with heritage discovery, creating an attractive sporting offering that connects with local heritage and showcases the charming towns of Sainte-Suzanne, Saint-Pierre, and Saulges. With a growing selection of short and long-distance, family-friendly trails perfect for sports and heritage holidays, grab your running shoes and come recharge in our beautiful region! Discover our trail running center!
