Perched on a rocky peak 70 meters above the Erve Valley, between Laval and Le Mans, Sainte-Suzanne is best known as the medieval city that defied William the Conqueror. And yet... Its double wall and the rich heritage of this period that is still visible are not the oldest witnesses to the history of Sainte-Suzanne. The Dolmen des Erves (the oldest monument in Mayenne) as well as recent archaeological excavations reveal the origins of the site dating from five to six centuries before Christ!
The site of Sainte-Suzanne has been occupied since prehistoric times, but its glorious history is that of the unsuccessful siege led by William the Conqueror from 1083 to 1087 in front of the city's keep, erected at the beginning of the 11th century.E century by the Beaumont family. From this period the ramparts, the dungeon, the alleys but also the remains of the entrenched camp of the Anglo-Normans remain. Another testimony relates the saga of Sainte-Suzanne: the home of Guillaume Fouquet de la Varenne, minister of Henri IV and creator of the State Post Office in France, built between 1608 and 1613. Current Center for the Interpretation of Architecture and Heritage, owned by the department, it is, along with the Museum of the Auditorium, where the oldest armour in France is enthroned, the essential means of understanding the history of the city. Built as an extension of the castle and surrounded by ramparts, the medieval town of Sainte Suzanne is also at the heart of preserved nature. One hundred kilometers of trails wind through the Coëvrons grove, in the Charnie forest or on the banks of the Erve river, where seventeen mills used to produce wheat, tan, fullon, paper or tobacco, paper or tobacco, the heritage of a rich industrial activity. A visit to the paper mill brings back to life this intense activity of the past. Multi-labeled, the city was ranked 3E ” favorite village of the French” in 2013.
As you leave, be sure to explore the old dungeon. Metal footbridges allow circulation through the remains of the old building. A successful metaphor for a trip back in time... After the dungeon, now the desire to move around takes over us. It must be said that all this green around invites you to stretch your legs. We are off to climb the Mound Ganne in front of Sainte-Suzanne. The atmosphere is rustic and the view is splendid.
No hurry to climb, you take your time. Here is the motto of Sainte-Suzanne...
Everyone chooses according to their desires: culture, exploration, activities or relaxation. There are the caves and the museum but also the valley site which offers a variety of activities to follow supervised or in freedom. And those who seek tranquility are not forgotten.Let's start with the caves! They are exceptional. They are the only ones decorated north of the Loire. Two can be visited. In addition to these physical explorations, we must add the complicity of the virtual that magnifies the real. The first is called Margot Cave. 300 meters long and a treasure. In 2003, a team of archaeologists unearthed engravings: woolly rhinos, bison, and even engraved birds. An exception for this type of representations. The second is The Rochefort cave. It is vertical and plunges into a 15-meter chasm and ends on an underground lake. It is explored using stairs and ladders. It is also the subject of an excavation site.
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