Saint-Denis-D'anjou: Holiday apartments and holiday homes

Saint-Denis-d’Anjou is a Petite Cité de Caractère with medieval architectural and artistic heritage. The townscape combines historic churches, buildings and paths with natural areas and venues for events.

For some people, planning an individual trip to Saint-Denis-d’Anjou includes the desire to rent a holiday apartment.

Culture and history

The Église Saint-Denis combines Romanesque and Gothic architecture and was extended at the end of the 15th and beginning of the 16th century. It contains 16th-century wall paintings with hagiographic scenes inspired by the book The Golden Legend by Jacques de Voragine. Classified as a Monument historique, the church is permanently open to the public.

Next to the church is the Maison canoniale, built at the end of the 15th century and now used as an exhibition space. The Maison du Roi René was built in the 15th century and structurally modified in the 18th century; it is also known as the Maison des Ollivier. Its rear façade features a sundial and a fountain dating from 1830.

The historic buildings also include two chapels. The Chapelle Saint-Pierre de Varennes-Bourreau is an 11th-century Romanesque chapel that was completely restored in 2012 and houses wall paintings and frescoes from the 12th, 13th and 15th centuries. To gain access, visitors can collect the key from the tourist office or the town hall of Saint-Denis-d’Anjou upon presentation of an identity document. The Chapelle de St Martin de Villenglose is a small, simply designed place of worship built in the 11th century, with a Romanesque nave; the choir was renovated towards the end of the 15th century.

The Forge du XVIIIème siècle is also part of the local cultural heritage. Around 30 horses are still shod there each year. The forge can be visited throughout the year by prior request to the tourist office.

Events and local features

The Halles de Saint-Denis-d’Anjou were built in 1509 and are exceptionally well preserved. Regular public events take place beneath the market halls, including a Christmas market, concerts, performances and festivals. The Maine Uke Festiv’Halles takes place every year in June and features renowned invited guests, masterclasses, introductions and an open stage.

The local character also includes the Clos de la Morinière vineyard. It produces a Chenin blanc considered to be the only wine produced in Mayenne.

Nature and trails

At the Étangs de la Morinière, there is an ornithological trail with information boards for observing the local animal and plant species. The ponds offer opportunities to fish for coarse fish and predatory fish. A fitness trail for children and adults, established in 2019, runs around the large Étang de la Morinière.

The Circuit des Mottes is a 12.5-kilometre circular route starting in Saint-Denis-d’Anjou. It connects the centre of Saint-Denis-d’Anjou with the market halls, the church and the Haut-Anjou countryside, and can be used for hiking, horse riding and mountain biking.

More town profiles: Azé, Nuillé-Sur-Vicoin, Méral, Hercé, Laval, Désertines, Hardanges, Saint-Quentin-Les-Anges

For the higher-level travel overview: Mayenne.