Sarthe: a rendezvous with the unexpected

Your adventure begins at La Flèche Zoo. As you enter this 21-hectare animal kingdom, children will marvel at giraffes stretching their necks skyward, Sumatran tigers looking like royalty, and cheerful lemurs. But today, choose to be more than just a visitor: experience Soigneur for a day. For half a day, you can step into the shoes of an animal caretaker. Prepare meals, discreetly observe the fascinating life of the animals and understand the subtleties of the job. From mandrills to giraffes, lions to Humboldt penguins, choose the species you want to see and get up close and personal. A unique experience for young and old alike.

But the experience doesn't end when the park closes. When other visitors leave the gates, you stay. Because tonight, you won't be sleeping in ordinary accommodation. Safari Lodges await you for an unforgettable night with the animals. Choose your world from nine distinct atmospheres: giraffes stretching their long necks towards your lodge, lions lounging just a few meters from your bed, white tigers gazing out through huge picture windows...

For even greater intimacy, opt for one of the twelve Safari Suites. In this unique hotel complex, enjoy a dinner prepared by the Chef in the panoramic restaurant overlooking the cheetahs, then extend the evening in the bar with a view of the lions. At bedtime, the felines, visible from your room, will accompany you into your dreams.

When you wake up in the morning, treat yourself to a last special moment with the animals, still peaceful in the morning light, before heading off to the mysterious Bercé forest, a 5,400-hectare massif classified as a "remarkable forest". Here, the 300-year-old oaks of the Futaie des Clos have stood guard since their ancestors were used in shipbuilding. Look up, the canopy is dizzying: some of the oaks reach 50 metres in height.

If you come in September or October, listen carefully at dawn or dusk for the sound of the deer bellowing. A rare moment that connects you to the eternal cycles of nature.

To complete your forest immersion, head for Jupilles, nestled in the heart of the massif. Carnuta, maison de l'Homme et de la forêt, is not just a museum, but a place where trees tell their story through interactive and sensory exhibits. Pass your hand over the different tree species, learn to distinguish the songs of the birds that populate the forest, recognize footprints and more. Together, young and old discover the secrets of this fascinating world, where each season reveals new mysteries.

A change of era and universe: the Vallée du Loir railway roundhouse, one of the best-kept treasures of France's railway heritage. Built in 1890, this unique structure in western France was used to maintain and supply locomotives on the Paris-Bordeaux line. In this 2,500 m² semi-circular building, the 24-metre swing bridge still serves 10 tracks, where witnesses of a bygone era lie. Admire the last Baguley draisine from 1917, once used to monitor the lines, or this sleeper from the Orient Express, which travelled all the way from Europe to Baghdad.

Want to extend your getaway?

• Cycle the trails of the Vallée du Loir, between confidential vineyards and secret châteaux.
• Stop off at La Chartre-sur-le-Loir to stroll between antique shops and art craftsmen, in search of hidden treasures.
• Visit Le Lude and its imposing château, one of the last great Loire châteaux still inhabited by a family.