Parc de l'Île aux Planches

L'Ile aux Planches. A piece of land known as "la prée des planches", used as a place to take a walk after haymaking. In the 18th century, there was a renowned source of ferruginous water.

The Île-aux-Planches urban park was created in 2008. This long stretch of nature, created when a 677-metre canal was dug in 1831 to make the Sarthe navigable, is made up of a succession of spaces with their own atmospheres and destinations. Starting at the northern tip, at the Pont de Fer, there is a promontory offering an uninterrupted view of the town's harbour. The statue "L'envol" by Paul Landowski, a tribute to the Wright brothers' first flights, has found its new home here.
Then there's a south-facing open-air theatre, with grass seating for shows, and a vast flat area that acts as a spillway for the canal when the water level rises. Further along, visitors can stroll along the stone embankment or a path lined with willows, alders and ash trees. There is one final area, known as "l'Île-aux-enfants".