This need for the outdoors and freedom is what the booksellers and sellers in the book departments of supermarkets who distribute the guidebooks intended for you tell us. Whether it is the Mayenne of sunken roads, the Mayenne on foot, Around Laval, it is a purchase of first necessity which is exhausted for the latter by its success. I chose in this last topo the n°22 for a short hike of 7 km which will only take you a little more than 2 hours by going at your own pace.
It starts from the heart of Force. Go up the departmental road in the direction of Laval following the markup numbered 2 by the Inter Amnes d’Entrammes association. You take the Chemin de l’Orbière where there is a private leisure site which presents a whole range of activities: horse and pony rides, an acrobatic course in the trees, giant zip lines. Something to make you want to come back for an afternoon with your family. Further on, as you approach the Jouanne, you cross a snail bed before putting your feet down, level with the river, on the Japanese footsteps that put you on the other bank.
A little higher, the large meadow you cross was an industrial site until the 19th century when sheets were spread in the meadows to be bleached. In the 18th century, Laval canvas competed with the Spanish and American markets due to its whiteness. This is how a young 22-year-old industrialist set up a laundry in a bend in the Jouanne. It is quickly reputed as the most beautiful in the kingdom of France. Bleaching is carried out with machines and chemical processes, which no doubt pollute the river. The site extended over 100 ha with mills, stores and accommodation for more than 200 workers. There 100 pieces of sheets 140 m long were stretched out on the meadow. A forest passage allows you to reach Forced. Mother Nature is slowly dressing in her vegetal mantle. Beautiful spring afternoon!