We had tried to visit Parné-sur-Roc before going to Saint-Denis-d’Anjou, but we almost got stuck behind a funeral procession. Already there was no parking near the church, so we decided to come back later in the afternoon. When we arrived, the village was nearly deserted.
Just inside the entrance to the church was a short video (in French or English) that gave the history of the town. The Romans occupied the Loire Valley since 52 BCE after routing the native tribes. They created the towns and the villages on the road between them. Parné-sur-Roc was on the Roman road going from Le Mans to Rennes. In the middle ages it was on the route of pilgrims going from Tours to Mont Saint Michel.
The town is very small, but still has its share of historic homes.
They were unmarked so we did not learn much about them, but they were distinctive.
The 11th c. Romanesque nave was extended in the 12th c by adding a vestibule (porch) over which rises a belfry with a stone steeple. A wooden barrel vault covers the nave.
Inside on the chapel walls are frescoes dating from the 15th to early 17th centuries;
these are among the most impressive wall paintings in the Loire region.
It was late afternoon when we left to go back to Laval. Coming up a hill, we could see trees in silhouette against the setting sun.
It was a lovely end to the day's excursions.
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