Saint-Céneri-le-Gérei

Saint- Céneri -le- Gérei is a commune with 124 inhabitants (as of January 1, 2011 ) in the department of Orne in Basse-Normandie region; it belongs to the arrondissement Alençon Alençon and Canton -1. Saint- Céneri is classified as one of the plus beaux villages de France ( most beautiful villages in France ).

Geography

The village lies on an existing granite rock face in a meander of the Sarthe between Alençon ( 12 km) and Le Mans (40 km).

History

In the 7th century the Holy Céneri founded here an abbey which was destroyed in 903 by the Normans. In the 11th and 13th century castle and church were built. The castle is located around 250 years since in the possession of Giroie family.

Attractions

• The single-nave Romanesque church of Saint- Céneri passages ( with three apses ) from the 11th century is a monument historique since 1860.
• The Chapel of Saint- Céneri from the 15th century has also been declared a Monument historique.
• The old stone bridge over the Sarthe

The idyllic resort attracted in the past, many painters, such as Camille Corot, Gustave Courbet and Léon Cogniet. Today, the village is visited by many tourists.