East of Alençon, near Neufchâtel-en-Saosnois, in the Normandy-Maine Regional Nature Park, the old royal forest of Perseigne, full of oaks, beech trees and pines, covers over 5,000 hectares. A number of animal species live in its undergrowth: red deer, roe deer, boar, squirrels, hares, and a hundred or so bird species... The hilly territory of Perseigne National Forest, which contains around 200 kilometres of signposted circuits, is a choice location for hiking and mountain biking.
At the heart of the forest, the Perseigne belvedere, at an altitude of 340 metres, is the highest point of the department of Sarthe. At the top is a superb panoramic view of the forest, Saosnois and the Alençon plain!
