Le Mans surprises

What a surprise ! Le Mans, which evokes one of the most famous automobile races and… the rillettes, is a city which is worth the detour on the road towards the Breton or Norman coast. Thanks to direct TGV connections, it is also a perfect destination for a few impromptu vacation days.

Le Mans has so many things to seduce! Its rich architectural heritage dates back to the beginning of our era. The impressive Roman wall, built in the 3rd century in brick and Roussard sandstone, is the best-preserved wall of the ancient Roman Empire, along with those of Byzantium and Rome. What makes it unique are the many decorations, ostensible signs of power and wealth.

Behind these Roman ramparts, beats the heart of the medieval city, the Plantagenêt City, named in homage to the eponymous dynasty which, by the game of marriages, built a vast domain. The first of the line, Geoffrey, is nicknamed Plantagenêt: on his return from the hunt, he still had a branch of flowering broom stuck in his headgear. The names of the Plantagenet kings and queens make you dream: Mathilde, who is none other than the granddaughter of William the Conqueror; Eleanor of Aquitaine, Richard the Lionheart, Berengaria of Navarre who rests in the nearby Cistercian Abbey of Epau which she founded in 1129.

The old town is overlooked by one of the largest cathedrals in France. Like a veritable book of stones, it dates back to the 5th century AD, housing many treasures. A magnificent collection of medieval stained-glass windows, a 17th century statuary of extraordinary finesse or the paintings in the Chapel of the Virgin.

Not to be missed outside stands the strange menhir carved from 5,000-year-old pink sandstone and surrounded by many legends.

Losing yourself in the cobbled alleys of this vast medieval city, one gets the impression of diving into the heart of history. There are no souvenir shops here that disturb the harmony of the alleys lined with half-timbered houses, beautiful Renaissance buildings.

However, it is not an open-air museum but a living city, maintained with pride by its inhabitants. It’s a dream setting for filmmakers. Many films have been shot in these charming alleys: Cyrano de Bergerac, d'Artagnan and the three musketeers, The man in the iron mask, several episodes by Nicolas Floch and Le Mans 66 with Matt Damon and Christian Bale.

Le Mans is not just about the Cité Plantagenêt. It is a city where it is good to stroll to find places like the Visitation. The former convent turned prison and court has been rehabilitated and hosts restaurants, bars, small shops.

Modern buildings surround the convent like an art center or even a 5-star hotel, which further highlights the beautiful stones of the site. While strolling downtown, comic book lovers will not miss the Bulle bookstore with more than 8,000 albums on the ground floor, 11,000 manga albums upstairs as well as the Youth Comics.

Many restaurants, cafes and cool bars invite you to take a break. Gastronomy holds an important place in Le Mans.

There are, of course, the famous rillettes. Each butcher has their own recipe, and restaurants often serve them as an appetizer.

Also to taste: the sweet temptations of the Bellanger chocolate factory created by Jacques Bellanger, best worker in France. He even offers motor racing in the form of chocolate.

Just opposite, we fall for the small shortbread cookies of the artisanal biscuit factory Sablésienne before resuming the visit of the city.

But it was of course motorsport that made Le Mans known around the world. The origins of this famous automobile race, launched in 1923 to advance technical progress and the development of the automobile, are revealed at the Musée des 24 Heures.

Prestigious cars, models, posters immerse visitors in the atmosphere of the race since its inception. You don't have to be an enthusiast to enjoy visiting the museum! In windows, the cars that took part in the race are represented in miniature, classified by year.

It is even possible to go behind the scenes of the circuit. And take part of it with your own car: the route passes partially on departmental roads.

Faithful spectators will recognize the dreaded Indianapolis turn! 

Another surprise awaits visitors to Le Mans: the many parks, gardens and the vast Arche de la Nature site invite you to take walks in the fresh air.

Numerous hiking and cycling trails run through this 500 hectare natural space which includes forests, a river, meadows and pastures, interpretation centers ... Events and festivals punctuate the year in the heart of nature. Children will also love the Papéa Parc amusement park adjacent to the Arch of Nature.

To discover at least some of all the surprises of Le Mans, it takes at least three to four days.