Overview

Le Mans is located 50 miles north of Tours, and south of Alencon, on River Sarthe. It used to be the capital of Maine province but is now the capital of Sarthe. Known as the Cité Plantagenet, it is here in Le Mans that in 1129 Geoffrey Plantagenet married Matilda, daughter of Henry I of England and gave birth to Henry II.

The city has been the host of the internationally popular 24 Hours of Le Mans since 1923. More than a quarter of a million people head to the small town of Le Mans in mid-June for the epic event - one of the most famous car races in the world.

Aside from the legendary race course, Le Mans offers a fantastic old town, Roman ruins, beautiful cobblestoned alleyways lined with half-timbered houses, and fabulous medieval architecture.

Things to see and do

Roman legacy in Le Mans: The presence of the Latin conquerors can be witnessed at the astounding Roman Wall, a 1,640 ft. section of it is beautifully preserved on the River Sarthe side of town. With its distinctive pink mortar and ochre sandstone blocks, this wall once encircled the city of Le Mans, which takes its name from an ancient tribe: Cenomani. Get a close look at the geometric pattern and see how rubble from earlier monuments were reused in the walls, and you can identify bits of columns and pediments in the fabric of this structure. Hidden away in some of the medieval houses in the town, there are even more Roman remains.

House of Plantagenêt: Le Mans is known as the Plantagenet City. The Vielle Quartier, the old district within the Roman wall, overlooked by the monumental Cathedral of Saint-Julian was built between the 11th and 15th centuries. More than 100 timber-framed houses survived. Roughly following the outline of the Gallo-Roman walls, the House Plantagenet has many streets of romantic old houses, and renaissance palaces with beautifully carved walls. A guide from the tourist office will take you through this route.

Also if you plan your trip to Le Mans for one of the city’s heritage days, you’ll have the opportunity to explore many of the privately-owned mansions that open their doors to the public for a free peek around.

Cathedral: The beautiful Catholic Cathedral, located in the old town, is dedicated to the first bishop of the city, Saint Julian of Le Mans. The bishop spread Christianity in the locality in the 4th century. The construction of the famous cathedral dates from around the 6th century to the 14th century. You can see several french Gothic elements in it. There’s also unique feature on the building’s southwest corner: A stone age menhir was placed here in the 1770s and many centuries of weathering have given it strange layered contours. The cathedral is notable for its rich stained glass. In the interior are models showing the evolution of the building.

Museums

There are several museums in Le Mans including a bike museum, arts, history, and archaeology. Without a doubt, the most visited by tourists is the fabulous 24 hours Circuit de la Sarthe Museum.

Musée des 24 Heures du Mans: Car racing is popular in Le Mans and the town boasts its own exclusive museum. You don’t need to be a racefan to appreciate the incredible collection of more than 100 exceptional cars, including 40 cars that have participated in the event. When you visit this museum, you can learn how this famous race started and introduce yourself to the details of some memorable personalities from the pages of history.

Musee de Tesse: Le Man’s Museum of Fine Arts is situated just outside the park of Tesse and enjoys close proximity to the quinconces of the Jacobins. The museum offers several guided tours, each one based on a different theme.

Maison de la Reine Bérengère: The museum offers a various ethnological collection on the Maine region as well as of Le Mans. The building where the museum is housed was built in the 15th century and is in an excellent state of conservation. It is situated in the Plantagenet area. The museum got its name from Berangere de Navarre, who was Richard Coeur de Lion’s wife. She was one of the dowagers in the city and resided in the palace of the counts of Maine with her spouse. The palace is now the town hall of the city.

Countryside of Le Mans

Le Mans is surrounded by glorious countryside. It takes just a few minutes on the tram service to discover some of its secrets. 5 minutes by car or about 15 minutes by tram from the city center is the Domaine de l’Épau and the Abbaye Royale de l’Épau.

The Domaine is an area of outstanding natural beauty. It covers 600 hectares and hosts two restaurants and a bar, ideal for a taste of the countryside.

The little known Abbaye Royale of L’Epau is absolutely beautiful. The monumental building has witnessed centuries of history. It was burned by locals during the 15th century to stop English looters using it as a military base. It was also home to Cistercian monks who wrote books here in the freezing rooms, keeping their ink warm in the only heated cell. It was commissioned by Berengaria, wife of Richard the Lionheart, also known as the good widow, and it is where she is laid to rest. There is a wonderful tomb sculpture at the Abbey. When Queen Elizabeth II visited the Abbey, it’s said she suggested the statue be moved to lie with that of Berengaria’s royal family at the Abbey of Fontevraud.

Don’t miss the cafe where cakes are made using products grown at the abbey or locally. The gardens grow vegetables popular in medieval times. The menu here changes with the seasons. You’ll also discover beautiful frescoes, interesting exhibitions both inside and out, plus concerts. You can take a tour in English if you book in advance.

Local Cuisine

The city is an excellent place to enjoy French cuisine. You will find large escargots. In addition, the city center offers two Michelin star restaurants. And if you're in the mood for something else, you'll find plenty of Mexican, Italian, and Asian restaurants here as well.

Le Mans local cuisine consists of a variation of quality meats. Pork and beef, as well as poultry such as capons and guinea fowl, and in most dishes they are prepared with potatoes and mushrooms, which are also plentiful in the Sarthe countryside.

Rillettes are a delicacy of the area. This is chopped, salted pork cooked slowly in fat for up to ten hours until it becomes a pâté smooth enough to spread on baguettes. Rillettes are sold in glass pots and also come in duck, chicken and fish varieties.

Circuit des 24 Heures

For many people, the City of Le Mans is inseparable from the word “24 Hours.” This proves how popular the event has been since it started in 1923. The 24 Hours of Le Mans is the oldest motor race still going and remains one of the ultimate tests of skill and endurance, for driver and vehicle, as the car is at full throttle for 85% of the race. For people who are fanatics of motorsports, this circuit is like a paradise. For everyone else, the circuit is regarded as a piece of contemporary heritage. Some sections of the track are used as public roads for a lot of the year, while the race itself normally falls on a weekend in mid-June.