Things to see and do Sarthe

In 2002, Old Mans became La Cité Plantagenet. The house of the Red Pillar, the House of the Green Pillar, the House of the two Friends, the Maison Saint-Paul, the Maison de l'Annunciation, the House of the Drapier, the House suspended… Many are those houses which marked the path of the walk in the heart of the city. Exploring the pavés of the old town allows you to discover a unique heritage of incomparable charm: winding streets, cobbled stairs, typical houses, special hotels, small squares, churches… The Gallo-Roman enclosure, perfectly preserved, stretches over 1300 metres, dotted with eleven towers. It is made of colored stones forming geometric drawings. The cathedral of the cathedral is the best preserved from the ancient Roman Empire after those of Rome and Byzantium.

Located near the city centre and South station, this small urban park is the most recent of the city since its construction dates back to 2008. It owes its name to the fact that it connects the two banks of the Sarthe, between the two arms of that river. An amphitheatre and a playground have been set up. A large grassland, below, serves as a spillway in the event of flooding. The construction project would not have been created without the determination of the members of the association of the Island aux Planches. The land belonged to EDF, and their wish was to cede it to promoters for a real estate project (two columns, at the entrance to the park, evoke EDF and SFM).

Built more than 1,700 years ago, when Le Mans was still called Vindinum, it is a unique monument of its kind in France. To admire it, it is advisable to sit on the banks of Sarthe, which gives a magnificent overview. We can see the towers that still remain: eleven are visible in the thirties that existed initially. Today, every summer night, the Chimeras Night gives fantastic colors, by light projection, to this magical place of the old town: to observe from the wharves of Sarthe.

This park offers the opportunity to play with a ball, or ping-pong, on several tables, and benches. Acacias, maple trees and fir trees are pleasant. The entrance takes place via Alexandre-Dumas street.

Forced passage of a walk in the City Plantagenet, from the cathedral to the Grande street: a few benches will allow you to take a break. It could also be your rallying point, shaded in summer or sheltered from a tree when it rains. Go to the Red Pillar. Local craft markets or regional products take place from time to time, starting in the spring. Located above the "tunnel", you can see far and discover neighborhoods, buildings and the extent of part of the city.

A meadow and two small wood. The benches are welcome: they allow to rest at the expense of high heat days. The entrance takes place on the streets of L'Fan, Emile-Augier and Alfred-de-Vigny.

Accessible by the place des Des or by the avenue Paderborn. It is located in the city centre and bears the name of the museum it surrounds. It is an English park, with its basin, its red fish, and the boats that remain stuck in the middle. Children's playgrounds are set halfway between the park and the museum. In short, this garden is ideally located, for a picnic before you grow, or meditate after your passage to the Art Gallery of the city… Last activity possible: admire the giant hourglass of Jean-Bernard Loic, even if the sand does not sink.

In the heart of the city, you will find the Walk of Fame of the Le Mans winners, known here as the "Drivers' Footprints". At the end of each race, the winners place their prints in plaster. A bronze plaque is then cast into the ground in the streets of the neighborhood and the following year the inauguration of this new plaque takes place the day before the race. Since 1991, among the legends: Jacky Ickx, Henry Pescarolo and, of course, the comic book hero Michel Vaillant. In total, more than 45 plaques have been cast around the Place de la République and in the streets of the hypercentre. A flash-code offers information on the race and its winners. Today only 3 plaques are visible due to renovation works. They should be back in 2023.

This wood could be seen as an introduction to the Nature Ark. If you do not have the direction of orientation and are afraid to lose, this wood is a good compromise. It is located at the corner of Rue Henri-Champion and Plane Avenue. The best thing is to enjoy this space for picnic on one of the four tables made available. If you want to stretch your legs, go a little further, to the Nature Ark.

The Pont des Vendéens, also named Pont de Pontlieue, was completed in Le Mans during the xie century. It was a stone bridge crossing the Huisne. In particular, he is famous for being undermined by the mantle troops during the Vendean insurgency. The bridge was destroyed before the vendeans arrived in the city, just before the battle of the Battle du Mans.

The remains of the bridge were preserved and are still visible and accessible as public park, near Newton promenade. Subsequently a new bridge was built at a hundred meters from the old bridge, this is the new Pont de Pontlieue.

Located at the corner of Léon Loiseau and Saint John streets, this beautiful property built in the th century once hosted the Club family, which was held in high office in the warden of Château-du-Loir. Today, there are artists'exhibitions in the Henri IV room. Visiting the outside is possible with this white facade that attracts the eye. It was one of the last seats from premier until the Revolution. You will be able to visit the indoor rooms by reservation, and admire its monumental staircase. If you are an artist and are looking for a place for an exhibition, please do not hesitate to contact us. It is also a great address for banquets or weddings.

The Place de la Sirène is an important place in the center of the city of Le Mans. It is located north of Saint-Nicolas district. Its geographical position makes it the last place in the neighborhood before leaving the ancient Faubourg Saint-Nicolas and traveling through the old bridge door, on Saint Michel Square. The square was fully occupied and animated in the nineteenth century and at the turn of the twentieth century before other major axes and squares took over popular, such as the Place de la République or the place des Jacobins. It is for the same reason that the neighborhood - and the place included - is mainly pedestrian. The statue of siren, which is actually a bas-relief, marks the overseas expansion of the trade of this so-called etamine that Jean Véron invented in the eighteenth century. Bas-relief has been inscribed at Historic Monuments since 1931. In the center of the square is the sculpture of Claude Ribot entitled «Sirens», dating back to 1991.

You can reach the. street, rue des Terrasses, rue Banjan or rue des Mallets. Before its creation in 1976, this hillside was planted with apple trees and vineyards that produced wine. Today it is a vast park with many playgrounds spread everywhere (slides, turnstiles), ponds, many trees (plane, trees, oaks), bois, a small stream and large grass spaces. Beware! It is located between two hills, and for a jog you need a little calf!

As a parish parish church, the Saint-Guingalois collegiate church was built around 1070 to welcome in its crypt the relics of Saint Guénolé (Saint Guingalois) which had been brought to Château-du-Loir in 878 by Breton monks fleeing the Vikings. It was devastated in 1051 and was transferred to the monks of Mamoutier in 1067. Ronsard was prieur there. The building has several strengths to claim: a th century crypt, a th century Gothic choir and a, nave of the th century. The organ of the th century is classified.

This central church has been classified as a Historic Monument since 1840. Erected on drained marshes, hence its name, it is a jewel of Gothic and Renaissance style. Built in the 15th and 16th centuries, it is a very airy church and wonderfully adorned with its light buttresses and balustrades. It also has superb stained glass windows and a Renaissance organ case. Finally, its spire rises to almost 50 m. It doesn't take more than that for its admirers to call it a cathedral! Its stained glass windows, dating from the 15th, 16th, 17th and 19th centuries, also make it famous. The church is considered to be the most beautiful religious building in the department after the cathedral of Le Mans.

The castle was built between 1620 and 1734. It was the home of the Fromentières, the queens of the queens of France. You will visit the vaulted rooms, chimneys and staircase (th century) and th century apartments. This was also the home of the writer Jean-Louis de Fromentières (1632-1684). And for a laugh, children will be able to dress up. A pleasant moment to spend your family.

A stone's throw from the forest of The, this little church, built from the end of the th century, is to visit for its painted woodwork arch. Like many churches, its construction spread over several centuries and the church was further remodelled in the th and th centuries. The vault is decorated with 92 popular faces. This th century achievement is unique in France. The It facade is very rare and houses a th century statue in a niche. See!

Horse in Bélinois offers horse and pony rides by level group. And for the walking riders, there's really something to be fun about. Choose the two-hour walk (at 30 €) and leave in the heart of the forest. You can ride in long stretches of sand in the middle of the pine trees at any time. For the less adventurous, there is also a carriage, towed by a percheron. The farm also offers pensions for horse owners, stay for groups and hikes in France (Oléron Island during summer, for example) and abroad (hiking in Morocco). All year round, there are courses on ponies and horses, discovery courses, address games, initiation to the aerobatic, the passage of the galops. Everything is possible!

Founded in 1977 by a group of railway enthusiasts, the Transvap aims to preserve a railway heritage but also to travel: from Beillé to Bonnétable, you travel 17 km on board old locomotives. You will pass through Tuffé, Prévelles and finally Bonnétable. During the theme days, you will also discover the church of Beillé and its stained glass windows, the old abbey of Tuffé, the house of the potter of Prévelles and the garden of the castle of Bonnétable.

From the museum of Vivoin, the Hemp Circuit stretches over 30 km and passes through all places suggestive of culture. In particular, it makes it possible to stop in farmers who have restored their oven or who have themselves known culture more than sixty years ago. Indeed, hemp, in Sarthe, is a culture, a tradition in particular the north of the department. People who have people today easily tell how they saw, forty-five years ago, their parents exploiting what has made Maine great: it was around 1865 that hemp cultivation reached its peak. The Sarthe is then the first producer department. Its production is mainly used for textiles, fishing nets, ropes and sails of the navy. Then, competing with cotton and synthetic fibres, this culture is declining. Since 1990, however, it has developed and produced, among other things, paper, fuel, medicines, textile fibres, cattle feeds, fertilizers, insulation products… Hemp ovens have been restored, thanks to the energy of a backup association. They are to rediscover with this circuit through the belmontaise campaign. Information and leaflet at the Tourist Office.

Garden profiles on the terrace decorated with a th century basin but also a colombier to coo next spring. The grounds of the town hall are the construction of a monastery. There are numerous collections of trees, but also of shrubs, as well as local essences and varieties of ancient roses. A real pleasure 30 min from Le Mans.

Housed in th century turrets, the th century building was undoubtedly the residence of the Dukes of Alençon, whose coat of arms still appears on the facade.

The city hall and its gardens reflect in part the beauty of this small, belmontais village. The Specialities know well, tourists also travel to visit this wonderful corner. And city hall is an essential step.