Le Mans - Le Mans

Le Mans is a city of France.

To know

Le Mans is located in the department of Sarthe, in the Pays de la Loire. It is the third city of national importance after that Nantes is Angers. It is an important place to visit in the region, strategic for its geographical location. The city is the center of an agglomeration and an occupation zone that reaches 310,000 inhabitants (1999).

The city is known worldwide for the automobile regularity race, called 24 hours of Le Mans. But it is also a city with a rich history spanning 17 centuries, when it was also the capital of the ancient French province of Maine. Its historic center, renamed in 2003 with the name of "Cité Plantagenêt", still fascinates today so much that it has been used as a backdrop for numerous films.

The Le Mans circuit

The old Town

Geographical notes

Le Mans is located on the western edge of the basin of Paris on the border with the Armorican Massif. The historic center is located on a hill covered in sand and sandstone. These facilities are located to the west of the city, in the Saint-Pavin district, and to the south in the Pontlieue district and between the Bugatti circuit and the Tertre Rouge.

Le Mans is crossed from north to south by the Sarthe, a 314 km long river, a tributary of the right bank of the Loire. The Huisne, the second longest tributary of the Sarthe (164 km), crosses the city from east to west, before flowing into the Sarthe.

In 2003 it was elected as the second greenest city in France after Nantes.

When to go

Le Mans has an oceanic climate. Like the rest of the Atlantic coast French, in winter it has abundant rainfall. The hottest months are summer (June, July, August) with daily temperatures ranging between 11 and 25 ° C, while the winter months (December, January, February) range between 1 and 9 ° C.

Background

First mentioned by Claudius Ptolemy, the Roman city of Vindinium it was the capital of the Aulerci, a sub-tribe of the Aedui, a Gallic population. Le Mans is also known as Civitas Cenomanorum (City of the Cenomani), or Cenomanus.The Roman city belonged to the region Gallia Lugdunensis. An amphitheater from the 3rd century AD remains from the period of Roman domination, while the baths were destroyed to build the city walls, within the best preserved Gallo-Roman walls.

How to orient yourself

The modern center is located around Place de la Republique (Piazza della Repubblica), while the historic center around Place des Jacobins (Square of the Jacobins). Lots of shops (including the mall Center Jacobins), bars and restaurants are located between the two squares (about 20 minutes on foot).

Around the historic center of the city there are Roman walls from the 3rd century AD, the best preserved Roman construction of the Late Roman Empire in France. The center is also called The Plantagenet City and is the heart of the medieval part of Le Mans. Inside the walls is the district called Vieux Mans (or vieille ville du Mans), where most of the houses date back to the Renaissance period. In particular, the house of Adam and Eve, i palaces of Clairaulnay and Vaux. Historical films and series are often filmed here.

Neighborhoods

Historic districts

• Old Mans (or Plantagenet city) - It is the heart of the city enclosed by walls of the 3rd century AD. Saint-Julien Cathedral is located on the south side of this area. Queen Bérengère Museum preserves Maine culture. Among the palaces dating from the 17th and 18th centuries there are also some classified as historical monuments. There are also post-medieval half-timbered houses, some of which have recently been rebuilt.
• Pontlieue - Former municipality now southern district of the city. Its name derives from the fact that the bridge that crosses the Huisne was located one mile from the church of the seam (Église Notre-Dame de la Couture). In the district there are still traces of the first battle of Le Mans. Under the current Pontlieue bridge, there are the remains of the Vendée bridge. The latter destroyed to prevent insurgents from entering the city. There moons of Pontlieue it is one of the largest road roundabouts in the city. It is a four-lane road which joins three arteries in the south of Le Mans: the Allonnes road, the Tours l 'Arnage road.
• District of the Jacobins (Quartier des jacobins) - with a view of the Duomo. To the east it was under the old regime, in place of the Convent of the Jacobins which was destroyed after the French Revolution and which gives the neighborhood its name. To the southeast, the remains of arenas dating back to the Gallo-Roman period have been found. The former Municipal Theater was built there in 1842. The festivities of the 24 Hours of Le Mans made the area a must for the parade of vehicles and drivers.
• Pré district (Quartier du Pré) - It is an ancient medieval village occupied from the first century AD, it is here that the first church of the city was installed at the behest of San Bertrand. Located on the right bank of the Sarthe, the district became Vindunum's first Gallo-Roman cemetery. Today there is the port of Le Mans or the theater school Quai de Scène. Further east, we find the Madeleine district. To the west, the Saint Georges and the park Île aux Planches.

University and higher education district

• Ribay - It's one of the most recent. It bridged the gap between the city and the university campus. It is mainly a residential area. The faculties of language and literature, humanities, sports, science and law are all in the area, as well as ENSIM (Engineering), ESGT (Geometry and topography) or ISMANS (Mechanics). It includes student houses, but also private homes.
• Les Maillets - Western district, at the crossroads with the Jacobins and Sainte-Croix districts. There are the Montesquieu high school, Sainte-Croix, Washington and Marguerite-Yourcenar.
• California neighborhood - In this area that the headquarters of MMA.
• Technopark (or South technopole) - In collaboration with the University of Maine and the Lyceum of Le Mans-Sud, racing vehicles are studied here. In this district there is also the Auto Sport Academy, the only flight school in France.

Downtown neighborhoods and train station

• Saint-Nicolas district (or Emeraude district, or Republique) - Deeply modified starting from the mid-60s with the aim of connecting the Giacobini district to the railway station. On the Place de la République, a large square in the city, passed the first line of the tram. The Church of the Visitation and the old prison are located there. Many streets are purely commercial, such as rue des minimes. The latter leads to the prefecture building and the North Station. International brands such as Lacoste, Galeries Lafayette and Eden Park have their own stores in this area.
• South Station district (or Novaxis neighborhood) - Neighborhood created between 1985 and 1989 driven by urban growth due to the arrival of the TGV in the capital of Maine, allowing established companies to reach Paris in less than an hour. The area was renovated in 2006 and the Novaxis VII building was completed in the last quarter of 2007. In 2007, with the birth of the "Novaxud" program, the area expanded southwards.
• North Station district - It develops mainly around the axis of the avenue du Général Leclerc thanks to the passage of the tram. There are many shops there, as well as one of the most famous hotels in Le Mans, the Concordia. At the northern end of the boulevard, you will find the rue nationale and the rue des minimes, the two main commercial axes. Furthermore, we enter the center of the Saint-Nicolas district. The north zone station also offers access to the convention center.

Commercial areas

• Technoparc - North of the city. It is not only a commercial area (in the neighborhood there is the Family Village shopping center), but it is also an innovative business district thanks to the presence of many mechanical / sports companies.
• Océane - South of the city between the A28, A11 and A81 to the north and the north ring road.

How to get

By plane

The city has an airstrip and not a real airport, so it is not served with regular flights; it is most used by small private aircraft.

The nearest airports are located in Nantes is Paris.

The Roissy-CDG airport is connected to the city by direct TGVs from terminal 2 to Le Mans station (1h and 30 min) which depart several times a day from 6:00 to 21:00.

By car

It can be accessed from several roads: the A11 which connects the cities of Paris is Nantes, the A81 from Rennes, the A28 leading to Tours South, Abbeville North. The former national road 138 connects Rouen in Le Mans.

On the train

TGV, Le Mans is only 54 minutes from Paris-Montparnasse, with a train approximately every hour (every half hour during rush hour). The city is connected without changes to Marseille in 4 h and 50 min and a Lille in 2 h and 40 min. With just one change they can be reached Brussels (3h) e London (4h).

By bus

Paris it can also be reached by bus with competitive prices compared to railways.

How to get around

By public transport

The company Setram offers a fairly complete bus service that connects the districts of the city and 9 neighboring municipalities. All buses (around 170) pass through the city center and operate from 5:30 am to 1:00 am.

The city has two tram lines, which connect the university (located in the west) with the eastern suburbs and the stadium (located in the south). A third line is planned that cuts the city from north to south. The tram has three terminals, University-Ribay, Antares and Espal.

By car

Le Mans is equipped with ring roads but access to the center is allowed only to residents.

By bike

Many cycling routes through the main avenues and avenues. In all, it is 129 km reserved for bicycles in urban areas.

What see

• 48.0091670.1988891 Cathedral of San Giuliano. Symbol of the diocese of Le Mans, it is one of the largest buildings of the Gothic-Romanesque period of France. It is dedicated to Saint Julian, the first bishop of Le Mans. It is often compared to the cathedral of Reims or to that of Chartres. Less well known, that of Le Mans has undergone numerous reconstructions since its foundation. Started by the bishop Vulgrin, in 1060, it was completed, in its present form, around 1430. In fact, however, it was never completely finished: it should have been extended again around 1500, but the lack of funds meant that the religious authorities of era renounce it. 

• Abbey of San Vincenzo. At the end of the Middle Ages the city was endowed with numerous abbeys and convents. Among these is still visible the Abbey of San Vincenzo, dating back to 572. Until 1789 it housed an important library. Today, fully restored in 1990, it is integrated into the Bellevue Lyceum in Le Mans. 

• 48.006940.19722 The Collegiale Saint-Pierre-La-Cour. It is a church built intra muros in the 10th century, following the Norman invasion of the 9th century. Rebuilt by Henry II Plantagenet in 1175, it was enlarged in 1267 by Charles I of Anjou. It borders the eastern part of the Gallo-Roman walls. The part visible today is only the lower part of two superimposed churches. Today there are two naves with six spans covered by ribbed vaults. From 1900 to 1939 its subsoil was transformed into an archaeological museum. Abandoned during the Second World War, it was later put back in order together with the Abbey of l'Épau. Today it hosts impromptu exhibitions and musical performances. 

• 47.9911350.242093 Épau Abbey (It is located 4 km east of Le Mans, on the left bank of the river Huisne, bordering the territory of the municipality of Yvré-l'Évêque). ancient Cistercian abbey founded by Queen Berengaria of Navarre in 1229. It was set on fire several times after the Middle Ages until the French Revolution, when it ended up becoming a country granary. It was abandoned by the various owners who succeeded each other and who used it for the most varied purposes. In 1958 it was bought by the departmental council. Today it can be visited (the mausoleum of Queen Berengaria is still today in the chapter house) but it mainly hosts cultural events such as the National Classical Music Festival of l'Épau. 

• 48.0097220.1979174 Grabatoire Palace (Palais du Grabatoire). The current residence of the episcopal bishop of Le Mans built between 1538 and 1542, enlarged and restored on several occasions (the last in the early 1900s). 

• 47.9376940.2256115 Circuit de la Sarthe (Circuit of the 24 Hours of Le Mans) (in the southern part of the city). Visiting the racetrack when there are no races is not a very particular experience, but it is quite another matter when you attend races and especially the 24 hours. At the end of the race, although it is forbidden, the practice wants part of the public to invade the circuit. Near the track there is the automobile museum^{[link not working]}, open even when there are no competitions. 

Museums

• Car museum. It has a rich collection of vehicles from yesterday and today. 
• 48.010280.203616 ^{[link previously not working]}Fine Arts Museum (Musée de Tessé), 2, avenue de Paderborn. Nefertari's "houses of eternity" have been rebuilt to life in the basement, forming the main part of a rich collection of Egyptian archeology. 
• 48.008890.1976397 ^{[link previously not working]}Regina Bérengère Museum (Musée de la Reine Bérangère), 7-13 rue de la Reine-Bérengère. Open all the year. Dedicated to the local specialties and artistic works of the city. 
• 48.007220.198068 ^{[link previously not working]}Museum of Archeology and History of Maine (Museum of archeology et d'histoire du Maine), Avenue de Paderborn. Archaeological Museum opened in June 2009, dedicated to the history and archeology of the city of Le Mans. 
• ^{[link not working]}Lutherie Heritage Center (Center du Patrimoine de Facture Instrumentale). It is both a national institution collection of musical instruments, and at the same time a playful museum of classical and modern music, of all countries. 

Events and parties

• Europe jazz festival du Mans. between March and May. For more than thirty-five years, the Le Mans jazz festival has been one of the most important in France 
• French Grand Prix (Moto GP). Half may. 
• Jasnières DOC and Loire Valley wine show. Half may. 
• 24 hours of Le Mans. 24 hours of motors and racing on the longest circuit in the world (13.6 km) 

For the complete and updated list of events consult the site tourism (in French).

What to do

Shopping

Here is the list of major shopping centers that does not take into account the neighborhood mini-markets, but only two large shopping areas and large shopping centers called "orphans", how to form a group, but not an attraction zone:

• North Commercial Area: Ocean Gate (Auchan, Comma, Conforama, Castorama, Mosca, Decathlon, Kiabi, Darty, Gosport, Norotau, Midas, etc.)
• South Commercial Area: Family Village (Auchan "Alimentation", ElectroDépot, C&A, Kiabi, Esprit, etc.)
• Center Commercial Les Jacobins (C&A, Fnac, Nature et découverte, etc.)
• E. Leclerc Les Fontenelles shopping center
• E. Leclerc Medici Center Commercial (A Allonnes)
• Intermarket Beauregard Center Commercial
• Shopping Center called "South Central" (Carrefour, H & M, etc.)
• Commerce of the center of Saint Nicolas, Rue des Minimes, National Street.

How to have fun

Shows

Theaters

• 48.0079410.2004951 Municipal Theater of Le Mans (Théâtre Municipal du Mans). Created in 1842 by Felix Pierre Delarue, to replace the too small Salle des Concerts, which dates back to 1776. In 2009 it was demolished to make way for a multiplex cinema. 
• ^{[link not working]}Espal Theater (Théâtre de L'Espal), 60 Rue Esterel, ☎ 33 2 43 50 21 50, fax: 33 2 43 50 21 59, @[email protected]. Opened in 1995 to create a cultural space in the Sablon district. It can accommodate from 500 to 600 people. 
• Paul Scarron Theater (Théâtre Paul Scarron), 8 Rue des Jacobins, ☎ 33 2 43 43 89 89. Inaugurated in 1991, it is located in front of the Municipal Theater and can accommodate 150 people. It is named after an author who knew the city well. 
• Passeur Theater (Théâtre du Passeur), 88 Rue de la Rivière (Close to Jardin des plantes in the Prémartine district), ☎ 33 2 43 76 65 82. Small neighborhood theater that can seat around 50 people. 
• Radeau Theater (Théâtre du Radeau), 2, rue de la Fonderie, ☎ 33 2 43 24 93 60, @[email protected]. Founded in 1985 in a former industrial area. The company works in collaboration with the Théâtre National de Bretagne. 
• L'Écluse Theater (Théâtre de l'Écluse) (In the Heuzé district). Small neighborhood theater that can accommodate up to 50 people. 

Night clubs

Bar for young people

• The House, 4 rue des Maillets. 
• The Mulligan's, 44 rue du docteur Leroy. Irish pub that shows football and rugby games. 
• Le Passeport du cochon vert (PCV), 25 place d'Alger. Large bar that often offers concerts. 

Cocktail bar

• The Bakoua, 5 rue de la Vieille-Porte. Music: ska, reggae, latin. 
• Larédo, 42 rue du Port. Spanish cocktails. 

Where to eat

Average prices

• Auberge des 7 plats. The most popular restaurant in Le Mans. 
• Le bistro d'à côté. Same owner of Les 7 plats. 
• Le bistrot sur a Place. Same owner of Les 7 plats. 
• Aux Cocottes Sarthoise. 
• La Chamade. 
• The Villa. 
• The Maison d'Elise. 
• Le Plongeoir. 
• La Taverne. The best known restaurant in Le Mans. 
• Le Mans Légend'Café. 
• Le Roy d'Ys. The most popular crêperie in Le Mans. 
• Les Pieds dans le Plat. 
• Le Bistrot. 
• Atrium. The most popular Italian restaurant in Le Mans. 

High prices

• Le Grenier à sel. 

Where stay

Moderate prices

The area around the circuit is full of campsites (la Houx and la Maison Blanche) which are very crowded during the races. ", so the last thing you can do is sleep. But if you are in Le Mans for the 24 hours, you are definitely not there to sleep.

• Campsite du vieux moulin (7 km north of the city). Quieter than the others thanks to its somewhat more secluded location. 

High prices

Business hotel they can be found at the station exit (south exit), or in the street after the north exit. Luxurious hotels in the city center are theConcorde Hotel, on Avenue du General Leclerc, not very far from the station, or theMercure hotel on Rue Chanzy. If you visit the city during the competition period it is important to book well in advance, while if you visit the city in another period there should be no problem finding accommodation.

• Arbor hotel (positioned directly on the circuit). Unfortunately, it is necessary to book years in advance. 

Safety

Health

A hospital and several clinics are located in the city. Also Healthy South Pole is an important health facility.

How to keep in touch

Keep informed

Information at Office du Tourisme (Tourism center[1]), located in Rue de l'Etoile. 10 minutes walk from the cathedral.

Radio

Frequencies of the main radios French:

Around

Other projects

• Wikipedia contains an entry concerning Le Mans
• Commons contains images or other files on Le Mans

Usable : the article respects the characteristics of a draft but in addition it contains enough information to allow a short visit to the city. Use i correctly listing (the right type in the right sections).