by Janis / 0 comments - Orginally published:19th May 2026
It’s not all about speed and endurance
The final destination on our remarkable French road trip is in the historic city of Le Mans in the Pays de la Loire region of France.
During our EV French road trip, we kept to the back roads of France as much as possible. After rolling off Le Shuttle at Calais, we visited the delightful medieval towns of Provins in Île-de-France and Semur-en-Auxois in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté. We explored Sisteron, located in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, then visited Antibes and Sète on the Mediterranean coast, and also took in a little detour to the walled city of Aigues-Mortes.
While in the South of France, we squeezed in a stay at one of our favourite places in Provence, Saint-Remy-de-Provence. From here, we headed off on a mini road trip to experience seven more Provence towns and villages.
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After visiting the UNESCO city of Albi and the charming town of Bergerac, we continue our journey north through France. We stopped at the poignant memorial village of Oradour-sur-Glane, spent one night in Poitiers, then onward to our final location of Le Mans, before heading back to Blighty.
Did you catch our inspiration for this French road trip?
Where is Le Mans?
How to get to Le Mans
- By Car
Departing from the UK to France, there are various options. You can either jump on Le Shuttle and arrive in Calais in 35 minutes or enjoy a leisurely cruise on the open waves with Brittany Ferries, DFDS or P&O.
- By Air
If you’re flying into France, search for flights to Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) or Orly (ORY) for the best choice of routes and prices, then continue to Le Mans by high-speed train in around 1.5 hours. Alternatively, Tours airport (TUF) is closer but has fewer connections, with onward travel by train or car.
Stay informed
You will find us across many forms of social media. You will find our latest posts, some throwbacks, links to historic events with our 'On this day' posts, across Facebook, X, Bluesky & Threads. Each week, themed visual content on Instagram, and our narrated travels on YouTube. Collections of the images in our posts are also collated into boards on Pinterest.
Brief history of Le Mans
The Romans left their markLe Mans may ring a bell with you due to its world-famous 24-hour car race, but this beautiful town’s story goes way further back than engines and speed. It actually started life in Roman times, when it was known as Vindinum. The Romans left a lasting mark here, most notably the impressive city walls, parts of which still stand today. They’re some of the best-preserved Roman walls in France, and they give you a real sense of just how important Le Mans once was.
Tower amongst the historic walls
Steep cobbled lane in Le Mans
After the fall of the Roman Empire, Le Mans remained a regional stronghold throughout the early Middle Ages. It became closely tied to the Counts of Maine, and later got swept up in the power struggles between the Plantagenets and the French crown. In fact, Geoffrey Plantagenet, the father of Henry II of England, was born here, linking Le Mans directly to English royal history. During this time, the town’s old quarter (now called Cité Plantagenêt) began to take shape, with its stunning narrow streets and timber-framed houses.
Rue de la Reine Bérengère
A maze of pretty streets
Religion also played a big role in shaping the town. The Le Mans Cathedral (Saint-Julien) is a standout, built over several centuries and blending Romanesque and Gothic styles. It’s known for its stunning stained glass and unusual design, with a massive choir that feels almost oversized compared to the nave. The town grew around it, and for centuries the cathedral was at the heart of local life.
“Ville du Mans” coat-of-arms
Fast forward to more modern times, and Le Mans became synonymous with motorsport thanks to the 24 Hours of Le Mans race, first held in 1923. That event really put the town on the global map, attracting visitors from all over the world each year, including my husband Gary, who spent many a day and night becoming intoxicated by the smell of burning rubber, petrol fumes, and, of course, the local French beer.
Collégiale Saint-Pierre-la-Cour
But beyond the racetrack, Le Mans has managed to hang onto its layered history; you can still wander from Roman ruins to medieval streets to modern cafés in just a short walk, which is part of what makes it such an interesting place to visit.
There are so many incredible places to discover in France, so many regions, and I love planning road trips. I often use the DK Guides,
I find them extremely informative, easy to follow and the pictures and maps tempt you into searching for more
Exploring the Plantagenet City of Le Mans
Awash with medieval charmLe Mans’ Old Town, known as Cité Plantagenêt, has around twenty hectares of cobbled streets. It feels like one of those places that somehow slipped through time almost untouched. It’s perched on a gentle hill above the modern city, wrapped in remarkably well-preserved Roman walls that date back to the 3rd century.
Cobbled lanes of Le Mans
Timber-framed home on Grand Rue
These Roman walls are a bit of a showstopper on their own, with their alternating layers of stone and reddish brick forming geometric patterns that still look striking today. Walking alongside them, you get that rare sense of just how long this place has been lived in.
Tour de Vivier
Once you step inside the historic city, it becomes a maze of cobbled streets, half-timbered houses, and little squares that seem designed for wandering rather than navigating. The buildings lean slightly with age, painted in soft pastels or deep earthy tones, and many date from the medieval and Renaissance periods.
Rue du Pilier Rouge
This time, a green pillar
Le Mans is the kind of place where you keep spotting small details, carved wooden beams, wrought-iron signs, hidden courtyards, that make you slow down without even realising it. Particularly keep a lookout for Rue du Pilier Rouge at the corner of Grand Rue. On the edge of the stunning timber-framed house is a carved red pillar, and diagonally opposite is another building with a green pillar. These pillars were apparently used as markers to find your way around the Old Town prior to street names.
French Tourist Information
If you’re tempted to tour France and discover all the delightful things it has to offer, take a peek at the official French Tourism website. The local tourist offices dotted around towns and cities provide some extremely useful information and handy pointers for around each region.
Further discovery of Old Town of Le Mans
Strolling in the footsteps of historyThere are so many attractive lanes to explore in Old Town Le Mans; we weave our way from one picturesque lane to another, criss-crossing through cobblestoned alleyways, trying not to get lost as we go.
Escalier de La Grande Poterne
One particular Rue to seek out is Rue Saint-Pavin-la-Cité, just off Rue du Bouquet. La Maison suspendue (or “hanging house”) is a must-see; the tiny 16th century timber-framed room hangs high above. A little teddy can be seen sitting in the window.
Rue Saint-Pavin la Cité
Teddy in the window
Another historical landmark to spot is Maison d'Adam & Eve along Grande Rue. This Renaissance house was built in 1528 by Jehan de L'Espine, the doctor of Queen Margaret of Navarre, widow of Richard the Lionheart. The house owes its name to the bas-relief on its façade; however, the figures are more likely to be Ariane and Bacchus.
Maison d'Adam & Eve
Doorway to Maison d'Adam & Eve
What’s especially lovely about the ancient streets of Le Mans is that it doesn’t feel overly polished or touristy. People still live here, cafés spill out into the streets, and in the evening the place takes on a warm, golden glow. It’s one of those Old Towns that feels both quietly grand and genuinely lived-in at the same time.
Unusual nighttime faces
Projection on a tree
If you happen to visit in summer, there’s even a light show that projects scenes onto the local buildings, bringing the history to life in a really atmospheric way. Also, after dark, throughout most of the year, you’ll spot faces projected across unusual objects, even trees.
Cathedral of Saint Julian of Le Mans
A perfect blend of Romanesque and GothicThe Cathedral of Saint Julian in Le Mans is one of those places that quietly sneaks up on you. From the outside, it already feels impressive, this mix of Romanesque and Gothic architecture stacked together over centuries, but once you step inside, it really opens up.
Cathedral of Saint Julian in Le Mans
The nave has that heavier, older Romanesque feel, while the choir at the back suddenly becomes light and soaring, with these incredible flying buttresses and huge stained-glass windows. It’s like walking through two different eras of medieval design in one go.
Nave of Le Mans Cathedral
Chapel of the Virgin Mary
What really remained with us was the stained glass, some of which dates back to the 12th century, and the colours are still amazingly rich. When the light comes through, it gives the whole space a calm and serene atmosphere. Le Mans Cathedral is also much less crowded than other renowned cathedrals, so you can actually take your time and soak it in.
Stunning stained-glass window
The Cathedral of Saint Julian in Le Mans has a set of traditional French church bells that ring out across the old town, especially marking the hours and major religious events. Like many historic cathedrals, its bells have been recast and restored over centuries, giving them a deep, layered tone that really adds to the atmosphere of the place. The six bells are named Julien, Marie, Gervaise, Protaise, Liboire, and Aldrique.
Visiting the 24-Hour Le Mans
Memories to last a lifetimeAs I mentioned earlier, Gary has visited the 24 Heures du Mans on six occasions. He has always returned with incredible stories about the endurance event and even funnier tales of the escapades that have taken place off the racetrack. Gary explains a little further in his post on ’My love of France’.
Marcos Sports Car
It sounds terrific fun, and if you love motor racing, the smell of burning rubber, admiring high-performance and classic cars or just embracing the welcoming French atmosphere, then this annual event is for you.
Our Polestar 2 on the the Le Mans race circuit
However, now every time we go near Le Mans or even an historic motor-racing circuit around the world, we have to visit and take a photo. To say that Gary is a bit of a ‘petrolhead’ is an understatement. Although, if you’re avid followers of ours, you’ll know we’ve turned to the dark-side and now our road trips are undertaken in our Polestar 2 EV. Check out Inspiration to visit the lovely region of Normandy, Our 2,000 mile plus French road trip in an EV, Further inspiration to explore France in an EV and Planning a French road trip with an EV.
Crit'Air vignette required for driving in France
If you’re heading to France from the UK with your own vehicle, you’ll need a Crit’Air ‘clean air’ car sticker.
Just like our low-emission zones in the UK, France now legally requires the display of a Crit’Air vignette. The good news is, these stickers are readily available and affordable online through the official French government website.
The Crit’Air sticker lasts the lifetime of the vehicle, so it’s a one-off purchase. The RAC website offers an in-depth guide to everything you need to know and your requirements.
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