Visiting the Sarthe

 

The Sarthe region is well know for ‘Le Mans 24 hours’, but it has so much more to offer than speed and cars.

The museum dedicated to Le Mans's famous race is worth a visit, to find out all out the history of the race and the evolution of the cars that have taken part in it.

 

The impressive town centre of Le Mans  features magnificent mansions and is circled by a remarkable 3rd century Roman wall, the best preserved in Europe.

Le Mans is surrounded by heritage like manors and châteaux, many of which are privately owned like the impressive Château at Le Lude. There are alos lots of arts and crafts activities, such as the astonishing pottery museum at Malicorne. You can learn about the history and look at the exhibits from traditional to contemporary or create your own master pieces! Elsewhere in the region, you can literally watch glass expanding before your eyes at the glass blower’s workshop in Poncé-sur-le-Loir.

 

Water is important in the region. The river Sarthe, which gives its name to the region, flows through a myriad of landscapes, including steep hills covered with Alpine plant life, hedgerows, dense forests and past many peaceful country villages. Places to visit are the Solesmes Abbey, famous for its Gregorian chants and Sablé-sur-Sarthe dominated by its château. The Loir river runs through picturesque countryside perfect for cycling , the villages nearby enjoy a particularly rich and varied architectural heritage.

There are some fantastic lakes, which are also definitely worth a visit. The lake at Marçon offers lots of leisure activities. You can choose from mini-golf, pedaloes, tennis, sailing, rock climbing and archery.

The wines from the Loir valley remain relatively undiscovered like the delicious white wine called “Jasnières”. Perfect for a picnic by the picturesque lake at Marçon, the Côteaux du Loir wines are definitely worth trying. To accompany them try the local speciality ‘rillettes’, a shredded pork pâté.

 

The Sarthe region’s microclimate makes it a great place for golf . There are at least four major clubs including the excellent course at Sablé-Solemnes. This 27-hole course is set in 350 acres of grounds and, for beginners, there is a 9-hole teaching course.

 

> Sarthe Tourist Office