De captivants à banals, les articles et photographies de “The Baguette” sont une tentative de publier un journal de ma vie dans la Manche et de proposer un forum de discussion pour tout ce qui touche à la Normandie.
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The origins of the château date back to the 10th century when it was first situated on the border of Anjou on the banks of the river Loir. It was used as a stronghold to protect the region against attacks from the Normans. Until the 15th century, it was...
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L’abbaye de la Piété Dieu de l’Épau was founded in 1229 by Queen Bérengère of Navarre, widow of Richard the Lionhearted and Dowager Countess of Maine (who also lived in the heart of old Le Mans—Cité Plantagenêt). It is one of the last Cistercian establishments...
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Another great way to get around Le Mans is to use their ultra-modern light rail service, which takes you to stops on either end of the city. It’s not expensive and it is certainly worth trying if you are heading somewhere in the suburbs. I chose to visit...
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Throughout the year, the Maison de l’Eau presents to the public large aquariums with fish from the local Huisne and Sarthe rivers. The ecosystem includes trout, bream and barbel. This old water mill built in 1906, also allows visitors to browse the history...
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The Saint-Nicolas quarter is actually the city center of Le Mans. It is devoted to pedestrian shops and as of 2008, no vehicles are allowed on the streets. La Place de la Republique is the center of the neighborhood and the main rallying point for the...
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This church, now in the center of the Le Mans, was originally the abbey church of the monastery of St-Pierre-de-la-Couture. It was built by Bertrand, a bishop from the 6th century. The façade of the building is from the 13th century as is the impressive...
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Le Musée de Tessé is the Museum of Fine Arts in Le Mans. It offers numerous guided tours on various themes and is located just inside Tessé Park. The building is a former bishop’s palace, itself built on the site of the former mansion of Maréchal de Tessé....
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Église Saint-Benoît has an ancient foundation built in the 12th century. The original church was damaged by fire in 1367. It was extended in 1473 by Charles d’Anjou, count of Maine and renovated in the 16th century—a new nave was constructed, the south...
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A great way to visit Le Mans is to take a leisurely walk through the old town, along its narrow streets and river embankments. I started my walk at the foot of the cathedral steps at the Place du Jet d’Eau where there sits a marvellous fountain from 1853....
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I took so many photos during my vacation that there is no way to post all of them at once. Instead, I will create short articles about the things I saw on my visits dans les Pays de la Loire in the upcoming weeks. I hope you will bear with me and check...
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