Mayenne Brochure

7/31/2019 Mayenne Brochure

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ENGLISH BROCHURE

Mayenne :France like in books

L I V E T H E L I F E :HISTORY, NATURE, TRADITION, EVENTS,

SPORTS & LEISURE ETC.

Naturallyamazing

The official website of the Comit dpartemental du tourisme


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Whoever you are and whatever your expectations, youll never be disappointed with Mayenne.

Nature in all its glory, history at its most splendid, sport at its most energetic and ood at its mostmouth-watering. On your own or with amily or riends, youre sure to fnd what youre looking or.And you wont have ar to travel either, as Mayenne is little more than an hours drive rom some othe Channel ports and easily accessible by plane.

Forget the stress o everyday lie, leave the crowds behind and discover a dierent way o lie. Walkin the clean air, watch a circling buzzard, meet local people who are always ready with a cheerulBonjour and meaning it!

Ive been lucky enough to live here for six years now and Ive not even begun to scratch the

surface of what the place has to offer. Mayenne, naturally amazing. Im sure youll enjoy it!

Mick Austin, journalist.

editorial

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AmpoigneAmpoign

St-Quentin-les-AngesSt-Quentin-les-Anges

CharchigneCharchign

Le RibayLe Ribay

St-Thomas-de-CourceriersSt-Thomas-de-Courceriers

AvertonAverton

Parign-sur-Braye

Parign-sur-Braye

MralMral

St-Loupdu-DoratSt-Loupdu-Dorat

La CroixilleLa Croixille

Isidnturl mRivers, lakes and wonderul wildlie ......................... p.4-5

Pcul mParks and gardens to stun the senses ...................... p.6Colourul mPerume-lled fower villages and towns .................. p.7

Historic mRoman ruins and medieval jousting ........................... p.8-9

Uxpctd mAlley o the Giants, underground cavesand private chteau ................................................... p.10-11Tst mLocal produce to get the tastebudsworking overtime ........................................................ p.12Cos mTop-quality hotels and restaurantsor a stay to remember .............................................. p.13

Dic mSports and walks to set the pulse racing ................... p.14-15not to b issd mDiary dates to celebrate lie and living ....................... p.16mrktplc mStreet stalls with Camemberts to caulis,urry toys to urniture ................................................. p.17Prcticl mOpening hours, emergency numbersand handy translations .............................................. p.18

accssibl mEasy to get to by car, erry, train and plane ................ p.19

Cider arm

Museum/Exhibition Centre

Gallo-Roman site

Mill open to visitors

Chteau/Manoropen to visitors

Religious building

Tour o industrial site

Cave open to the public

The Arche animal reuge

Chalet village

Motor home layoverand power point

Campsite

Viewpoint

Star-rated hotel

Yurt

Tree house

Little tourist train

Rail-bike

Trail among the trees

Chivalry show

Bicycle hire

Canoeing-kayaking

Lake/Leisure resort

Park/Garden/Rose garden

Gol/Swin gol

River boating

Horse-riding

Swimming pool/Water leisure park

Disused railway track

Towpath

Accueil Paysanbed and breakast

Clvacances bed and breakas

Bienvenue au Chteaubed and breakast

Gtes de Francebed and breakast

Logis hotel

Tourist oce/Tourist inormation oce

Small Town o Character

Town and Land o art a nd hist

3 or 4 fowersTowns and villages in bloom

This brochure is published by the Comit

dpartemental du tourisme o Mayenne, according toinormation validated on 15/06/09.Tourist inormation mentioned and stories, by thejournalist Mick Austin, are not complete and aredesigned to ensure the global promotion o Mayenne.Practical inormation given is or inormation purposesonly and the validity o the inormation is not theresponsibility o the CDT o Mayenne.

Photo credits: Bruneau photos/CDT53, CDT53, Istock, J.B.Deguara/CDT53, D.Vernier/CG53, CC dErne, Base de loisirsde la Rincerie, J.C. Druais/Le Bocage mayennais, P.Greboval,Herv Morand/CC dErne, J.B. Deguara/Les Covrons,A. Ducatillon, Clment Guillaume/Les Covrons, Logis,CC dEvron, D.Vernier, J.C. Druais/CDT53, Mairie de Laval,Prisma/NDLM, Istock, Fotolia. / Maps: ACTUAL Cartographie.


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RIVERS, LAKESAND WONDERFUL WILDLIFE

Whether youre on oot, ona bike or on horseback,Mayenne awaits you

specially on the 85kms o towpathlongside the river Mayenne.tarting in Mayenne town andunning south to Daon, its one ohe most beautiul public ootpathsn France.

rotected wildlie areas rich in forand auna, pretty lock-keepersottages, gourmet restaurants,ncient water mills and chteau,earby tourist sites and numerous

eisure activities on or close byhe water.

ail at the Lac de Haute Mayenne,anoe in Laval or water-ski nearhteau-Gontier. Or perhaps justgentle stroll and a picnic at the

waters edge. All this and morean be ound around Mayennesvers. Theres the Varenne and

he Colmont, the Oudon and therne and the Erve. But i its a

lake that foats your boat then trythe Lac de Haute Mayenne nearAmbrires-les-Valles in the north,La Rincerie at La Selle Craonnaisein the south-west, Le Gu de Selle,near Mzangers in the east or LaChesnaie at St-Denis-du-Maine inthe south-east.

Spend a ew hours enjoyingyour own company asyou hunt a trout or the

barbecue, or book a week in awood cabin with its eet in thewater at Villiers-Charlemagne.Rent a chalet or a staticcaravan on the bank o a ri ver,or a gte or old mill net toa lake or the perect shingholiday. Pick up the tonnantepche brochure rom a touristoce and the choice is yours.

But the waterways o Mayenne

are not purely or shermen.They are also a haven orpleasure crat. Whether youpreer to take to the water ina pedalo, a yacht, an electricmotor boat or even a cruiser,theres something to suiteveryones budget and the timeavailable in Daon, Chteau-Gontier, Laval or Mayenne.

Why not pick up your owncruiser at Daon and eplorethe river Mayenne and itssurrounding countryside,dropping in on the manyvillages and towns that line theroute. The boats sleep romthree to 12 people and you donteven have to have a licence!Or how about a cruise thatincludes lunch or dinner? Theyare available in Mayenne, Lavaland Chteau-Gontier.

nturl

Wherever you fnd yoursel in Mayenne, you wont be ar rom water. Rivers criss-crosshe countryside like blue veins on a avourite cheese and where theres water therestunning scenery, wonderul wildlie and excitement or all the amily.

With more than 4000kms o rivers available, its no surprise fshing is a passion inMayenne. From pike to perch and carp to crayfsh, the rivers and lakes are ull o them.


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more than 92 per cento its small towns andvillages take part in an

annual national competition infower decoration and 75 o themhave been designated as a townor village in bloom at national orregional level.

Mayenne has been awardedthe Trophe du DpartementFleuri(national Departmentin Bloom trophy) three times- a prize given to only some18 departments in the wholecountry. And there are ve towns

or villages in Mayenne that canproudly boast the our fowerssign awarded totowns and villages in bloom:Chteau-Gontier, Juvign, LaCropte, Saint-Loup-du-Gast andCoudray. Juvign even won aEuropean gold medal in 1999.

Why not ollow the route o theVilles et Villages Fleuris. Its an

original and entertaining way toeplore Mayenne. Superb fowerarrangements adorn parksand gardens, streets, terraces,courtyards and balconies,around ordinary private houses,arms and shops. Flowers areeverywhere, playing a delightulpart in creating a warm welcometo you rom the people oMayenne.

PARKS AND GARDENSTO STUN THE SENSES

PERFUME-FILLED FLOWERVILLAGES AND TOWNS

n Mayenne horticulture is much more than a science. Its gardens - whether they beotanical, historical, landscape, picturesque or kitchen - are each a living work o art.

Flowers and Mayenne. They go together like bread and cheese, or coee and cream.The department is one vast pleasure garden and the reason is quite simple.

L Jrdi d l PllriTel.: +33 (0)2 43 05 93 31www.jardinez.com/lejardindelapellerine/

L Prc du Chtu d l Rogr, Sit-Sulpic. Tel.: +33 (0)2 43 07 71 44.

Ls Jrdis ds Rudis,Colobirs-du-Plssis.Tel.: +33 (0)2 43 08 02 08.Email: [email protected]

L Prc t l Jrdi du Chtu d Clivoy,Chilld.Tel.: +33 (0)6 07 61 10 10.Email: [email protected] L Rosri t l Jrdi divl

d Lssy-ls-Chtux.

Tel.: +33 (0)2 43 04 74 33.Email: [email protected]

L Prc du Chtu d Cro.Tel.: +33 (0)2 43 06 11 02.www.chateaudecraon.com

L Jrdi scrt du Grd Bouly, Dz.Tel.: +33 (0)2 43 91 44 40.www.grandboulay.r

L Prc du moir d Fvry, Prux.Tel.: +33 (0)2 43 90 66 85.

ContactsRare plant species, gardensin both French and Englishstyles, romantic parks and

ose gardens with their bewitchingerumes (300 varieties on 1300ushes at La Roseraie at Lassay-es-Chteau). Whether youre aovice gardener, a seasoned pro or

ust someone looking or a specialay out, Mayenne oers a range otunning visits to gardens bursting

with colour and ragrance, inarmony with the seasons.

With many gardens havingetras like a rural ecomuseum

Les Jardins des Renaudies) andhildrens play areas and animalsLe Jardin de la Pellerine) theresun or all t he amily.


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Laval

historic rt-flld tow with richrit o rchitcturl trsurs liks chtu, side streets lined withmber-ramed houses and historic

foating launderettes called bteau-avoirs. Birthplace o the amousrtist Henri Rousseau (also known asLe Douanier ater his lie as a cus-oms ocer), Laval hosts a museum nave art in his honour. Also home the worlds largest dairy museum,he Lactople.

Jublains

Rbr tht clssic sc roth mot Ptho fl Life of Brianwh soo sks: What did theRomans ever do or us? Well you cannd out at Jublains, the main Gal-lo-Roman site in western France. Itoers a ascinating insight into the an-cient history o the area and its people.Transport yoursel back in time with avisit to the museum, the ortress, thepublic baths, a theatre and a temple.

Chteau-Gontier

Stroll through th uppr tow d thFubourg qurtr, through narrowstreets and tiny squares bordered bymedieval houses and nish with a visitto the Ursuline Convent. Close by is

the unique Reuge de lArche, hometo more than 1500 native and eoticanimals divided into 150 dierentspecies. Its not a zoo, more o aNoahs Ark. Injured, sick, maltreatedor abandoned, all animals are given anew lease o lie at Le Reuge.

Sainte-Suzanne

Willi th Coquror didt los bttls, but h ild isrblwh h trid his luck t ti Sit-Suz, an 11th century strongholdoverlooking the river Erve. Aroundthe tiny cobbled streets its as i time

has stood still. See theatrical groupsperorming animated guided tours andvisit the chteau and its dungeons.Theres also a new interactiveehibition (CIAP) about Mayennes artand history - making the local heritageaccessible to all.

Mayenne

Strddlig th rivr m, thispictursqu tow is doitd bth Bsilic o notr-D d thchtu, the latter a site o natio-nal archaeological interest and thebest-preserved Carolingian buildingin France. A visit to the chteausmuseum is a must. Stroll throughthe old town and visit the Chapel othe Calvairiennes, the remains o anenormous 17th century convent andnow an ehibition hall mainly devotedto contemporary creative arts.

La Fert-Clairbois

Lik xcitt with our histor?Th dot iss L Frt-ClirboisIts rcostructio o 13th ctur built b Gills Rb, a man wia passion or the Middle Ages and wcan oten be seen roaming around i

a knights regalia with a sword in hishand. Visit a blacksmiths orge, stables, medieval gardens and dungeoCross the drawbridge or a joustingtournament and then perhaps rounthings o with a medieval meal.

ROMAN RUINS ANDMEDIEVAL JOUSTING

ContactLvl tourist ofcTel.: +33 (0)2 43 49 46 46www.laval-tourisme.com

Contactmusu o JublisTel.: +33 (0)2 43 04 30 16Email: [email protected]

Contactmy tourist ofcTel.: +33 (0)2 43 04 19 37www.paysdemayenne-tourisme.r

ContactL Frt-Clirboisdoi du chvlir,Sit-SuzTel.: +33 (0)2 43 01 42 15http://erteclairbois.com

ContactChtu-Gotirtourist ofcTel.: +33 (0)2 43 70 42 74www.sud-mayenne.com

ContactSit-Suztourist ofcTel.: +33 (0)2 43 01 43 60www.tourisme.lescoevrons.com


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GrottesdeSaulges

iscovr th gic d spldour o udrgroud world ovr 100,000rs old i two o th 30-plus cvst Sulgs.

rteacts ound in the Margot andocheort caves show man has been

here or 25,000-plus years. Therere stalagmites and stalactites, aroglodyte cave and prehistoric wallaintings and engravings to wondert and above ground theres a amilyature trail and rock climbing.

RobertTatinmuseum

Hv ou vr s usu ith iddl o th coutrsid?Wh ou tr th world oulti-tltd rtist Robrt Ttioull fd gicl plc o gitcolourd sculpturs, pitigs d

rchitctur.Walk through the Alley o the Giantsand the Meditation Garden and be bothinspired and amazed by the mythso every imaginable civilisation. Theinfuences are countless, the siteincomparable!

Cidermuseum

and farms

Driv through th my coutrysidd you ct hlp but otic fld trfld o ppl d pr trs. ad thts cidr lots o it d brdy.

At the cider museum at Melleray-la-Valle or at arms like la Ferme duPressoir or la Ferme du Theil, youlldiscover everything you ever wantedto know about how to make cider, pearbrandy and apple brandy, rom picking

the ruit to bottling the nishedproduct. And then you get to taste it!

ChteaudeCraon

a 18th ctury jwl built ro whitsdsto ro th Loir Vlly. Twostyles o garden surround it, a Frenchone and an English landscape park.Greenhouses supply the chteau withits fowers, theres a vegetable garden,an orchard, a wash house on the riverand an 18th century ice house.

ALLEY OF THE GIANTS, UNDERGROUNDCAVES AND PRIVATE CHTEAUx

ContactGrotts t Cyod Sulgs,Thorig--ChriTel.: +33 (0)2 43 90 51 30www.grottes-de-saulges.com

ContactsTh Cidr musu,mllry-l-VllTel.: +33 (0)2 43 04 71 48Email: [email protected]

L Fr du Prssoir, Cro.Tel.: +33 (0)2 43 06 17 90www.ermedupressoir.com

L Fr du Thil, adouill.Tel.: +33 (0)2 43 69 70 04.Email: [email protected]

ContactChtu d CroTel.: +33 (0)2 43 06 11 02www.chateaudecraon.com

ContactRobrt Tti usu,Coss-l-ViviTel.: +33 (0)2 43 98 80 89www.musee-robert-tatin.r

Lassay-les-Chteaux

Thr r thr chtux hr butoly o is still itct, with its ssivtowrs d rprts d uriturd wpory ro th priod. One ojust seven Petites cits de caractrein Mayenne, the streets are heavy withperume in summer especially romthe Rose Garden with its 300 varieties.

ContactLssy tourist ofcTel.: +33 (0)2 43 04 74 33http://lassay.typepad.com

ChteaudeBourgon

Situtd w kilotrs roth Ro tow o Jublis, thismagnicent monument rom the 15thand 16th centuries eatures a French-style garden, ancient kitchen gardenand paintings on wood dating rom1625 that are unique in France.

ContactChtu d Bourgo,motourtirTel.: +33 (0)2 43 02 16 20www.chateaudebourgon.com

Mayenne is the leading department or the number o inhabited chteaux. Some, like Gouand the Manoir St-Christophe are privately-owned and open occasionally. Others like Lassay,Craon and Bourgon can open or much o the year.

enne

ContactsChtu d Gou,Fougrolls-du-PlssisTel.: +33 (0)2 43 05 94 86www.chateau-de-goue.com

moir St-Christoph, L BoissirTel.: +33 (0)2 43 70 16 74www.manosc.com


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LOCAL PRODUCE TO GETTHE TASTEBUDS WORKING OVERTIME

TOP-QUALITY HOTELS AND RESTAURANTSFOR A STAY TO REMEMBER

From haute cuisine in toprestaurants to a value-or-money plat du jour at

roadside eatery, Mayenne hashose ingredients. Ches canrepare locally produced oie grasr llets o trout rom Parn-sur-oc, Boeu ermier du Maine

Maine arm bee), ree range vealnd chickens rom Mayenne orerhaps even the ubiquitous snailsrom Entrammes. River sh suchs pike are also highly soughtter.

airy arming is everywhere and

hats why many cheeses areroduced, including Chausseu Moines, Fol Epi, Rouy andoats cheese. And where theres

milk, theres chocolate, like themouth-watering oerings at

oland Raut in Chteau-Gontierr Monbana in Erne. Also not toe missed is Evrons huge meatestival held over the rst weekendn September.

Cider is an important part o liehere and you can taste and buyat many arms and producers inthe region. Also try apple brandy(called Calvados or Eau de viedu Maine) or Pommeau (anapple aperiti). And did you knowMayenne has its own vineyard?Youll nd it at pretty Saint-Denis-dAnjou, in the south-west corner.

et, drik d b rry!

Logis

As you travel through the peaceulMayenne countryside, pastcharming country houses onyour way to a gourmet meal, whynot try one o the 17 Logis hotel/restaurants, where good ood andriendliness go hand in hand.

Their aim is simple: to providecomort, ecellent ood in theirgastronomic restaurants, goodhospitality and a charming

environment.

They are classied with a gradingsystem o 1, 2 or 3 chemines(replaces) or hotel comort and1, 2 or 3 cocottes (casserole pots)or the type o the restaurant,plus a Table distingue sign orthose mentioned in reerenceguidebooks such as Michelin.

Bon apptit!

Contact: www.logis-de-rance.r

Gts d Frc

Dierent kinds o accommodationare available rom gte rural

(generally a traditional housein the countryside) to bed andbreakast, but all with the sameaim: authenticity, riendliness,peace and quiet and nearby placesto discover.Contact: www.gites-de-rance-mayenne.com

In addition, Mayenne oers otherrated establishments (AccueilPaysan, Bienvenue au Chteau anClvacances bed and breakastsetc.) and other options like hotels,chalets, campsites and motor

home layover areas, themedholiday villages (shing, gardeningetc.) and houseboats.

Bookyourholiday

online:

Any che worth his salt knows that or a frst-class meal you need frst-classngredients. In Mayenne its difcult to boast o dishes typical o the region because

here, where local produce is so good, anything is possible.

Mayenne may be small in size but the welcome is big and warming, with a wealth opleasant surprises or the discerning traveller. And nowhere more so than where yousee the Logis or Gtes de France signs.


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SPORTS TO SETTHE PULSE RACING

ON FOOT. ON TWO WHEELS.ON FOUR LEGS.

h Lvl gol club is out o its ow uit litrll!

he only course in the departmenters players o all levels two top-uality courses (one 18 holes and onene) over 200 gently rolling acres on

he banks o the river Mayenne.

ust ten minutes rom Laval, the clubas everything on site including ariving range, putting green, pro shopnd restaurant.

m frst-tirs to mr zd b this sir, orccssibl il ltrtiv to gol.

Its cheaper (one three-aced club,a sot ball and one tee), saer (theball doesnt travel so ar) and easier(courses are shorter and the holes arebigger).

There are several courses in Mayenne,including Swin Club Meslay nearSaint-Denis-du-Maine (which regularlyhosts the French championships), atQuelaines-Saint-Gault, Mzangers,Gorron and La Selle Craonnaise.

Fancy a swim, but not just the usual20 lengths and into the showerroutine? Something or the wholeamily, especially i its raining outside?Then try the Jardin Aquatique in Evronor LAquabulle in Laval.

Yes, they have swimming pools, butthey also have slides, saunas and

Jacuzzis - in act everything to get youeeling on top o the world while youhave some un as well. F

rom the ar north at Montdes Avaloirs (at 417 metresthe highest point in western

France) to Daon in the southand the edge o Anjou, i ts aeast or the senses. Incrediblewildlie, jaw-dropping scenery,cosy restaurants and tourist sitesgalore.

Eplore at your own pace thevalleys o the north-east, thewide plains in the south, disused

railway lines (try the rail-bike rideat Saint-Loup-du-Gast) and theabulous river Mayenne towpath(see p4).

Medieval towns like Sainte-Suzanne, pretty churches, mills,fower villages, rivers, lakes andeven the underground caves atSaulges all can be reached romroutes open not just to walkersbut also cyclists and oten thoseon horseback or even in a horse-drawn carriage. A project tocreate 1200kms o bridleways iswell under way and all levels o

eperience are welcome.

The ecellent topo-guide LaMayenne en marche, on sale inmany tourist oces, carries anehausting 59 walks ranging romve to 25kms in length.

Golf Swingolf Swimming

ContactsSwi Club,msly-du-mi.www.swin-club-meslay.com

Swi Club,Qulis-St-GultTel.: +33 (0)2 43 98 33 83.

Bs d loisirs d l Ricri,L Sll Croiswww.la-rincerie.com

Swi Club, GorroTel.: +33 (0)2 43 08 52 93.

Bs d loisirs du Gu d Sll,[email protected]

Contacts

Rblig:CDRP84 avenue Robert Buron, 53300 LavEmail: [email protected] :http://pays-de-la-loire.randonnee.r

Cclig:Coit dprttl d cclisAvenue Pierre-de-Coubertin53300 Laval.Tel.: +33 (0)2 43 56 90 62.Email: [email protected]: www.comitecyclisme53.co

Hors ridig:Coit dprttl du tourisd l m84 avenue Robert Buron, 53300 LavTel.: +33 (0)2 43 53 63 88.Email: j.desne@tourisme-mayenne

ContactGol d Lvl, Chgwww.laval53-gol.com

ContactsJrdi aqutiqu,evrowww.cc-pays-evron.r/jardinaquatique/

Laqubull, Lvlwww.aquabulle.r

enne

Mayenne is a walkers paradise. And with almost 2000 miles o routes, oten circularwalks, open to ramblers its a great chance to get up close and personal with everythingthe department has to oer.

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DIARY DATES TO CELEBRATE LIFE AND LIVINGSTREET STALLS WITH CAMEMBERTS TO CAULIS,FURRY TOYS TO FURNITURE

No matter what time o year, theres always something or everyone going on inMayenne, rom concerts to street art and freworks to estivals.

Everyone loves a bargain, dont they? And the un doesnt have to stop when youreon holiday. Almost every week, especially on summer weekends, bargain-hunterseverywhere are itching to be frst to that handbag, ornament or piece o urniture.

along with the rest o France,Mayenne goes rework crazyon Bastille Day (July 14)

elebrating the French Revolution.lightly quieter but no less popular the Fte de la musique (June 21)

with proessional and amateurtreet musicians perorming aroundhe department. And Les Journesu Patrimoine (third weekend ineptember) celebrates Franceseritage when both private and public

museums, chteaux etc open theiroors or ree.

Mayennedates

foryourdiarypril-Ju

Lvl Virtul, april. Europes No1virtual reality exhibition.www.laval-virtual.orgFstivl ds atlirs Jzz, msly-du-mi, my. Discover the work olocal jazz students, plus national andinternational artists.Tel.: +33 (0)2 43 64 37 45.L Chlibud, Chtu-Gotir, lstwkd i Ju. Theatre, dance andstreet art estival. www.le-carre.org

July-august

Fstivl darts Scrs, evro, rlyJuly. Religious music in beautiulsurroundings.www.estival-arts-sacres.comL Covro, evro r, id-July. Street art and music in a dierentvenue each year.Tel.: +33 (0)2 43 66 32 16.Ls etrlcs, Lssy-ls-Chtux,July 14. Street art and theatre.www.lassay.typepad.comLs Grds Fts mdivls,Sit-Suz, July.Chivalry shows and joustingtournaments.www.sainte-suzanne.com L Ft du Pi, mil (port), thirdwkd i July. Traditional village

party celebrating everything to do withbread. http://menil53.ree.rFstivl ds 3 lphts, Lvl, d oJuly. Huge rock concert.www.les3elephants.comFstivl ds nuits d l my,id-July to id-august. Travellingtheatre show set in historic sites likeJublains. www.nuitsdelamayenne.comLs estivls du Pys d Lvl. Freemusic and entertainment in the Lavalarea. www.laval-tourisme.comLet ds 6 Judis, my. Freenight-time concerts on six consecutiveThursdays.www.paysdemayenne-tourisme.r

Fstivl d l oisso, Buliu-sur-Oudo, frst Sudy i august. Ancientcrats and skills.Tel.: +33 (0)2 43 02 11 40.

Sptbr-Dcbr

Fstivl du bl oir, Juvig, Sptbr. Buckweat threshing andolklore! Tel.: +33 (0)2 43 68 51 54.Ls illuitios d nol, Lvl,d o novbr to rly Jury. Join 300,000 people or the Christmaslights. Boat tours available.www.laval-tourisme.com

Vide-greniers (which literallymeans empty attics but arebetter known as car boot sales)

are as popular here as in England.Brocantes and braderies are similarin many ways but are usually moreor secondhand household goods,bric-a-brac and collectables soldby tradespeople. Troc and pucesare what the English would call feamarkets.

But what many people reallyassociate with France are localmarkets selling everything romCamemberts to caulis, urry toys to

urniture. They are at the heart oevery French town or little villagebut while vide-greniers might go onall day, markets start early in themorning and are usually over bylunchtime.

They are oten held in the centre otown near the church and, generally,the bigger the town the bigger themarket.

Top t rkts

Ambrires-les-Valles (S), Chteau-Gontier (Th), Craon (M), Erne (T),vron (Th), Gorron (W), Lassay-les-Chteau (W), Laval city centre (S),Mayenne (M, S), Villaines-la-Juhel (M).

Top dts or brgi-hutrs

Grd brdri d Lvl . Everylast Sunday in June or rst in July.City centre closed o or hugeclearance sale rom 400-plusshopkeepers.Foir l broct t uxtiquits, Chtu-Gotir.

Secondhand and antiquesmarket in early March every year.Furniture, paintings and old tools.Sit-Dis dajou vid-grir.Every rst Sunday in July.Sit-Suz vid-grir. Every July or August. Plus streetacrobats and jugglers.mrch ux pucs, Villirs-Chrlg. Every rst Sunday inJuly. 200-plus stalls.


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PENING HOURS, EMERGENCYUMBERS AND HANDY TRANSLATIONS

In the north, the D-Dy bchs andthe Byux Tpstry. To the westthe magnicent mot Sit-michl,second only to the Eiel Tower asFrances best-known landmark.Theres Rs, Brittanys capitaland captivating city o art and historyand nts, nicknamed the Veniceo the west and where river meetsocean.Look south and there is the LoirVlly in all its splendour, with riversand gorges, chteaux and vineyards,while to the east lies the Plantagenecity o L ms and its amous24-hour car races.

my, truly i th iddl ovrythig!

Many frst-time visitors can become conused over the opening times o shops andestaurants. Theres not the open-all-hours express train service o England, more theaid-back chat at the till charm thats so much part o French lie.

Mayenne. In the middle o nowhere yet also in the middle o everything. Quiet rollingcountryside or that get-away-rom-it-all holiday yet easy access to the Channel ports,low-cost airlines and the best Normandy, Brittany and the Loire have to oer.

Discovr my

By pl: Airports at Angers, Dinard (St Malo), Nantes, Rennes St-Jacques, Tours,Paris Orly and Roissy-Charles de Gaulle.

By bot: From Dover, Newhaven, Portsmouth, Poole, Weymouth, Plymouth andRosslare and Cork (Ireland) to Dunkerque, Calais (including the Channel Tunnel),Boulogne, Dieppe, Le Havre, Ouistreham (Caen), Cherbourg, St Malo and Rosco.

By tri: Eurostar via the tunnel. Paris-Laval, Lille-Laval by high-speed train (TGV).

EASY TO GET TO BY CAR, FERRY,TRAIN AND PLANE

accssibl

Opig hours

can depend on whether youre inlarge town or in the country, butenerally shops open 9-12 and 2-7nd are closed Sundays and oten

Mondays. Lunchtimes are sacrosancto dont be surprised i placeshut between 12-2pm except orars and restaurants o course!estaurants open at night romround 7-10pm.

Many large supermarkets dont closeor lunch, while some bakeries openarly-morning (including Sundays)ut can close or a while in the

ternoon. Banks are generally openam-5pm Monday-Friday.

ergcy ubrs

o guarantee English spoken)

purs-Popirs: 18. Generally therst number to dial ollowing an accident.olic: 17.amU (dicl hlp): 15.urop SOS: 112. Free call rom

mobile, landline or payphone or medical,re and police help.

Usul phrss

Hello/Goodbye. Bonjour/Au revoir.Thank you. Merci.Please! Sil vous plat!My name is Je mappelleEnjoy your meal. Bon apptit.Were looking or a hotel. Nouscherchons un htel.Can you help me? Pouvez-vous maider?How much is it? Cest combien?My car has broken down. Ma voiture esten panne.I dont like it. Je naime pas cela.Im just looking. Je regarde seulement.I am looking or the tourist oce. Jecherche lofce de tourisme.

Coo sigs

Reception. Accueil.Stop. Arrt.Welcome. Bienvenue.Library. Bibliothque.Baker. Boulangerie.Grocery shop. Epicerie.Newsagents. Maison de la presse.Cake shop. Ptisserie.Chemist. Pharmacie.

Rod sigs

Town centre. Centre-ville.Diversion. Dviation.Toll road. Page.Slow down. Ralentissez.Reminder. Rappel.Roundabout. Rond-point.

No entry. Sens interdit.One way. Sens unique.Exit. Sortie.No parking. Stationnement interdit.Give way. Vous navez pas la priorit.


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Coit dprttldu touris d l m84 avenue Robert BuronBP 0325 53003 LAVAL Cede - FranceTl.: +33 (0)2 43 53 18 18Fa: +33 (0)2 43 53 58 82

Email: [email protected]

Naturallyamazing

Bookyourholiday

online:

The official website of the Comit dpartemental du tourisme

Fid ll our tourist iortioo m oli:

Documents

Mayenne Brochure