Along the water

Through its history and pretigious architectural heritage, Le Mans is a town to visit at the first opportunity. You must take the time to wander through the picturesque narrow streets of the medieval district, to sit for a while in a pavement café or to join in one of its festivals to fully appreciate its beauty and life style. www.tourisme.sarthe.com

The "Sunset Boulevard" of winners Engraved in bronze, the handprints and footprints of winning drivers in the Le Mans 24 Hour Race are set into the ground of Le Manstown centre. From La Republique to Etoile Jacobins, the town makes itself seem a little like a cross between La Croisette in Cannes and Sunset Boulevard. The Le Mans 24 Hour Race A legendary compétition, the Le Mans 24 Hour race gave motorised sports their credentials. From April to October, the best car, motocycle and lorry drivers successively face each other on the circuit for your delight and entertainment. The fame of the race has made Le Mans the emblematic capital of motor sport. Adjoining the circuit, the Sarthe Musée Automobile traces more than a century of automobile history through a prestigious collection of historic cars. It pays tribute to Ferrari, Porsche, jaguar, Matra, Bentley and other legendary racing cars that have won the event. A very moving experience for young and old. The world shop window for vintage cars, Le Mans Classic meets every two years on the Le Mans circuit, attracting different generations of cars from 1923 to 1978. From the very first the "Le Mans Classic" was described as "Best Event" of the year by the British magazine "Classic and Sportscar" and was awarded the Special Jury Prize at the International Automobile Festival. So a Classic itself. www.tourisme.sarthe.com www.aco.org