I arrived in Le Mans with very little knowledge about what was there, just knowing that there was a motor race that went on nearby at some stage during the year. It transpired that the real highlight for me was wandering through the remarkable Plantagenet City which is something of a survivor. This beautifully preserved medieval quarter is a maze of cobbled streets, half timbered houses, grand stone buildings and quiet squares, all enclosed by one of the finest collections of historic architecture in France. It’s of a decadence that I hadn’t anticipated and it was surprisingly quiet when I walked around, although it was very hot.
The district takes its name from the Plantagenet dynasty, which has strong links with Le Mans through Geoffrey Plantagenet, Count of Anjou, who married Matilda, daughter of King Henry I of England. Their son became Henry II of England, founding the Plantagenet royal house that ruled England for more than three centuries. Although the medieval streets predate the dynasty itself, the name reflects the city’s important place in the family’s history and its close historical connections with England.
Today, the Plantagenet City is one of the best preserved medieval centres in France, so this was something of a treat to meander around shortly after I arrived in Le Mans. Although I did have to sit in the cathedral, although more on which in another post, for nearly an hour to cool down. Medieval architecture is all very well, but when the temperature starts climbing into the mid-thirties, even my enthusiasm for wandering has its limits.
Anyway, just lots of photos below.
