places to go after the race?

[bordseye]

we've allowed for a week pottering round that area of France after the classic finishes so the question is where to go and where to stay. As sailors, we have done the french coast many times so prefer to stay inland. No desire to do large mileages and none to enter big cities or use autoroutes.

So has anyone go a lovely small hotel in the area to recommend, restaurants to go to, interesting sights to see?

[old'uns]

South to the Loire valley....Tours, Blois, Amboise etc
plenty of Chateau's and scenic drives that way
Restaurants you'll find aplenty to suit all pockets

[RL17]

The Loire valley from Angers, Tours, Blois to Orleans is just to the south of Sarthe. The Loir (tributary) where the Hotel De France town is (La Chartre sur le Loir) and John Wyer had Aston, GT40 & 917 teams in 50s and 60s is only 25kms to 30kms North of the Loire. Loved the drive down to Hotel De France along D304 last year (45kms or so).

Haven't been as far as Loire valley inland but it looks lovely and loads of tours and stuff go there and was on our holiday list before got dogs.

Do fancy going to this near Tours: Chateau Chenonceau (2nd most visited Chateau in France after Versailles).

[leyorkie]

In the Smart or the Lotus?
The Hotel De France should have space after the event and they have information on tours for cars.
What are you in to history, nature, technology (eg Tank museum at Samur)
I’m 40k south of Le Mans there really is so much to do you need to be specific.
Stuart
PS I’ve a smart and had many Lotus cars

[Output Flange]

I can recommend heading the hour or so south to Saumur (I'll be heading there myself while over for the 24).

[zippyprorider]

Samur is nice and the tank museum is brilliant 👍

[Theoutsiders]

Hotel au Normandie in Sees is always good, very popular with locals as well as Le Mansers

We’ll be there Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday night!

[DS240]

Loire valley is generally lovely.

Highly recommend tank museum in Samur. Town is also pleasant.

We stopped in Chinon before heading up to our LM base. Nice little village with castle and had a lovely night sampling plenty of the local goods.

Depends what you’re after, but there are lots of nice places to stop in that area.

[DMN]

Tours as already mentioned is a great place. Its only an hour South from Le Mans. Check out the Irish Bar there, its rather special.

[bordseye]

leyorkie said:

In the Smart or the Lotus?
The Hotel De France should have space after the event and they have information on tours for cars.
What are you in to history, nature, technology (eg Tank museum at Samur)
I’m 40k south of Le Mans there really is so much to do you need to be specific.
Stuart
PS I’ve a smart and had many Lotus cars

Thanks. I'd forgotten that the p[rofile listed cars. The Lotus has gone after 7 good years to be replaced by a Ferrari and then an F type which is what we will be going in. The Smart - wonderful little things arent they. We still have that after 11 years and at 36k miles its been totally reliable. Have you done asnything to imporve its one weak point, the gearbox?

[leyorkie]

Only had a re-map to speed the changes up.
So what you going to do after the meeting? lots to see and do

[bordseye]

SWMBO away on her travels at the moment ( central america this time) so I shall use the next couple of weeks to try and work out where to go.

Who did the remap of the box?

[leyorkie]

Many years ago 2005 at Smarts R us who are now out of business but there are lots around.
Apparently they are set up with a delay which can be fine tuned.
Check out the various Smart forums

[bennno]

bordseye said:

we've allowed for a week pottering round that area of France after the classic finishes so the question is where to go and where to stay. As sailors, we have done the french coast many times so prefer to stay inland. No desire to do large mileages and none to enter big cities or use autoroutes.

So has anyone go a lovely small hotel in the area to recommend, restaurants to go to, interesting sights to see?

v

Chinese was ok on the main straight on the Sunday night after the race last year, we have also visited a nice hotel with a pool in Dinan (think its a Mercure).

[Miss Kitty]

A good place to explore after attending the race meetings at Le Mans, is a 1.5 hr drive south to the Poitou Charentes. See classic car friendly www.cottagesandclassics.com who specialise in self catering cottages, B & B mini breaks and house party style classic car tours for small groups of friends. Prepared scenic routes provided to explore the Charente Maritime, La Rochelle, the chic Il de Re; Atlantic beaches, Bordeaux & the Medoc and the Dordogne. Not forgetting those world famous Maisons du Cognac where you can taste wonderful Cognacs!

[leyorkie]

Rodger (rdjohn on PH) has a place just south of Saumur
http://www.la-charpenterie.co.uk/
Parking and lots of places to visit

Edited by leyorkie on Monday 19th February 15:51