Breakfast stop between Caen and Le Mans.

[Jonsie]

We're on the overnight ferry Pompey Caen Tuesday and looking for a pit stop on the way down to Le Mans. Anyone know of a decent place? Thanks!

[nic smith]

Falaise? It's a quick turn off the péage. Don't know of a place though.

[blueST]

Bagnoles de l'Orne is nice.

[MrC986]

Jonsie said:

We're on the overnight ferry Pompey Caen Tuesday and looking for a pit stop on the way down to Le Mans. Anyone know of a decent place? Thanks!

I'll come back to you on this, though we always take the non-autoroute way there/back!

[The Leaper]

The concept of breakfast does not really exist in France as it does in the Uk, so you will be pushed to find a suitable place. There are more lunch focused.

There's McDonald's of course. The Buffalo Grill is a nationwide chain and a Google of these will get you their locations. There's a Buffalo Grill on the northern outskirts of Alencon that opens at 11:30 so you could do a brunch thing . I can vouch for this BG as I have been based in Alencon for Le Mans in the past on several occasions (Falaise for that matter too).

R.

[blueST]

The Leaper said:

The concept of breakfast does not really exist in France as it does in the Uk, so you will be pushed to find a suitable place. There are more lunch focused.

There's McDonald's of course. The Buffalo Grill is a nationwide chain and a Google of these will get you their locations. There's a Buffalo Grill on the northern outskirts of Alencon that opens at 11:30 so you could do a brunch thing . I can vouch for this BG as I have been based in Alencon for Le Mans in the past on several occasions (Falaise for that matter too).

R.

That's a good point, most places doing petit dejeuner will be offering croissant and coffee, not sausage, bacon and egg on bap.

[LFB531]

As an option, try heading due South on the A84 towards Rennes. Villedieu is just off, about an hour from Caen, a properly nice classic Normandy town with a real 'High Street', plenty of road parking and loads of cafes.

Going in, you'll pass a great big Casino hypermarket with fuel just in case supermarket shopping in advance is needed.

From there head a bit further down the A84 then clear off South East cross country towards LM. Nice run, only a couple of hours from there and a small bit of toll motorway as you approach LM from the West.

[PoleDriver]

I usually take that route and end up having "breakfast" at the Stella bar!

[Oldwolf]

I always have breakfast on the ferry and then beer / wine / port at the campsite :-)

[cja]

My breakfast stop of choice is Alencon - usually at one of the hotels - as has been said, breakfast in France doesn't seem to be the staple is, over here.

Ibis or Campanile are usually fine, and you can rock up and pay.

Assuming you are off your boat about 7am, you could be at the Campanile just north of Alencon about 8.15ish.

Have a great trip!

[Tyre Smoke]

Caen to Le Mans even towing a caravan is only a little over two hours. Why not get a light bite on the boat and then brunch at Carrefour or in Le Mans itself?

[The Leaper]

Just for the record, there's always been a trailer based café set up in Parking Bleu for the duration of Le Mans which is owned and managed by a British family. Needles to say, they do excellent (for France!) full English breakfasts. It is usually set up opposite or near the circuit entrance down at Parking Bleu.

R.

[lowdrag]

Listen carefully. Take the route south from Caen to Falaise and turn right to Putange Pont Ecrepin. In the centre is a lovely little hotel called Le Lion Verd. Stop there by the river. Then carry on via Ranes down to Pré-en Pail, Villaines and St Saturnin. You won't find a better route free of the BiB with so many bars and restaurants and people waving. I've been recommending and using this route for 30 years and it never palls.