St. Saturnin - best way of getting there?

[ccr32]

As per the subject line really - looking to head over to St. Saturnin for the British Welcome for the first time this year, but being on the opposite side of Le Mans to the circuit, was wondering what the best way of getting there would be by car?

Not really interested in pubelic transport as would like to get the car down there, though I'm open to your thoughts!

We'd be coming from the TL campsite at Tetre Rouge, so have easy access to the D323 going east (via the underpass at Tetre Rouge and the little steep hill next to the Tetre Rouge bar) if all the roads are shut, which I guess they won't be anyway on the Friday...

Thanks.

[//j17]

Roads should all be open Friday as practice/qualifying completed Thursday night and roads not closed for race until Saturday morning.

Given that I'd take the tunnel, cross the tram tracks and up the little hill then follow the road in to Le Mans, past the Carrefour. At the inner ring road hock a left on the the D338 and follow it all the way around to the North. You then need to stay on the D338, though 'straight ahead' will actually be the next part of the ring road (D313). At a guess it will be signposted for the A28/Alencon.

Follow this road, under the A11 till you get to a roundabout. St Saturnin is straight on, almost everything else (D338/A28) is right.

From this point there should be signs but failing that 2nd left.

[ellroy]

Been a couple of years, setting off from Houx, and always driven there. Not to hard to find and plenty of parking.

[lowdrag]

With all respect to //j17, if you come out by the Tertre Rouge bar and turn left up the hill, you are then on the wrong side of the dual carriageway and heading for Paris! You can't turn left there. No, as you arrive at Tertre Rouge turn right before the bridge, the bar and the Mulsanne and follow the Mulsanne straight to the first roundabout (building like a flying saucer on the right) and turn back on yourself, arriving at Tertre Rouge going towards Le Mans. Follow this road into town past Carrefour and Mcdonalds to a roundabout (carpet shop called St. Maclou on the right). Here you turn left and follow the inner ring road until you see a sign for Alencon. Exit the ring road there and follow the signs for Alencon. You'll arrive at a big roundabout just after Auchan supermarket and you want the 3rd exit marked Alencon. Now be careful, since a bit further on there is a newish roundabout and you want to keep in the left lane to go to St. Saturnin, not take the new ring road around it. Hope that's clear enough.

[ccr32]

Thanks for the pointers - I'll have a look on a couple of maps in a bit and let you know if I forsee any problems

[//j17]

lowdrag said:

With all respect to //j17, if you come out by the Tertre Rouge bar and turn left up the hill, you are then on the wrong side of the dual carriageway and heading for Paris! You can't turn left there. No, as you arrive at Tertre Rouge turn right before the bridge, the bar and the Mulsanne and follow the Mulsanne straight to the first roundabout (building like a flying saucer on the right) and turn back on yourself, arriving at Tertre Rouge going towards Le Mans. Follow this road into town past Carrefour and Mcdonalds to a roundabout (carpet shop called St. Maclou on the right). Here you turn left and follow the inner ring road until you see a sign for Alencon. Exit the ring road there and follow the signs for Alencon. You'll arrive at a big roundabout just after Auchan supermarket and you want the 3rd exit marked Alencon. Now be careful, since a bit further on there is a newish roundabout and you want to keep in the left lane to go to St. Saturnin, not take the new ring road around it. Hope that's clear enough.

Hey, I only get to see it once a year.

Thinking about it our route isn't up the steep slope but carry on to the end of Chemin aux Boeufs, hairpin left on to the road back in to town, to Centre Sud.

[ccr32]

//j17 said:

lowdrag said:

With all respect to //j17, if you come out by the Tertre Rouge bar and turn left up the hill, you are then on the wrong side of the dual carriageway and heading for Paris! You can't turn left there. No, as you arrive at Tertre Rouge turn right before the bridge, the bar and the Mulsanne and follow the Mulsanne straight to the first roundabout (building like a flying saucer on the right) and turn back on yourself, arriving at Tertre Rouge going towards Le Mans. Follow this road into town past Carrefour and Mcdonalds to a roundabout (carpet shop called St. Maclou on the right). Here you turn left and follow the inner ring road until you see a sign for Alencon. Exit the ring road there and follow the signs for Alencon. You'll arrive at a big roundabout just after Auchan supermarket and you want the 3rd exit marked Alencon. Now be careful, since a bit further on there is a newish roundabout and you want to keep in the left lane to go to St. Saturnin, not take the new ring road around it. Hope that's clear enough.

Hey, I only get to see it once a year.

Thinking about it our route isn't up the steep slope but carry on to the end of Chemin aux Boeufs, hairpin left on to the road back in to town, to Centre Sud.

I know where you mean j17, that's the way I would go into town too while the racing is on and the roads are closed, or up the steep hill, down one junction on the autoroute and then double-back on yourself.

Have got the following route planned in google maps which I believe is the way you suggested lowdrag?
Clicky here

[lowdrag]

Give that man a coconut! Got it in one sir. There are many routes of course, but that is the simplest from Tertre Rouge I reckon. J17, not offence intended but then I do get to see it more than once a year

[Tyre Smoke]

So, driving from Houx, how long is it likely to take/how long should we allow?

[stillgrinning]

Just to add a little tangental confusion to this topic - does anyone (Lowdrag ?) know how to get out of St S without sitting in that horrid traffic jam back to the roundabout ?

[lowdrag]

To Tyresmoke, it really depends on what time you are planning to go there. Around 9am not much traffic, but by 11am the journey will take probably at least 30 mins longer.

To Stillgrinning, yes, there is another route but it isn't that simple. You turn left after the big roundabout at Auchan and after you have gone under the autoroute. I suggest you look at Google Earth to work it out. Basically it is Rue des Guinaudieres and then right on the Rue de l'Eglise and you'll end up at the display from the other direction to usual - i.e the other side of the railway bridge. As long as they don't decide to make it one way against you that is

[Tyre Smoke]

So, if we want to get there around 10/1030, allowing for Friday Le Mans traffic. What do you think?

[lowdrag]

Allow for one hour maximum. It could be as little as 20 minutes since you are going against the traffic flow, but then it could be longer if loads of people take the decision to come early. Please remember that Le Mans is usually a town of 150,000 souls and during race week that goes up to 400,000. No road system can cope with that with ease.

[Tyre Smoke]

Thanks Tony!

Been for the last 5 years but never made this. Will have to make the effort this year.

[carse]

stillgrinning said:

Just to add a little tangental confusion to this topic - does anyone (Lowdrag ?) know how to get out of St S without sitting in that horrid traffic jam back to the roundabout ?

Could head to Neuville-Sur-Sarthe then back into Le Mans via Coulaines sort of direction?