Places to go from Le Vieux Manoir

Le Vieux Manoir
PLACES TO
VISIT IN THE
PAYS DE LA
LOIRE
While you are here in the Pays de la Loire we hope
that you will find the time to visit and enjoy some of
the lovely places that are the hidden treasures of our
region.
We have tried to capture some lovely places below
that you might like to visit and we have grouped the
places into sections depending on their distance from
Le Vieux Manoir.
Route du Ribay
53250 Le Ham
06 32 06 05 84
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Places to Go from Le Vieux Manoir
Less than 30 minutes away.
Bagnoles de l'Orne – 25 minutes
This is a magnificently chic Spa town set round a
lake with thermal baths where you can take health
treatments or just taste the water.
There is a lakeside casino, leisure facilities, boats and
pedlos, mini golf and a golf course plus a good choice
of restaurants and shops. A land train runs in the summer months which will take you on a tour of the area.
There also pleasant walks through a wooded play area
and a choice of ice cream parlous to relax in afterwards.
The Roc de Chien overlooking the town is a lovely
place to visit with beautiful views all over Bagnoles de
l’Orne.
Sille le Guillaume – 30 minutes
This is a must place to visit with the children.
Lassay les Châteaux – 20 mins
There is a beautiful, safe swimming lake and beach at
Sille Plage within the national forest of Sillé, where
you will find windsurfing, sailing and pedalo
hire. Bicycles can be hired here for the superb trails in
the forest which vary in length and difficulty. There
are plenty of picnic areas to enjoy your lunch or bbq
and also restaurants for those who would prefer to be
waited upon. You can tour the forest and lake on a
small train which takes about 30 minutes or hop
aboard the boat "Silius" for a water tour of the lake
and forest. If you enjoy walking there are several
walks through and around the woods or why not take a
leisurely 2.3mile walk around the lake ending up at
one of the bars for a drink or just a crepe. There's
mini-golf, pony riding, fishing, tennis, sand-ball, nature walks, swimming, VTT (mountain bike) hire and
forest adventure routes or you can just relax in a
pédalo. If there is a few of you, why not try your hand
at kayaking, canoeing or a catamaran. Cafés, bar and
eateries are available all round the site and there is
always ample parking. The main town of Sillé le Guillaume, just a short drive away and has many shops,
restaurants, bars and pizzerias where you can unwind.
Step back in time in this beautiful town which
will capture your heart forever. The town has a fantastic medieval Château (with guided tours) surrounded
by an eerie looking moat.
The town has award winning rose gardens and some
small friendly bars and restaurants in the little windy
streets where you can enjoy a glass of wine in the
summer sun.
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Places to Go from Le Vieux Manoir
Jublains – 25 minutes
This is the most prominent Roman site in the west
of France, and the top of the theatre has panoramic
views over the Evron plains. The town used to be a roman settlement and still visible today are the sites and
ruins of the fort, baths, temple and theatre.
Saint Loup du gast - 20 mins away
A beautiful little village with a velo railway – Great
fun but make sure you have lots of energy to make it
back. The Velo takes you over a lovely viaduct and you
can stop off and have a picnic en route. This Velo is bout
3km long but if you fancy more of a challenge there is
also a Velo at Bagnoles de l’Orne which is around 8km.
Ambrieres-les-Vallées – 25 minutes
Here there is a leisure park with swimming pool,
kayaks, electric boats, tennis, riverside walks, horse riding & cycling
Near to Ambrieres in the small hamlet of La Haie
Traversaine you can windsurf or sail at the sports centre.
St Leonard des Bois and Saint Ceneri le
Gerei (Alpes Mancelles)
These beautiful villages are set in the area named
the Alpes Mancelles.
St Leonard de Bois is set into a lovely Gorge which of-
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Places to Go from Le Vieux Manoir
fers breathtaking views and romantic woodland walks.
For the more adventurous there is Kayak hire and you
can also enjoy pony trekking. There are also a selection
of bars and restaurants which offer magnificent views
over the gorge.
Saint Ceneri is a very pretty village in a lovely wooded
setting on a bend in the River Sarthe in the heart of
southern Normandy. Saint Ceneri is classified as a 'most
beautiful village of France'.
The village is very popular with artists, drawn by the
unspoiled character of the village and several artists have
established galleries and workshops here. The village
has an attractive 11th century Romanesque style church,
with some notable frescoes, and pretty views down the
river valley. There is also a very little 15th century
chapel. There are some lovely little cafes and restaurants
in the village centre.
The cité of Mayenne – 20 minutes
The cité of Mayenne boasts stunning architecture and
magical river views. The beautiful Mayenne river is used
by locals and tourists to fish, swim, kayak, pedlo and
take leisurely boat rides and river walks. The city is
dominated by the Church of Notre Dame which was
founded in the year 1110.
There is a weekly market (Mondays) and open air concerts are held weekly during the Summer. The small
windy streets of Mayenne offer the shopper a number of
chic boutiques and interesting delights.
There are a good selection of restaurants and bars where
you sit and watch the world go by with a large glass of
wine.
La Ferté Macé – 30 minutes
There is a large lake here which has a supervised
swimming area, sandy beach, pedaloes, kayaks, a mini
adventure playground and café bar. This is the perfect
place to spend a sunny afternoon with the children.
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Places to Go from Le Vieux Manoir
Le Belvedere des Avaloirs – 25 minutes
L’etang des Perles – 15 minutes
L’etang des Perles is a lovely picnic and play area just
outside Villaines La Juhel. It has a fishing lake witch is
lovely to walk around and a children’s play area for the
little ones. There are also bbq’s available and seated areas for you to enjoy a lovely lunch. Worth a visit to relax
and enjoy the peace and quiet.
This is the highest point in western France and has a
tower which you can climb to the top of. The views are
spectacular from the top of the tower and worth the stair
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Places to Go from Le Vieux Manoir
climb. The area is surrounded by forest and is lovely for
forest walks. You can take a walk to the rock of wolves
which is found deep within the forest and is a great adventure for the children.
Le Gorges de Villiers – 20 minutes
A beautiful drive through the forest will take you to this
lovely hidden area. Take a gentle walk through past the
caves and down to the stream. Tell your little ones to
look out for the fairies that live in the caves.
Limero Snail Farm—15 minutes
This is situated just off the N12 on the route to Mayenne.
Here you can visit the farm and taste l’escargot.
Entry price in Adult—3€ and Child (over 6) -2€
Bowling Alley in Alencon—35 minutes
Situated in Chemin des Coudrays. 7260 Arconnay.
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Places to Go from Le Vieux Manoir
Less than 1 hour away.
Domfront - 35 mins
This is a beautiful Medieval town situated on a hill
with breathtaking views. It dates back to the 11th Century and has impressive ramparts and towers which you
can walk around. With its narrow streets, its inner courtyards and its half-timbered houses, it is a very pleasant
town to visit.
Indoor Children’s play areas
Le Monde des Petit s Loups (Laval -40mins)
Indoor play area for children up to the age of 12. Great
places to visit on the occasional rainy day.
Laval address - Rue de Bruxelles - Zone des Bozées,
Laval.
Tariff: Age 1-3. 5€ Age 4-10. 8.50€ Adults free
Jimp and Jump (Le Mans-1 hour)
Le Mans address - 3 rue Louis Harel de La Noë, 72 000
le Mans
Tariff: Age 1-3. 5.90€ Age 4-10. 8.80€ Adults free
Fougeres - 55 minutes
This is an old fortress town that sits on a hill above
the Nançon River. It is known for its immense 11th 15th century Château de Fougeres and is surrounded by
thick walls and an impressive moat. The Château is an
excellent setting for children of all ages to really get a
taste for medieval life. The gardens of Place aux Arbres
are the ideal place to contemplate the Château and from
here you can wander down to the river passing medieval
houses around Place Marchix. The old town is an excellent place to relax over a spot of lunch in one of the
many lovely restaurants.
Laval - 40 minutes
Laval is the department Capital which has an imposing
feudal castle that looks out over the Mayenne River.
This lovely town blends together history and modern
facilities and is worth a visit. For the golf lovers there is
a 27 hole golf course here. At Laval you can board the
TGV which takes you to the centre of Paris in 90 minutes. This is an excellent way to visit the City of Romance without the hassle of driving on its notorious
roads. Laval has many great restaurants and our favourite is Le Realis d’ Alsace which also has a restaurant in
Alencon.
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Places to Go from Le Vieux Manoir
Carrouges in Normandy Maine National Park - 35 minutes
The hilltown of Carrouges is the headquarters of
the beautiful National Park which is renowned for
its beauty and may historical points of interest. It
is the perfect place for keen hikers who will be
spoilt by the number of paths and walkways they
can follow. It is also a lovely place to get back to
nature and stroll through the forests trying to
spot the various wildlife that frequent the
area. The first weekend in August the Hunting
and Fishing Festival attracts thousands of visitors
to its 24 hectare site in the grounds of Carrouges
Castle. The château at Carrouges is beautiful and
well worth a visit.
Evron - 40 mins
This city offers a number of shops to spend your
Euros in and many restaurants in which to relax afterwards. The abbey church Notre Dame de L'Epine has
Roman and Gothic architecture and one of the best facades for miles around
Sainte Suzanne – 40 minutes
It has been called one of the most beautiful villages in
France. This is one of our favourite places to visit and if
you enjoy medieval towns then this place is a ‘must see’.
Saulges - 55 minutes
Here there are prehistoric caves , with stalactites
and stalagmites and walks through the Glacial valley and
Canyons. There is a pleasant restaurant within the Gorge
to sit and enjoy the scenery.
Le Ferté-Clairbois – 45 minutes
A medieval town with cobbled streets on the way to
Saulges. South of Sainte Suzanne is Le Ferté-Clairbois ,
where they have medieval jousting and banquets weekly
throughout the months of July & August.
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Places to Go from Le Vieux Manoir
Château Gontier - 1 hour
At the Refuge De L'arche, there is a zoo with a
wide variety of animals that have been rescued by
Greenpeace and similar organisations. These animals
mainly come from test laboratories and included peacocks, crocodiles, chipmunks, wolves, tigers and bears.
The main attraction is "Baboon Island", an island surrounded by lake with a large colony of baboons. The
children are set the challenge of completing a "letter
quest", clues will lead them to each enclosure where they
will have to translate the plaques and answer questions
on the different species of animals .
The town of Chateau Gontier has a large and very typical French market every Thursday.
L'Hermitage Cider farm- 45 minutes
L'Hermitage is a cider farm (direction Le Mans) where
you can see the art of cider making and the mystery of
Calvados explained.
Chailland – 50 mins
The small town of Chailland is located in the valley of
Ernée, with green valleys and spectacular rock formations. In the centre of the village you will be able to walk
along the streets and admire the old houses, you can
cross the beautiful flowered bridge across the river and
go up towards the rock of the Virgin from where you
will have a beautiful sight on the valley of Ernée.
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Between 1 to 2.5 hours
away
Places to Go from Le Vieux Manoir
La Suisse Normandie – 1 Hour 30 minutes
A drive along ‘La Route des Crêtes’ to the east of the
river gives rewarding views, good picnic spots and the
opportunity to watch the multitude of paragliders. (The
route to the top would be a hard climb for ramblers or
cyclists). Walks are possible along the cliff paths but
these should be negotiated with extreme care. Walking,
cycling and even canoeing from Pont d’Ouilly are other
options. Visit the local tourist offices where there are
many excellent guides available offering short walks
suitable for families.
Mont St. Michel – (1 hour 40 mins)
Le Mont St Michel is called The Wonder of the Western
World and it forms a tower in the heart of an immense
bay invaded by the highest tides in Europe.
We cannot do this beautiful place justice by describing it
in a few sentences but we recommend this as the one
place you MUST visit while you are staying with us.
Papea Parc – 1 hour
One of Le Man's main family attractions is Papea City, a
Canacale – 2hr 10 mins
wild west-themed amusement park located on the outskirts of the city. As well as water attractions and amuse- A must visit for all oyster lovers. This is seafood
ment rides, Papea-City caters for Le Mans' younger visi- heaven and you can stand on the beach and eat oysters as
they are brought in from the sea. Cancale has an array of
tors with a small animal farm, boat rides on the park's
fine restaurants and ice cream parlours.
lake, and model train rides.
Le Mans tourist attraction open: daily, July to August 10:30 to 18:30; April to June, September - reduced opening hours apply
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Places to Go from Le Vieux Manoir
Brittany. It has the most magnificent 13th century monastery, intact ramparts, tiny narrow
streets full of craft shops, and exquisite old
houses.
Le Souterroscope des Ardoisières – 1hr
50 mins.
Location: Junction 43 of A84 péage and then D71 to
Caumont (12 kms). The attraction is found on the western edge of the village of Caumont l’Eventé.
General Information: Open from Feb-mid Dec; every
day May –Sept. but not Mondays at other times. Prices
are in the region of €9.75 for adults and €4.60 for children aged 4-12
Description: Closed since the start of the 20th century
the slate stone quarries at Caument have been given a
new lease of life with a subterranean voyage of discovery through 400 metres of galleries, culminating in a
‘son-et-lumière’ and an underground rainbow – the Arc
en Terre as the showpiece.
There is an excellent restaurant at the site as well as a
picnic area.
The gulf is the the highlight of the visit! The output of
the Hall of fears leads the visitor towards the light of day
through the gulf of Souterroscope. A magnificent spectacle of fountains and lights awaits you.
Roche d' Oetre nature park and forest
fun – 1hr 10
A beautiful place to visit and take in the breathtaking
scenery from the Rock. The views are magnificent and
there are some lovely walks around the cliff tops. There
is a lovely restaurant at the top of the rock face where
you can relax and enjoy the scenery while sampling
some fine French cuisine.
At Rohe d’oetre there is also forest climbing for children
and adults. There are 90 games spread over 7 routes including zip lines, monkey bridges, bridges, Tarzan
jumps, etc. ...
Dinan – 2 hours
Dinan is situated on the banks of the Rance,
and is the best-preserved medieval town in
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Places to Go from Le Vieux Manoir
Craon – 1hour 20 minutes
To the west is the town of Craon with its medieval
streets and 18th century white stone château and water
play area.
Terra Botanica
This is a new theme park near Angers which is
based on the land and vegetation. There are 40
attractions and amusements and plenty to keep
the children entertained for the day.
Individual tickets. Adult : €17.50 Young :
€10.00 (from 4 to 12 years old included)
Child : free (from 0 to 3 years included)
La Ferté-Bernard – 1 hour 30 minutes
This town is on the River
Huisne and is sometimes
called the 'Little Venice of
the West' because a canal
runs by the main street. Its
medieval architecture can
be appreciated on a boat
trip that starts near the
tourist office. You can see
the city by electric boat
which is a lovely way to
spend a sunny afternoon.
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Places to Go from Le Vieux Manoir
thing Trouville does share with Deauville is a very impressive beach. For the more actively inclined there’s
also sailing and horse riding.
Granville – 2 hours
Granville is a quaint old port town with lovely beaches,
beautiful views and wonderful waterfront restaurants.
The Christian Dior museum is also worth a visit.
Honfleur/Deauville/Trouville – 2hours
10 minutes
Deauville - Deauville has grown from humble
beginnings into a stylish resort town famous for its elegant high life. It was the racecourse that first brought
Parisian aristocrats here, and racing is still a very popular sport throughout the entire region. Elegant villas, chic
shops and stylish cafes, restaurants and bars are the hallmarks of the town. Take a stroll along its wide beachside
promenade and you’ll feel as if you’ve stepped straight
out of the pages of a belle époque novel.
Honfleur - Honfleur is another delightful harbour
town which as well as attracting holiday visitors has
long been a magnet for famous French artists, drawn by
the scenic views and beauty of the light. It made a big
“impression” on Monet, Renoir and Cezanne amongst
others, so it’s no coincidence there are 15 art galleries in
the town. Nowadays, you’re more likely to see wealthy
yachtsman thronging the town squares and pavement
cafes enjoying the fresh seafood rather than struggling
artists. But the atmosphere is still as charming as it was a
hundred years ago.
Falaise- 1hr
Trouville - Trouville rubs shoulders with Deauville
It is to William the Conqueror that Falaise owes its
just across the Touques River, but in contrast it’s far less
formal betraying its roots as a fishing village. Here,
you’ll find bustling quays, busy markets and narrow
streets full of quaint shops to explore. However, the one
original fame - he was born in the castle in the town in
1027, a fact commemorated by the large statue of him in
front of the castle.
The castle can be visited, and has been extensively re-
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Places to Go from Le Vieux Manoir
stored in recent years. The views across the surrounding
landscape are as much a highlight as the castle itself.
Cabourg – 1hour 50 minutes
Considered by many to be the most spectacular beach on
the entire Normandy coast. Cabourg is also famous for
two other things: its racecourse, and that the famous
French writer Marcel Proust used to visit here.
Rouen – 2hrs 5 mins
A thriving industrial and commercial center and the third
largest port in France, Rouen is steeped in history. Both
William the Conqueror and Joan of Arc died in the town.
Victor Hugo called "the city of a hundred spires". Rouen
is home to many museums as well as the Gothic Cathedral of Notre-Dame, immortalized by French Impressionist Claude Monet.
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Places to Go from Le Vieux Manoir
Le Mans- 1hour
Le Mans has a fantastic old town and is well worth the
visit. Known as the Cité Plantagenet, this is where in
1129 Geoffrey Plantagenet married Matilda, daughter of
Henry I of England and gave birth to Henry II. Unlike
the medieval quarters of most towns and cities in France
that of Le Mans is completely separate to the modern
day town. It lies high above the town and is almost
spookily quiet after the noise of the thriving city below.
The magnificent St Julien Cathedral can be seen from
below and can be reached by walking up the steps from
the car park in the Place des Jacobins. The old town has
DD Day beaches – 2 hours
lovely narrow streets, stone houses, many with intricate
The largest military landing in history took place in Nor- details, colombage (timbered buildings) and the lovely
mandy on June 6, 1944. Monuments, museums, bunkers slate roofs common to this area of France.
and cemeteries are a living commemoration to the Battle Also Le Mans is the place to visit if you are a car enthusiast as it is home to the world famous 24 hour Le Mans
of Normandy. The main points of interest are:
car race. The circuit is worth a visit.
• The artificial harbor at Arromanches
• The German gun battery at Longues-sur-Mer
• The American Military Cemetery at Colleville-surMer
• Omaha Beach
The Pointe du Hoc
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Places to Go from Le Vieux Manoir
: 9 €, Little children : free. June July August :
Adult : 12 €. Children (under 12) : 10 €.:
(under 12)
The Garden of Surprises at LeThe Enchanted Forest at Bellefontaine Château-de-Vendeuvre.1hr 30 mins
– 1hr 15mins
This is a family owned chateau which has enough to
entertain the family for half a day. The interior of the
Chateau can be visited, to include the kitchens and a
special exhibition of pet kennels!
Take time to enjoy the many and varied different garden
areas, especially the mazes and water gardens which the
children will love.
This is a pleasant attraction oriented for the younger
family. Situated in large parkland it offers a variety of
traditional attractions including a miniature railway,
electric cars and a quaint fantasy land.
De Loisirs Ange Michel – 1hour 10
This is a great attraction offering more than 30 water and
land based activities such as waterslides, boats, quad
bikes, trampolines, mini-golf and much more besides.
Tariffs April May September :Adult : 11 €, Children
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Places to Go from Le Vieux Manoir
CHEMIN DE FER MINIATURE– 1hr
20 mins
Nantes—2 hrs
The heart of the town is the region around the castle - the
Chateau des Ducs de Bretagne - and there is much to
discover in the castle, and in the streets that surround it.
As with many cities of this size, the pleasure is as much
in simply wandering the streets, discovering lost corners,
and people watching as it is in visiting the highlights. At
Ile de Nantes a popular highlight is the enormous mechanical moving machines such as the 'Giant elephant'.
A lovely little miniature railway museum which also has
a little outdoor train to take you around the grounds.
Adults – 7€ Child – 5€
Champrepus zoo- 1hr 50mins
An interesting zoo for the family to visit.
Domaine de Pesheray. 1hr 30 mins
This is an animal park and mini golf course set in the
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Places to Go from Le Vieux Manoir
grounds of a 16th-century château.
Cobac Theme Parc – 2 hours
Haras du pin – 1hr 15 mins
Cobac Park is in a wooded area and because they
have maintained some trees there is plenty of shade
during the hot summer months. There is a variety of
The Haras du Pin, situated in the village of Pin-auHaras in the Orne region, is a symbol of French excel- rides and activities for children of all ages from small
lence in horse breeding, and is the most ancient and merry-go-rounds to roller coasters, tree climbing and
prestigious of the national studs. Visitors who have quad biking.
the chance to go there experience a veritable discovery There is a great swimming pool and a water slide for
everyone to cool off in so don't forget to take swimof the elegant equestrian world in an incomparable
ming gear.
historic setting. They follow a didactic course on the
different gaits, breeds, anatomy and even equestrian
specialities. Under the eves they learn the history of
the stud before watching an impressive carousel of
images.
Saumur – 2hours 10 minutes
Zoo la Fleche – 1 hour 40 minutes
Here there is a château that looks out over an idyllic
Loire as it crosses the city, is home to the famous
Cadre Noir (a troop of elite horsemen), and delightful
La Fleche zoo is one of the five biggest zoological
parks of France. It has more than 1200 animals coming sparkling wines. The city provides opportunities for
getting out and about at a steady clip, clop, literally
from 5 continents. You can visit a lot of shows, for
going with the flow, or just wandering down a maze of
example a sea lion show, bird show, parrot show.
lanes that provide evidence of their medieval history.
It is open every day of the year from 01/04 to 30/09
from 9.30 am to 6.00pm and until 7.00pm in July and Each bend revealing a monument, a heritage site, a
winery: enough to prompt a few exclamations.
august. From 01/10 to 31/03 from 10.00 am to
5.30pm.The tariff is for adults 18€ and children 3 to
11 years 14.50 €.
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