Beaumont-sur-Sarthe / Le Mans

The next stage of the route takes you off the beaten track, along quiet roads that criss-cross the countryside. At Neuville-sur-Sarthe, park your bike and wander along the riverbank to admire the idyllic panorama of the water mill. Then it’s back in the saddle and full steam ahead to Le Mans. This Ville d’Art et d’Histoire® (artistic and historical town) is packed with heritage sites to explore. Play hide and seek in the medieval streets of the Cité Plantagenêt, as the old town is known, contemplate the skill and might of the Romans who built the Gallo-Roman city walls, or wonder at the impressive bulk of Saint Julian’s Cathedral. At the end of an active day, cool down with a well-earned rest at a guinguettes riverside café. Order a slice of crunchy bread topped with rillettes, a local speciality similar to pâté. And if you’re in Le Mans between July and September, take an evening stroll to see the stunning Nuit des Chimères, when the façades and walls of the town are lit up.

The route

Following quiet roads, the V44 cycle route is well signposted. There are a few small stretches on country tracks between Montreuil and Neuville-sur-Sarthe.

Tourist Information

• Office de tourisme des Alpes Mancelles, antenne de Beaumont-sur-Sarthe Ph : 02 43 33 03 03
• Office de Tourisme de Maine Coeur de Sarthe Ph : 02.43.27.35.30
• Office de tourisme du Mans Ph : 02 43 28 17 22

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Beaumont sur Sarthe - Donjon de Ballon - Le Mans