This News page is about the Mayenne region of France and the town of Mayenne.
Every year we feature a different part of France and examine what we think is of importance to potential purchasers. This year we look at Mayenne and in detail we look at Mayenne town itself and the surrounding area.
Mayenne is one of the original 83 departments created during the French revolution on March 4, 1790.
After the Coalition's victory at Waterloo, between June 1815 and November 1818, Mayenne was occupied by Prussian troops.
Mayenne is part of the current region of Pays de la Loire and is surrounded by the departments of Manche, Orne, Sarthe, Maine-et-Loire, and Ille-et-Vilaine.
Mayenne is a diverse region, rich in cultural heritage with plenty of unspoilt countryside and much to do. It has a fair temperate climate and its proximity to UK means that you travel less and spend more time enjoying your holiday.
The area is a paradise for fishermen and those who enjoy outside pursuits. There are lots of rental properties with direct access to fishing. From line to plate your supper is as fresh as it can be! If you are a novice, there are many professionals on hand to show you how it’s done. Boats can be rented everywhere. Leave all your cares on dry land and become master of your own destiny. Don’t worry if you are a beginner because you will be given a lesson in navigation before setting off by the helpful boat men. Then stretch out on the sun deck and enjoy the scenery whilst topping-up your tan! Then there is water skiing, kayaking, canoeing and a lot more besides.
There is no better way to appreciate the beauty of the Mayenne river valley than on a bike, pedalling along the thousands of well kept towpaths. Stretching for 60 miles/100 km, the paths are flat and signposted with distances between points of interest, such as chateaux, villages and old watermills. Towns along the way include Mayenne, Laval, Château-Gontier, and Angers.
If you like to ride then on horseback you get a great perspective of the landscape. There are many riding centres where you can explore the countryside and observe nature as you trot around the region or you can stay for a holiday and the kids can learn to ride and how to care for a pony which they keep for the length of your stay. If you prefer to observe rather than participate and you want to watch experienced horsemen showing-off their skills you can check-out the racing at Craon.
There are dozens of beautiful villages to explore, Sainte-Suzanne, for example, has been named one of ‘Les plus beaux villages’ in France. Not far from the walls of this fortified medieval village, you will find the ‘dolmen des Erves’, the most ancient monument dating from the megalithic period showing very early signs of human occupation in the Mayenne.
Why not indulge your cultural cravings as well? The châteaux of Mayenne, Ste-Suzanne and Lassay and a trip to the main town of Mayenne should be on your visit list as well as the Basilique d'Evron, a celebration of medieval religious architecture. There are many privately owned châteaux and you can stay in some of them and experience what it’s like to live like a king!
Laval is a delightful town to explore on foot. You can wander through the narrow alleys of the old town and down to the Perrine Gardens on the Mayenne River. It is a town built by the water and you can hop on board the bateaux-lavoirs, which are old floating Laundromats. Visit the château of Laval, built on a rocky spur in the 11th-century and rebuilt in the 16th-century with superb views of the town. Inside is one of the world’s finest museums of folk art and a reproduction of local artist Douanier Rousseau’s studio. If you leave town via the towpath, you soon reach the peaceful Basilica of Notre-Dame d’Avesnières. The town itself hums with activity: cosy cafés and enticing boutiques await on the Rue du Pont de Mayenne!
If you want to experience what it was like to live in medieval times, La Ferté Clairbois is a medieval centre with copies of a donjon (a keep), draw bridge, medieval garden and lots of activities depicting the life of a knight in medieval times - including jousting demonstrations. You can even stay the night in the ‘keep’ and dress up in authentic costumes to get in the mood!
Miss Mayenne and you will be missing out on a region with a rich natural and cultural heritage. So when you are planning your next trip keep in mind that the perfect holiday destination might be closer to home than you think.
The real gem in the crown of course remains the town of Mayenne itself. Fantastic chateau and old town with medieval buildings and winding streets open café’s and restaurants and the famous firework displays where thousands gather on the bridges and river banks to watch the spectacle. Shops and all main supermarkets and DIY outlets on the outside of town plus thousands of other business and service industries to cater for every need. Friendly helpful people and a vibrant feel coupled with that old world charm. This town has everything you could wish for and is not only picture perfect but as life styles go it is about as good as it gets. Just an hour and a half from the port of Caen and the wonderful Brittany coast with direct ferry to Portsmouth. 2 Hours from Dinard Airport with service to London Stanstead every day. New road route direct to Paris in under 2 hours and a new high speed rail from nearby Laval straight to Paris in just over an hour. Whatever you decide make certain that Mayenne town is firmly on your list.
