Less than 1 hour away from Le Vieux Manoir
Laval - 40 minutes
Laval is the department Capital and you
will realise why when you visit the old town with its imposing feudal
castle that looks out over the Mayenne River. This lovely town blends
together history and modern facilities and is definitely worth a visit.
For the golf lovers there is a 27 hole golf course here. At
Laval you can board th
e 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. You can either drive to
Laval or take advantage of our shuttle service which you can pre-book to
take you to the station at Laval. The shuttle service is ideal for those
of you that want to enjoy and few glasses of wine or champagne while in
Paris.
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. With its narrow streets, its inner courtyards and its half-timbered houses, it is a very pleasant town to 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
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.
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.
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
Relais Equestre des Coëvrons - 40 mins
Situated at Ste Gemmes-Le-Robert just near Jublains. This horse riding centre is open all year round. The parks of Normandie-Maine and des Alpes Mancelles are at the disposal of horse and rider and in summer you can join in the fun of Tinkers - traditional Irish point-to-point. Riding is available for both adults and children and rides vary in price per hour, depending on your requirements.
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.
Sainte Suzanne (55 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.
Chémeré le Roi - 1 hour (Photo Mairie) :
le village est situé dans un paysage de bocage ancien. La plupart des constructions ont gardé du XIXe siècle leurs murs de moellons recouverts d'un revêtement gris ou ocre et leurs couvertures en ardoise. Place de l'église se voit encore un témoin d'une époque bien antérieure : la maison du porche construite au XIIIe siècle. Non loin, une fontaine protégée par un petit édifice à couverture de pierre tient compagnie à un lavoir couvert d'ardoises alimenté par une source.
Beaumont-Sur-Sarthe,France (1 hour)
The picturesque town of Beaumont-sur-Sarthe has a rich heritage; the Roman Gate, the Feudal Mound, and covered market, and the Roman bridge dominated by a 11th century Château. Guided tours free of charge all year round on request
Alençon - 35 minutes
Alençon is a bustling market town surrounded by beautiful countryside dotted with picturesque villages where you can sample locally-made Camembert and cider Alençon is also very famous for its lace and the internationally renowned “Point d’Alençon”, which was developed in the 17th century. Finest examples of this unique lace pattern can be seen at the local fine arts museum.
