St Céneri-le-Gérei “Rencontre des Peintres”

This weekend, the local village of Saint Céneri-le-Gérei in the Alpes Mancelles will be transformed into an open-air art gallery.

“Rencontre des Peintres” at Saint-Céneri-le-Gérei

On the 26th, 27th and 28th May the “Rencontre des Peintres” or ‘Gathering of the Painters” celebrates its 26th edition in this picturesque Normandy village, classed as one of the “Most Beautiful Villages in France”.

It’s a tradition that every year during Pentecost weekend the “Rencontre des Peintres” takes place at Saint Céneri-le-Gérei, transforming the entire village into a veritable art gallery.

Always a gathering place for artists of all stripes, this 26th edition promises to be an event not to be missed.   Forty artists from all over France will be exhibiting and more than 15,000 visitors are expected; there will also be a concert, a “repas champêtre” open-air dinner, workshops for children, guided tours of the Auberge of the Soeurs Moisy, an exciting mixture of art and fun throughout the weekend.

Visitors can also vote for their favorite artist, who will be presented with the Audience Award.

Access to the event is free with parking available at entrances to Saint Céneri-le-Gérei, which will be entirely pedestrianised between 10am and 7pm over the three days of the artists fair.

As well as the artists fair, visitors should not fail to visit the nearby gardens at la Mansonière on the outskirts of the village, 5 minutes walk up the road from the village square.

View Larger Map

Read Full Post »

Alpes Mancelles

The “Alpes Mancelles” span the Normandy and Pays de Loire border, with picturesque villages, hills and little river valleys clad in woodland, heather and broom – and we are fortunate to have it on our own doorstep.

The Alpes Mancelles region begins just south of Alençon at Condé-sur-Sarthe and broadly follows the twists and turns of the Sarthe River Valley as far as Fresnay-sur-Sarthe.  The two principal towns in between are St Céneri-le-Gérei and St Léonard des Bois.

The Alpes Mancelles by Car – #1

From La Basse Cour it is a short drive to either Alençon or Fresnay, from where you can follow the Sarthe valley the length of the Alpes Mancelles; if you choose to explore it this way make sure you take time to wander from the principal road that follows the valley to visit some of the quiet but charming little hamlets and villages along the way.

The Alpes Mancelles by Car – #2

Alternatively, we have devised a less direct driving tour which takes in our favourite sights in the Alpes Mancelles, and takes around a day to complete.

Our Circuit of the Alpes Mancelles includes visits to the panoramic viewing point atop Mont de Avaloirs – one of the highest points in western France – the Corniche du Pail hillcrest road, a visit to the Jardins de Mansonière gardens, a walk through the Vallée de Misère, the villages of Gesvres, St Pierre des Nids, St Céneri-le-Gérei, St Léonard des Bois, Sougé le Ganelon and Fresnay-sur-Sarthe.

Follow this link for details of the Alpes Mancelles Circuit.

The Alpes Mancelles by Canoe and Kayak on the Sarthe

Those who like messing about in boats can travel the river Sarthe through the Alpes Mancelles by canoe or kayak.  See “Practical Information” or click the map for details.

Alpes Mancelles by Canoe-Kayak

Practical Information

Alpes Mancelles Tourist Office

19 Av de docteur Riant, Fresnay-sur-Sarthe

Tel. 02 43 33 28 04

http://www.ot-alpes-mancelles.com

The Tourist Office of the Alpes Mancelles at Fresnay-sur-Sarthe has a great stock of free walking route maps for all of the Alpes Mancelles region – we have many of them available for guests to borrow during their stay at La Basse Cour.

Canoe hire

CanoeLocations rents canoes from several locations and you can book online. Their locations at Moulins-le-Carbonnel or Fresnay-sur-Sarthe are only 16km away.

Access to the Alpes Mancelles from the B&B

The Alpes Mancelles are 10 to 20 minutes from our B&B in Lower Normandy, depending on where you like to begin your exploration.

View Larger Map

Are you interested in visiting châteaux and gardens in Southern Normandy and the upper Pays de la Loire? Then see also :

Château de Mayenne, Pays de la Loire

Gardens to Visit #1 – Jardin d’Atmosphère du Petit Bordeaux (Pays de la Loire)

Gardens to Visit #2 – Jardins de la Mansonière, St Céneri-le-Gerei (Normandy)

Gardens to Visit #3 – Château de Ballon (Pays de la Loire)

Gardens to Visit #4 – Jardin de la Pellerine (Pays de la Loire)

Gardens to Visit #5 – Château de Vendeuvre (Normandy)

Gardens to Visit #6 – Les Renaudies (Pays de la Loire)

… and many more!

These are just a few of the many places we can suggest to visit around this region, while keeping away from the usual tourist traps.

Read Full Post »