Le Mans Christmas Market 2011

Le Mans Christmas Market

Le Mans Christmas Market and many other festive celebrations are now in full swing and the Market will run daily until Christmas Eve. The Le Mans Christmas Market village is located in Place de la République and as well as dozens of artisanal produce and craft stalls it includes a number of animations, among them a model train display.  Naturally, Father Christmas is also in attendance – in his “chalet” rather than his grotto, though.

In the old town of Le Mans – the Cité Plantagenêt – Les Nuits des Chimères returns with its wonderful “son-et-lumière” show of light projections on various buildings at nightfall.  The Christmas Nuits des Chimères  can be seen from 17th December until New Year’s Day.

From 16th to 18th December there’s a special Christmas Market of pottery and ceramics at Place de la Sirène  between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m.

From 16th to 22nd December there is an Artists’ Market in Place de la République.

These are just a few of the events – there are also concerts and other entertainments planned throughout the Xmas hoilday period.  Download the full programme of Christmas Events for Le Mans “Fête Noël“.

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Le Mans 24 Hours Museum

At the beginning of 2009 the Motor Museum at the Le Mans 24 Hours racetrack reopened after a major refurbishment.  Ever since we’ve been meaning to go and check it out, but as usual it took a lot longer to get around to it than we thought – even though we’re only 30 minutes from Le Mans and 40 minutes from the 24 Hours racetrack and the museum.

NOUVEAU MUSEE DE L'AUTOMOBILE/CIRCUIT DE LA SARTHE

Last week we at long last got our act together and went to see what they had done to the museum, which is situated at the entrance to the famous racing circuit.  It turns out that many of the same cars are there from our last visit, but the car collection seems to be larger now and the displays are miles better, with the interior space divided into clear sections with a more logical separation of themes and exhibits.

The 24 Hours Museum is situated at the entrance to the famous racing circuit and is easily accessed by car. Parking is limited in front of museum but there is more if you go up the badly signposted access road at the back of the museum. The nearest tramway is 1300 metres away, 15 minutes on foot – the station is “OASIS” and it is served by lines 3, 4 and 17.

The museum is divided into 6 sections tracing the story of the 24 Hours from the beginning – the drivers, constructors, cars and support staff. There are not many interactive exhibits to keep kids interested – this museum is mainly of interest to racing car nuts. The exhibits include many dozens of racing cars that have featured at Le Mans over the years.

In addition there are some excellent case models showing pit lane scenes from different eras, and one large model showing the layout of the whole circuit.

Practical information

The museum is open all year. There is a gift shop and a cafeteria with terrace.

January : Fri-Sun 11h to 17h.

February, March : every day except Tuesday 11h to 17h.

April to September : every day 10h to 18h.

October to December : every day except Tuesday 11h to 17h.

Closed 24, 25, 31 December and New Year’s Day.

Access

9 place Luigi Chinetti

72000 LE MANS

Tel : 02 43 72 72 24

e-mail : contact@lemusee24h.com

Tickets – 2011 tariff

Adults 8€, adolescents (10-18) 6€, under 10′s free.

Accommodation

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Le Mans “24 Heures Vélo”

24 Hours Endurance Cycling Race, August 2011

2011 sees the third annual Le Mans 24 Hours Cycling Race, an event that proved a massive hit on the last two occasions and whose popularity is expected to grow even more this year.

The 2010 edition of the 24 Hours Cycling brought together 1583 cyclists, up from1176 in 2009. For 2011 between 350 and 500 teams (2000 and 3000 contestants) are expected to come from all parts of France and abroad to compete on the racetrack of Le Mans Bugatti Circuit.

The “24 Heures Vélo”, as it is officially known, is scheduled for 20th and 21st August 2011.

The race is open to all cyclists over 18 (whether members or not of a Cycling Federation) and they can take part as single competitors, a pair or in teams of 4, 6 or 8 members.  Contestants need to be at least 18 on the day of the event and are categorised as follows:

• SINGLE (1C) : 1 Man or 1 Woman
• PAIR (2C) : 2 Men or 1 Man and 1 Woman
• PRESTIGE (4C) : 4 Men or 4 Women (Mixed not available)
• COMPETITOR (6C) : 6 Men or Mixed (2 Women minimum)
• LEISURE (8C) : 8 Men or Mixed (3 Women minimum)

If you fancy entering as an individual or as a team there is a special discount for registrations before February 28^th 2011 : see the 24 Heures Vélo website (in English and in French) for details or an entry form www.24heuresvelo.fr.

Accommodation

« Houx » campsite

« Houx » campsite is available for teams from Friday at 10am. It is located about 300 meters away from the pit-stop zone and offers a great view of the racetrack. Access to “Houx” campsite is included in the registration package.

« La Basse Cour» bed and breakfast

For those who want to extend their stay, relax or do some sightseeing, check out the bed and breakfast accommodation at www.normandie-chambres.co.uk, 30 minutes from Le Mans.

Catering

Several catering options (including « Athlete’s menus » designed for competitors’ specific needs) will be offered at the restaurant in the Bugatti circuit Village.

There will also be snack bars (fast food) in the Bugatti circuit Village and in the campsite.

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Le Mans “La Nuit des Chimères” Winter Spectacle

Le Mans – La Nuit des Chimères Son et Lumière

Every evening throughout the Christmas holiday, the cathedral and fountain in the fortified Plantagenet town of Le Mans are being transformed into a giant projection screen, a partial reprise of the summer evening spectacular staged this year.

Cathedral St Julien, Nuit des Chimères 2010

Each Tuesday to Saturday evening from 18h00 to 20h30 throughout the Christmas holiday period (1 December 2010 to 1 January 2011) the cathedral and fountains in the fortified Plantagenet town of Le Mans are being transformed into a giant projection screen, recreating part of the annual summer “son et lumière” show.

• mysterious fantasy figures rise from the stairs and fountain in the Place des Jacobins
• Angels and Demons give a celestial concert on the cathedral walls

Arrive early and park in the Parking des Jacobins at the foot of the cathedral, then after your visit dine in one of the many good restaurants of the old city.

The sound and light show begins at sunset, around 18h00. Stop for as long as you wish in front of each scene and maybe eat in one of the excellent restaurants or bistros of the old town.

In addition, the annual Christmas Fair takes place in the Place de la Republique until 31st December from 11h to 19h (20h on Friday and Saturday).

Le Mans centre is approximately 40km (25 miles) from our own bed and breakfast accommodation.

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Tour de France 2011 at Le Mans

Tour de France 2011: Stage 7

Departure Circuit Bugatti, Le Mans

Tour de France on Le Mans Circuit Bugatti

The Tour de France will follow part of the legendary 24 Hours Le Mans circuit in 2011.

On July 8th Le Mans will host the start of the 7th stage of Tour de France 2011. The race will start from the forecourt of the MMArena football stadium adjoining the 24 Hours circuit. The peleton will then take to the Bugatti circuit and head down the pit straight and through the Dunlop curves, before taking a section of the Mulsanne Straight to join the D92 road towards Chateauroux.

After the grand spectacle of the departure, the real start will occur 9.2 km out of Ruaudin. Riders will set off then towards Chateauroux.

The Tour will arrive at Le Mans on the evening of July 7 2011. Five hours work will be necessary to put in place the paraphernalia of this great show and the temporary village covering 4,000 m2 on the forecourt of MMArena. By dawn, the scene will be set. The first spectators are expected from 7 am, then the real crowd appearing from 8 am The publicity caravan will launch the show with a three hour parade from midday, punctuated by the passing of the race pack.

Stage 7 Le Mans Tour 2011 - the Start

The riders will tour the Bugatti circuit, take a section of the Mulsanne Straight and then will head south east. The peleton will cover 9.4 km through the city before the actual start just outside Ruaudin on the D92 road.

The stage will pass through the towns of Changé and Parigné l’Eveque. The passage of the Tour de France route through a further 50 kilometres of the Sarthe department will be approved on December 14th 2010. After leaving the Sarthe, the riders head down through Indre-et-Loire to arrive at Chateauroux.

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