Le Mans, Cité Plantagenet

A Hidden Gem Le Mans is renowned throughout the world for it's famous 24 Hours Motorcar race, which takes place yearly in June and was brought to the screen with Steve McQueen. However, this is only one small aspect of one of the most picturesque, and still untouched, areas of France, the Sarthe. Le Mans, capital of the province of Maine, France (which gave it's name to Maine, USA!), was the birthplace of the Plantagenet Kings of England. Henri II (remember Peter O'Toole in "The Lion in Winter")was born in Le Mans, in the palace now housing the city hall. The old city of Le Mans, also referred to as the Cité Plantagenet, has been remarkably restored: it has the longest gallo-roman walls still standing in France, a gothic cathedral of outstanding beauty with some of the oldest stainglass windows of the Western hemisphere, and a myriad of streets, all forbidden to cars, with one amazing XVth to XVIIth century house after another. The Cité Plantagenet serves as a stage set for many films, such as "The Man in the Iron Mask", the "Three Muskateers" and many more. Throughout the summer months, a creative and magical sound and light show takes place five nights a week thoughout the old city, and is free of cost.(but count on spending some money in one of the delightful little restaurants, bistrots, antique or gift shops, hidden behind huge carved porticos.