Local Area

CRAON

Chateau de Craon

Chateau de Craon is situated on a tributary of the Moselle, a strategic point on the route between France and Germany.  Since the 13th-century, Chateau de Craon has been fortified to protect this strategic position with sturdy round towers and a medieval moat.
However, Chateau de Craon is also a fine example of French Rococo architecture.  It was designed by Germain Boffrand who is also responsible for Hotel de Soubise in Paris.  Château de Craon's interior was designed by Jean Pillement and Hubert Robert, two of the painter/decorators responsible for Versailles.
The first foundations of Chateau de Craon where laid by the Harouels (feudal Lords) but only the outbuildings remain from this period.  The Bassompierre family succeeded the Harouels in the 15th-16th century and replaced the original structure with foundations that remain today.
Make sure you take a stroll around the beautiful park and gardens with stables and orangery which are open from April to November (except Saturdays).  There are guided tours of the house itself in July and August (except Tuesdays).

Chateau de Craon: Château de Craon, Craon, Post Code: 53400
Tel: +33 (0)2 43 06 11 02 Open: Jul & Aug

Shops

Craon is well appointed with shops, bars and restaurants.  Super U, Lidl, Intermarche are all in Craon.  We even have a small supermarket open on Sunday morning !!  Eat out  at La Creperie du Chateau or at the local Pizza restaurant.  For that special meal out,  booking is essential at Le Grenier A Popote, which is just 5 minutes walk away from La Drapeliére. La Quatre Espices is another well frequented restaurant sited next to the large lake in Craon.  Again, booking is essential.

Market day is Monday morning.. Miss out on your petite dejeuner and have a freshly cooked french sausage / bacon / egg  / mustard galette from the “ galette man”. Local freshly grown produce is a must to buy here.

Hippodrome

Craon also has its own Hippodrome ( horse racing ) course, with flat races and trotting.  Main events are in August and September.

Activities in an around Craon.   

Fishing is available in and around  Craon.  Licences must be obtained from the local Tabac in town.  Quad biking, swimming pools, horse riding, golf, water sports and  go-carting are all  available locally.  The area is a must for visiting Castles, Chateaux, Gardens and an ideal location for a touring base.

Laval   (15 min drive)

Laval sits at the heart of the Mayenne department and is well situated for trips to Le Mans, Angers and Rennes. 
Laval and the department of Mayenne is largely agricultural producing some world-class race horses. 
The old town is delightful with an imposing feudal castle that looks out over the Mayenne river.  Today the museum houses Laval's law courts and the excellent Musee d'art Naif.  The museum is dedicated to one of Laval's famous celebrities Henri Rousseau who was born here in 1844 and known as the master of 'artless art'. 
Another of Laval's celebrities was Alfred Jarry who wrote the celebrated surreal play 'Ubu Roi.'
Laval will suit those who want to combine historical culture and excellent museums with outdoor activity - the river Mayenne once used for barges carrying agricultural produce is now a haven for walkers, cyclists and horse riders alike.
Laval is an interesting City, well worth a day out.  Walk down by the river, visit the major shops and visit the Museum and castle.  Down by the river,  there is a Warner Bros.cinema  complex with a few good eating houses close by, or for that special meal, there are several boats moored opposite Warner Bros. which serve good traditional French food.
Laval also has a Hippodrome course.  Events are from February though to November.  A great afternoon or evenings entertainment for all the family.

Chateau Gontier ( 15 mins drive )

A lively town with a big market on Thursday.  Virtually everything on sale here.  Well worth a visit.  The centre of the town has undergone a vast facelift in the last year.  Pleasant walks down by the river, or even hire a boat.

Markets in Mayenne

Le Mans  ( Just over an hours drive away)

The famous city of Le Mans    
One thing springs to mind when Le Mans comes up in conversation and that's motor car racing! 
Car fanatics come from every corner of the globe in the middle of June for the famous 24-hour race.  The event can be traced back to a certain Monsieur Bollée who was the first man to place an engine under the bonnet of a car.  However, it was Bollée's son who instigated the celebrated Grand Prix that still continues today.
Motor car racing aside, Le Mans has lots to offer and is a lively town with Vieux Mans its star attraction. 
Vieux Mans is the old town partly fortified by 3rd to 4th-century Gallo-Roman walls.  Rodin was particularly enthusiastic about the Gothic Cathedrale St-Julien and its figures of the south porch, comparing them to those of Chartres and Athens. 
The modern centre of Le Mans is Place de la Republique, an elegant square of Belle Epoque buildings lined with restaurants, cafes, bars that swing on to the early hours!

Activities in Le Mans

• CityGlace 1, avenue Frederic-Auguste-Bartholdi, Le Mans, 72000, a cool haven from the summer sun at Le Mans' ice-skating rink
  Open:Daily Tel: +33 (0)2 43 80 66 66
• Golf Club du Mans route de Tours à Mulsanne, Le Mans, 72000, Le Mans' golf club welcomes all enthusiasts,
  Open:To call to arragne Tel: +33 (0)2 43 84 74 74
• Base nautique et page de la Gemerie boulevard Lefaucheux, Arnage, 72000, fine, sandy beach for family fun
• Le Musee Vert 204 avenue Jean Jaures, Le Mans, 72000, Le Mans' noteworthy natural history museum with a rich and varied botanical collection,
  Open:Mon-Fri & Sun pms Tel: +33 (0)2 43 47 39 94
• Le Musee de la Reine Berengere 7, rue de la Reine Berengere, Le Mans, 72000, popular ceramic art and local 19th-century paintings,
  Open:Daily Tel: +33 (0)2 43 47 38 80
• Le Musee de Tesse 2 avenue de Parderborn, Le Mans, 72000, an eclectic collection of fine art, sculptures and contemporary exhibitions,
  Open:Tue-Sun & daily in Jul-Aug Tel: +33 (0)2 43 47 38 51
• Musee de L'Automobile Circuit des 24 heures du Mans, Le Mans, 72000, all you need to know about Le Man's motor racing past
  Open:Feb-Dec:daily; Jan:w/ends Tel: +33 (0)2 43 72 72 24

Please remember, Sunday is traditionally a " family day " in France. With the exception of the larger Cities, shops, supermarkets and petrol stations are closed on Sundays. However, fuel is always available on motorways.