Friday, 31 July 2015

Visiting Le Mans and Jublains

Le Mans and Jublains are both situated a two hour drive from where we staying in Crouttes.

There is a lot more to Le Mans than the famous Car Racing track.  It was home to Geoffrey, Count of Anjou (24 August 1113 – 7 September 1151), who was known as Plantagenet because he used to wear a sprig broom blossom (or genet) in his hat.  He married Princess Matilda, daughter of King Henry the first of England, and was thus the founder of the Plantagenet dynasty.  His son was Henry the second of England, and his grandchildren included King Richard the Lionheart of England and King John, of Magna Carta fame.

After she was widowed, Berengaria, wife of Richard the Lionheart, lived out the rest of her days in Le Mans.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geoffrey_Plantagenet,_Count_of_Anjou
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Le_Mans
 What remains of the City Walls
 Streets in the old town

 A view of Le Mans from the old town
Le Mans Cathedral
 Over the entrance
 Inside the Cathedral



Jublains is a small town not far from the City of Mayenne in Southern Normandy.  This site has been occupied since pre-historic times.  There are many remains of the Gallo Roman city of Noviodunum to be seen, and much of the site is occupied by the modern town.  I was able to visit the fort which dates back to the 3rd century AD and the theatre which dates back to the 1st Century AD.
 The Outer Walls

 The entrance to the older inner fort
 The Large Bath House

The Small Bath House

 Two Views of the theatre

The Church in Jublains.  This building covers the site of the ThermalBaths
On the way back to Crouttes we passed the Chateau D'O which isn't far from Haras du Pin.
We found that it doesn't open to the public in July!

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