I will be in Le Mans for four days in the beginning of November. I have never been there and could use some advice on where to stay, eat and see. I will be there with my adult son. We are not Michelin Star people, nor are we Four Seasons people. Basic, good French food and a nice, clean and safe place to stay are what we seek
TIA, Joe
No one has been to Le Mans?
Not many people - most foreign visitors are only interested in the races.
The centre of the old town is really interesting. For restaurant recs use
https://www.linternaute.com/restaurant/guide/ville-le-mans-72000/
and
https://www.petitfute.com/v28477-le-mans-72000/c1165-restaurants/
That will give you an idea of price, value, and quality from a local perspective
I have visited Le Mans even twice, but your question is about where to stay and eat. And as I stayed somewhere else I can't answer that question, but anyway it's historic centre is stunnning and absdolutely worth a visit. As it is quite compact to my opinon a few hours is enough for a visit. The cathedral was closed but must be worth seeing inside too.
Further worth visiting is the race car museum near the entrance of the 24hours race track,. Abbeye de Saint-Pierre de Solesmes (still having a living community), some 50 km west of Le Mans and Sainte-Suzanne-et-Chammes also west of Le Mans.
We've never spent the night in Le Mans. Once we ate in a boulangerie and once we got takeout from a small street lined with restaurants but I don't think we picked the best restaurant. So no dining advice from us.
We were blown away by the Roman wall, what remains of it. It's spectacular and amazing. It is a high brick wall in colorful patterns. Those Romans built to last.
The old city on top of the bluff is chock-full of half-timbered buildings.
The cathedral has a chapel whose ceiling shows angels playing musical instruments. Next to one of the cathedral doors is a menhir, an interesting juxtaposition.
There are illuminations at night on many of the buildings in the central area. They are not as spectacular as the illuminations at Chartres but are well worth seeing if they are still happening when you will be there.
We visited the Museum of Tessé to see the temporary exhibition on the Roman era in Le Mans.
I know the 24 hours is the major attraction in Le Mans, but I can't tell you a thing about it. Seeing the old city center and wandering through the shopping area on the other side of the river were entertaining enough for us.
I strongly second a visit to Ste Suzanne if you have a car.
