FRENCH GREATS ❘ LE MANS
VISITING LE MANS, THE TOWN Le Mans’ pitstop as dawn breaks
Circuit de la Sarthe, and later used in production cars. By 2025, he and his colleagues hope to introduce a new racing class for hydrogen- powered cars. “Inventions that prove successful in racing today will translate to improvements in production vehicles, meaning less pollution and more efficiency,” he adds.
Far more important than technological innovation is the elevated position Le Mans occupies in global sporting culture. It is considered one of the three most important motor races on the planet – the other two being the Monaco Grand Prix and the Indianapolis 500. Together they form what’s known as the Triple Crown of Motor Sport.
A TEMPLE TO THE MOTOR CAR Fillon says of the race’s significance: “Over the last 100 years, the 24 Hours of Le Mans has inspired generations of motor sport fans. Millions of spectators have discovered this temple to the motor car and have enjoyed an amazing sensory experience. Because Le Mans appeals to all the senses. The sound of a Mazda 787 thrown into the Mulsanne Corner at more than 300km/h, disc brakes burning red hot in the middle of the night… I hope the 24 Hours of Le Mans continues to light up the world in 100 years’ time.” To celebrate, there are several events being staged in Le Mans. On June 1, an exhibition at the Musée 24 Heures du Mans will bring together 60 cars that have competed in the race over the years. June 6 sees an open track day where fans can visit garages, watch mechanics in action, and collect driver autographs. Qualifying starts on June 7, while on June 9 fans will be permitted to walk, bike, scoot or rollerblade on the circuit. The actual race starts at 4pm on Saturday, June 10, finishing, as you would expect, 24 hours later. FT Dominic Bliss travelled on Brittany Ferries which sails to Normandy six times daily, from Portsmouth to Le Havre, Caen or Cherbourg; and from Poole to Cherbourg
brittany-ferries.co.uk.
48 ❘ FRANCE TODAY Jun/Jul 2023
The centenary of the 24 Hours of Le Mans will bring thousands of visitors to this great city, in Sarthe, Pays de la Loire – so be sure to book early if you want to stay in town. The most alluring section of the city is its historic centre, the Cité Plantagenêt. Here, across 15 hectares, you’ll find hundreds of timber-framed houses, some dating back to the 15th century. The Saint-Julien Cathedral is well worth a look, with its 12th-century Ascension window, supposedly the oldest stained- glass window in the world still in its original position. And don’t miss the vast Gallo-Roman wall, overlooking the river, with its mix of brickwork, limestone and sandstone. The city council has applied for UNESCO status for it. Throughout July and August, the Cité Plantagenêt comes alive with its annual festival of light, La Nuit des Chimères. Some of France’s most innovative and brilliant (literally) light artists use enormous projectors to throw moving images onto the medieval brickwork of the town’s finest buildings. The centrepiece is usually the Saint-Julien Cathedral, whose
windows, buttresses and brickwork are bathed in different coloured lights. Another of the city’s grand medieval buildings is the Abbaye Royale de l’Epau, a Cistercian abbey to the east of the city, where Richard the Lion Heart’s wife, Berengaria of Navarre, is buried. As you wander the city, you should also look out for some exceptionally cool street art. Every year, the Festival Plein Champ encourages street artists to create murals on certain Le Mans’ buildings. For locals, one of the favourites is Rabbit Hole, by an artist called Seth, on Rue Jankowski. Spanning three buildings and six floors, it is quite dizzying in its perspective. Petrol-heads definitely shouldn’t miss the Musée des 24 Heures du Mans (
www.lemans-musee24h.com), right next to the racetrack, in the city’s southern outskirts. Here you’ll discover the stories behind both the drivers and the amazing machines that have made this one of the most famous motor sport races on the planet. Unfortunately track visits are currently suspended as the organisers prepare for the centenary race.
www.sarthetourism.com
Clockwise from top: The Cathédrale Saint-Julien; street art in Le Mans; explore the Gallo-Roman history of the lovely Sarthe town while you’re there
IMAGES © EYONE / WIKIMEDIA, PASCAL BELTRAMI, SARTHE TOURISME / MAXIME GUILLON
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