Places to Visit and things to do

plus our local market town - Gorron

Here are some interesting places to visit in the area. Scroll down the page to view all the information.

Click on a location photo to link you to the Tourist Office website

The local tourist Bocage-Mayennais is open

throughout the year with offices in Gorron,

Colombiers-Du-Plessis, Ambrière-les-Vallées

and Pontmain.

Domfront

A medieval town and castle on a hill with its unusual church and steeple. With numerous restaurants and walks along the river.

mortain

Hill town with many restaurants and a spectacular walk to the waterfall.
Famous for the Battle of Mortain/Hill 314 if interested in WW2 history.

Mont St. Michel

The regions most famous landmark standing alone in the bay. Along the
coast are many seafood restaurants serving fresh oysters and mussels.

Lassay les Chateaux

Small photogenic medieval town with a 14th century castle.

Fougères

Famous for its well preserved castle and botanical gardens. The town has excellent shopping and a Saturday food market.

bagnoles de l'orne

The town is famous for its thermal waters attracting visitors to enjoy the spa, restaurants, casino and golf course.

laval

Largest town in the area with shopping and interesting old town centre.

Mayenne

Capital of the region with the River Mayenne flowing below the castle through the town centre.

Sainte-Suzanne

A delightful small medieval town with a castle perched on the hill. Wonderful walk with views of the castle.

St. Hilaire-du-Harcouët

If you are wishing to stock up with local produce the excellent food market is held on a Wednesday morning.

AmbriÈres les-Vallées

Enjoy lunch by the river after a walk around the lake.

Pontmain cathedral

Famous for its historic cathedral and pilgrimages to this small village.

St. malo

On the north Brittany coast, a major port for centuries and one of the world's greatest walled cities.

Rennes

This university city is the capital of Brittany with a historic centre and one of France's largest gastronomic food markets held each Saturday.

Le Mans

Famous for its 24 hour Motor race held in June. A fabulous museum charts the history of the historical race. The city also has a ancient centre with a Gothic cathedral.

This year the Tour de France is visiting Fougères and Laval.

Stage 4 and 5 take place on 29/30 June.

Visit the Tour de France website for more information.

Cheese/Cider/Calvados experiences

The region is famous for its cheese, cider and Calvados and you can visit the orchards, learn about the production and enjoy tasting the local produce. For more details visit the Mayenne Tourism site here.

Essential guide to Normandy Cheeses

The Route of the Pear Orchards

Calvados producers in the area

Cycling

Based at La Martinière the number of possible routes from here are endless. With very quiet backroads through rolling countryside, you will pass cows grazing, the cider orchards and small villages where you can stop to eat and explore.

Not far from us at Domfront is the Route Véloscénie, a dedicated traffic free cycle route from Paris to Mont-Saint-Michel. Starting from Domfront the route to the Mont-Saint-Michel is 80km.

Click on the photo to view the Véloscénie website.

We can arrange bicycle rental.

We have secure storage to keep your bikes over night, whilst you have a good nights sleep ready for your next day adventure.

Gorron

Gorron is our local market town, 7 km from La Martinière.

You will find a variety of shops which should cover your needs.

Supermarket and Fuel Station - Super U

Mini Supermarket in the main street

Small food market Wednesday mornings

Banks with ATM - Credit Mutuel and Credit Agricole

2x Boulangerie

Butchers

Pharmacy

Bar Tabac

Newsagent and Tabac

Estate Agents

DIY Store - La Maison.Fr

Self service Laundrette - between Super U and the fuel station

Bars and Restaurants

Small gift, Art and Clothing Shops

Cinema

Indoor Swimming Pool

Doctors Surgery

Dentist

Optician

Gendarmerie

markets in the area

Generally markets are open from 8.00am to 2.00pm.

We have been to many of the markets listed, but not all.

Some markets are small the ones we recommend are larger, with a good variety of stalls.

Markets marked with a * we recommend.

Rennes ** market (1 hr 15mins. drive) is France’s 2nd largest gastronomic market and highly recommended

MONDAY - Mayenne

TUESDAY - Ernée Landivy Laval * Villedieu-les-Poêles * Sourdeval Bagnole-de-L’Orne

WEDNESDAY - Gorron St. Hilaire–Du-Harcouet * Lassay le Chateau Laval Flers

THURSDAY - Le Teilleul Chateau Gontier

FRIDAY - Domfront * Fougerolles-du-Plessis Vire

SATURDAY - Fougères * Rennes ** Ambrières-les-Vallées

Bagnole-de-L’Orne Mortain Mayenne