Shopping

Brocante attitude in the Loir Valley
Hunting out second-hand bargains is an art that mobilises both the eye and the imagination. You must be able to visualise the charm of an object, under the rust or the patina, in order to give it another life. Weighing up, evaluating, comparing, discussing… The ritual of exchanges is not without interest, and some fine deals can be struck! Observe, imagine… for restoration artists, this is a philosophy. Second-hand markets, flea markets, sales rooms, art and craft shops… the Loir Valley has plenty of events and good addresses. Just one rule, arrive early… with the bonus of feeling the coolness of dawn on your skin!
www.vallee-du-loir.com

The Plantagenet town is an unalloyed jewel of mediaeval architecture. Stroll around the picturesque little streets of Le Mans and its old town that will lead you to restaurants, pavement cafés, delicatessens, chocolate makers as Béline (varieties of chocolates, truffles, sugared fruits, caviar, macaroons, pastries and ice creams, Place Saint-Nicolas) and artist crafts shops including musical instrument makers, book-binders, milliners as Nelly Bichet (in the Plantagenêt town) and painters make the historic heart of the town a vibrant place.
www.lemanstourisme.com

Bienvenue à la Ferme label
Pull up a chair! Small local producers, in Assé le Boisne, Neuvy-en-Champagne and elsewhere, open their farms so you can see how cider is made. At Conlie and Gesnes-le-Gandelin, flour production is the spearhead. At the Musée de l'Abeille (the bee museum) at Saint-Germain-sur-Sarthe, honey and its by-products are presented in all manner of ways. This local produce can be bought from specialist local shops. If you prefer to move straight to the dining table, our rural inns and gastronomic restaurants will lead you to an appreciation of the Marmite Sarthoise (Sarthe Stew Pot), created by several devoted chefs.
www.bienvenue-a-la-ferme.com/en/Sarthe/farms-3719.htm