Sorry Richard and Seddy, we did not have time to go and see the Le Mans racetrack or the car museum. They are located a bit out of town and were a low priority somewhere behind Rita’s shopping time.
Le Mans is a very old city which can track its origins back over 7,000 years. The Romans arrived in 57 BC and expanded the city. In 280 they built a massive wall and towers, many of which are still standing. The wall and towers are one of the best preserved in the entire ancient Roman Empire. You can still see the friezes of geometric patterns that run through the walls. The old city within the walls is home to over 100 half-timbered houses that are all slowly being restored.
This next bit is for mainly for my son Jay, who imports Plantagenet brand wine from Australia. Le Mans is the Royal Plantagenet City. In 1128 the marriage of Geoffrey V (the Handsome) to the daughter of the English King Henry 1 began the Plantagenet dynasty. Geoffrey was nicknamed Plantagenet after the genet plant (broom in English) found in the surrounding Le Mans countryside. Legend has it that the nickname comes from Geoffrey’s habit of decorating his hat with broom flowers (genet) when he went hunting. In other words, he “planted genet” in his hat.
Enough history, here come the pictures.
Old City Wall and Towers. Notice the homes added to the Wall and Tower structure several centures later.
Tower and Wall. Notice the geometric patters on the walls and tower that are still visable from 280. Also, the walls and towers were built without foundations and they are not only supporting themselves but other buildings attached to them.
Row Houses built in the 1400's which have been restored and painted with their original
Virgin Chapel within Saint Julien Cathedral
Rita and Roman Wall. She is holding up as good as the wall!!!
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