Self-catering holiday homes: Mayenne

Make a holiday rental gite or property in Mayenne, France your home away from home

The quiet, rural department of Mayenne lies between the Loire Valley and southern Normandy, in the Western Loire, which has been declared as a ‘cultural landscape of exceptional beauty’ by UNESCO. It is a peaceful department where eating well, enjoying the countryside and unwinding slowly are the favoured pastimes for holiday makers staying in self catering Mayenne properties or gites.

Things to do on holiday in Mayenne, France

The northern part of Mayenne, France, is protected by the boundaries of the Parc Naturel Regional de Normandie et Maine, which is a huge area of unspoilt forested hills, which draw tourists to Mayenne properties from across Europe to walk, ride and cycle through the hugely attractive scenery. Cycling from town to town is a highly enjoyable way to explore from a Mayenne property, but you can also choose to go by car or boat is you do not feel you have the energy to cycle!

The rivers which cross the park and the Mayenne River which crosses the department are teeming with fish, and throughout the fishing season, anglers and fisherman can be seen trying their luck along the banks or wading in the shallows of the many rivers which gently meander through the countryside.

There is a strong sense of history throughout Mayenne, with frequent reminders of the department’s rough past throughout both town and country. The Roman town of Les Jublains is the best place to visit from a Mayenne gite to see remnants of the past. There are Roman temples, baths and a huge theatre on view in Les Jublains, and are well worth visiting.

Places to holiday in Mayenne, France

Mayenne’s capital, Laval, is a clean, stone town, surrounded by thick defensive walls with the 11th Century Chateau standing proudly in the town centre. Laval is a very cultural town, and there are often galleries, shows and performances occurring in various venues throughout the town. To see what is on where, check the local papers when you arrive in your holiday rental property in Mayenne.

The town of Mayenne itself is a quiet, rural town, well known for its delicious local foods and wines. There are many magnificent restaurants to choose from, where you can sample some of the 40 local wines, 100 cheeses and 300 desserts of Mayenne! There is plenty to see in the town, with historic chateau and relaxing spas, but if you think you may get lost when you first arrive in your holiday rental property in Mayenne, free tours of the town can be taken from the Tourist Information office at 2:30 daily during July and August.

Weather in Mayenne, France

Mayenne is blessed with a very mild climate, where temperatures never get unpleasantly hot, so if you like it warm but not scorching, a gite in Mayenne during the summer is perfect. Average temperatures hover around the 20˚C mark during the summer, and rarely dip below 5˚C in winter.

Flights to Mayenne, France

Dinan Airport (DNU) is the closest to a holiday rental property in Mayenne. Approximately 90 minutes from the centre of Mayenne, Dinan Airport receives daily flights from London Stansted (STN) and East Midlands Airport (EMA). The ports of the France’s north coast are around 2 hours drive if you wish to bring your car over on the ferry.

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