Le Mans Property Insight

Le Mans is a French western city of the Sarthe department ( Pays de la Loire region). This prefecture is located at the confluence of the Sarthe and Huisne Rivers. The first one crosses Le Mans from the north to the south west whereas the second crosses it from east to south west. The city houses about 148,000 inhabitants.

Overview

Man discovered Le Mans about 3,000 years before our era. It was a main place for military activities during the Gallo-Roman period. The city is said to be the first one to have firmed a European Union treaty along with the German city of Paderborn (in 836). This is a former red city due to its typical architecture (mainly made of bricks). Thanks to its history and heritage, Le Mans is also called the Royal City.

Le Mans won the History and Art City tag and was elected the greenest city of France after Nantes (with reference to its numerous parks, gardens and open spaces). Gaze at Saint-Julien cathedral and the Maine’s counts palace. Numerous hiking paths will allow you to discover the area: historical vestiges, parks, rivers, hedged farmland and woods.

Le Mans Immobilier & Property Market Trends

In 2009, the property price for sales in Le Mans is €1,976 /sq m. This is surely a cheap area compared with other famous French towns, especially when looking at the national average (€3,197 /sq m). As regards rentals, the average of the city is slightly above the national one (€12.66 /sq m a month against €12.22 /sq m a month) which makes the area a good location for buy-to-lets. Buying a property at a low price and renting it according to the local rental market should be a profitable investment. Furthermore, over 53% of the residents are tenants, which is another asset of Le Mans. This is clearly an attractive city if you are looking for lets. If you’d rather settle in the area, then you can find cheap properties. Some of them may be converted into B & B since they have large land and many rooms.

To get updated info about property prices in Sarthe, please browse our French Property Market Reports published in the News Section every month.

5 Reasons to Buy a Property in Le Mans

• Gourmet food: Le Mans has a great gastronomic heritage, especially as regard meat. Stockbreeding has always played an important role in the area. The excellence of its produce has been recognized by the court during the monarchy time. The city is also famous for its rillettes (French pâté made of pork, goose, duck, rabbit or game). Some other typical specialities are also to be tasted: Loué chicken, Le Mans capon, Sarthe pot (a dish composed of chicken, rabbit, jam, vegetables and cream), apple pie or honey.
• Architectural style: the city is surrounded with a Gallo-Roman wall built during the end of the 3rd century. It represents the most important expression of the military architecture in France. The cité plantagenêt is the historical centre of the city. Its Roman surrounding wall is the second Late Empire best conserved monument in Europe, after the city of Rome. Stare at Notre-Dame de la Couture church and Saint-Julien cathedral. The latter gathers Romanesque and Gothic style. Some museums are also worth visiting: Musée de Tessé - an archaeological museum -, car museum, Museum of Queen Berangere displaying local specialities and art works and the green museum.
• The 24 Hours of Le Mans: this is not only the oldest sports car race in endurance racing but also the most famous one both in France and in the world. It has been taking place each year near Le Mans since 1923 and lasts 24 hours. Three pilots drive and take turns. A derived of this sports race is the 24 Hours of Le Mans moto, less renowned but also worth seeing.
• Location – transport links: the local railway network offers numerous possibilities to reach Le Mans. About 40 daily routes connect the city to Paris area (high-speed trains and regional trains). By road, Le Mans is located at a strategic junction: many motorways all round the city allow to drive to Paris, Rouen, Rennes, Nantes and Bordeaux. In the city centre, coaches offer department destinations for only €2. Finally, Le Mans-Arnage airport houses many airline companies flying to French, European and International destinations such as Paris, London or New-York.
• Economy - industries: the industry appeared in Le Mans during the 19th century. Metallurgy has developed a lot inside the town and railway activities also played an important role in the surroundings. As regards motor industry, the French concessionaire Renault has been based in the city since 1936. It has been a fundamental part of the local industry development. Famous companies specialized in electronics also set up like Schneider Television, Philips. Le Mans is, along with Saint Etienne, one of the most industrialized cities of France. However, since the deindustrialization, the city has become more devoted to the tertiary sector.

Property Styles and Architecture in Le Mans

• Mancelle houses: they are former worker houses attached the one to the others and built in the same style. Its name comes from manceau meaning ‘relative to Le Mans’. Mancelle houses are about 70 sq m dwelling with two bedrooms in general. Some needs renovation and works but you can also find habitable properties.
• Farmhouses: former farmers’ houses, they have a rectangular shape and are often constructed with stones. Shed dormers are built in the slate-tile roof. Inside, beams are exposed in most cases and you can also find a property with exposed stones. They hold outbuildings (barns, stables, hangers), a large piece of land and a close courtyard. They are located in quiet places and offer a beautiful view over the countryside.
• Longère houses: they have almost the same features of farmhouses (shape, building materials, large land, view over the countryside and exposed beams and stones inside the property) but were not built for the same purpose. Thus they don’t hold the same kind of outbuildings i.e. no stables but cottages for instance. Outbuildings are all laid out in a row. The roof is sometimes made of red tiles. Another difference is their length. Indeed, longère houses are very long properties whose back is facing the wind dominant direction.

Click here for more info about the Architecture in Pays de la Loire.