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I work for an independent television production company in England. We have been commissioned by The Discovery Channel to make a new series about people leaving the UK to begin new lives in France and Spain. Having seen the fabulous range of properties on your website I was wondering if you may be able to be of assistance

We are looking for interesting properties owned and renovated by English people, these will work as inspirational properties to feature in the series. Ideally we would like one in a large city, one in the mountains, one on the coast .(but that's our wish list)

We are able to pay a small facility fee to anyone with an interesting property and story to tell who would allow us to feature them in the series.. We are following a couple about to begin work on a property in the Normandy region of France but I would love to hear about any interesting properties throughout France.

I would be extremely grateful if you could contact me if any one you think may be suitable.

Many thanks and kind regards

Tom Weston
Two Four Productions
Quay West Studios
Old Newnham
Plymouth
PL7 5BH
01752 333900
tomweston@twofour.co.uk

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The department Mayenne (also the name of a town and the river) is divided into several regions with Laval as the capital. It conceals many surprises and hidden treasures in the generosity of a green landscape: chateaux, abbeys, megaliths, gardens, sign-posted walks, picturesque villages and curiosities.

And of course there is the rich culture of gastronomy with regional specialities such as local beef, black and white pudding, cheeses, pies, sweet and savoury pancakes; apples, pears and drinks derived from them such as cider, calvados (drunk as the famous Trou Normand and an excellent digestif), pommeau (aperitif based on apples) and poiré (Perry, based on pears and nicknamed “Normandy Champagne”). On the roads you will often see signs “Goutez à la Mayenne”, which not only means the local restaurants. You can also visit farms, being guided around, taste and buy their specialities.

The Bocage in the north-west of the department, lush with fields, orchards and hedgerows, sits on the borders of Normandy and Brittany. Scattered to the four winds one can be submerged in a variety of splendid beauty.

GARDENS

• Close by in Colombiers-du-Plessis you can visit Les Jardins des Renaudies, a garden in an enchanting valley, with 3,000 species of plants, a real bouquet of rhododendrons, azaleas, roses, camellias, etc. There are plants for sale, bonsai exhibitions and artists painting/drawing at certain times during the Summer.
• Another pleasant experience is the private garden in La Pellerine (between Ernée and Fougères), a succession of small enclosed gardens around a 16th century house, each with a different theme. There are also plants for sale in the big greenhouse (if you come in the “right” season). Ernée, by the way is a very pleasant town with a lively market and huge sculptures by Louis Debré, the local “enfant terrible”. Fougères is a modern town with its cascading fountains and a very relaxing walk in the park along the river, down to the chateau.
• The chateau at Craon (about 2 hours driving south-west), the perfect example of 18th century architecture and visible from all the surrounding countryside. An immense, landscaped park with formal gardens laid out in 1930 stretch on either side, with a swan lake as a backdrop. The vegetable garden has three large, restored greenhouses and an “orangerie”.
• The Floral Park in Le Châtellier is amazing with amongst others a labyrinth of camellias, based on the minotaur legend; the lagoon with all the nuances of blue flowers; the valley of the poets with plants from all over the world; the Robinson garden, especially designed for children.

“PETITS CITÉS de CHARACTÈRE”

There are only six in the department that qualify for this title:

• Nestled between rocks, water and greenery is Chailland which will enchant nature and history lovers. It is the combination of the elements and the presence of minerals that saw, from the 15th century, the installation of forges. High on the top there is a little chapel with picnic area and a huge statue of the Virgin dominating the village. Chailland sits at the end of the forest and there are beautiful walks along the river with unforgettable views.
• Go and search for gargoyles at Lassay-les-Chateaux, the castle that dominates the old houses and its towers reflecting in the lakes. In the small streets you can admire many old houses. There is also a rose garden (free entry) with 300 varieties. You can walk along the river and admire the ancient wash houses bedecked with flowers. Further up the road you can discover the romantic ruins of a fortified, provincial manor (15th & 16th century) at Bois-Thibault. Pissarro has lived in the Lassay countryside. Whilst in the area go for a walk in Niort-la-Fontaine, where a sunken road/footpath exhibits several reproductions of paintings of the artist and of Ludovic Piette, friend of Pissarro .
• The medieval town of Sainte-Suzanne (to the east of Laval)) is situated on a ridge of sandstone, which is abruptly interrupted by a gorge. It is certainly not here that William the Conqueror gained his flattering reputation as he was never able to capture the town. The 11th century stronghold rises 70m above the river Erve. Different rooms in the small museum exhibit the principal periods of its history. At the foot of the ramparts of the citadel several beautiful walks offer magnificent views. In Summer the medieval spectacles enhance the atmosphere even more. This place enlightens the spirits!
• Saulges is worth a visit for its prehistoric caverns and canyon. You need to be a bit sportive though to descend the 25 metres down some ladders to admire the beautiful stalagmites and stalactites. Also on site are two historical treasures: the 7th century church St Pierre with its alabaster – rather than glass – windows and the 12th century Nôtre Dame church with one of the most famous marble altar-pieces of this area.

JUST ACROSS TO THE ORNE DEPARTMENT ....

• Apart from the ruins of the old castle and the keep, the ramparts and the towers, Domfront, (which originates from the 11th century) allows you such wonderful views of the surrounding countryside that it already justifies your visit. In Summer there are medieval festivals, with groups dressed up as lords and ladies, princes and princesses, stilt walkers, troubadours, but also music taking you back in time and a chance to play some old fashioned games. Wonderful!
• Go through the Parc National de Normandie-Maine – 240,000 ha of deep forest (wild boar and deer) - and you come to the favourite place for the young, fashionable people and the older visitors/residents, sipping their small coffee or a Pastis on the many street terraces: Bagnoles, with its thermal spa resort of world-wide reputation and casino. You can visit this flowered town on foot or by horse-drawn carriages. Just outside of Bagnoles you can visit the 19th century chateau of Tessé-la-Madeleine with its arboretum, a collection of 149 botanical species.

HISTORY

• Take off your shoes and put on your sandals ! The life and death of a Gallo-Roman town can be admired in the remains of Jublains. It is the biggest site of antiquity in Western France. The first signs of occupation trace back to the 3rd century BC. Stepping back in time one discovers the Fortress, the Temple, the Thermes where people took their baths, the Theatre that assembled populace and notables. The Archaeological Museum explains its flourishing past and the history of Mayenne.
• Laval, the capital of Mayenne is divided by the river of the same name. One side of the river bank is the old town (partly pedestrianised), dominated by the chateau, which has a collection of “naïve” art, and the cathedral which has some remarkable altar-pieces, famous in this part of France. You can also visit two original wash boats, now museums. There used to be ten of them, privately owned, where one could pay to have your laundry done, obviously using the water of the river !

You can enjoy a 1½ hour´s tour by boat on the Mayenne or hire your own boat.

WEIRD…!

There are so many museums to visit, scattered amongst towns and countryside! But there is an absolutely remarkable one at Cossé-le-Vivien, surrounded by fields, grazing cows and orchards: the Robert Tatin Museum. The domain is an extraordinary feat of creativity and eccentricity. Fantasy materialised where everything witnesses unbounded imagination. You start the visit with the Way of the Giants, bordered by 19 statues in cement, representing people who have influenced the artist (Gauguin, Picasso, Jules Verne, Jeanne d´Arc…). The metaphysical and esoteric aspects are omnipresent with references to “to be or to have”, an amalgamation of beliefs, religion, wisdom, legend and mythology from all over the world. Humour and absurdity, it is all there with gateways, rooms and halls in the open air!

TOWARDS THE COAST ....

To the west, in less than an hour´s drive there is the Mont St Michel, one of the great architectural wonders of France. The abbey, museums and narrow cobbled main street are the centre of attraction of this granite monument situated at the and of a bay that stretches from Cancale to Granville.

• Cancale is an authentic little fishing port well known for its oysters which are regularly transported through the town by tractor driven trailer loads. From the top of the church tower (60m high) there is a panoramic view of the Bay. There are wonderful sights at the Point de Grouin, a sanctuary for birds.
• South of Dol de Bretagne (the Dol is a small hill that dominates the surrounding flat countryside) one can visit the Castle of Combourg, the medieval stronghold, built between the 12th and 15th century, immortalised by the famous romantic writer François René Chateaubriand. Book lovers can wander to their heart´s content in the nearby old town of Bécherel with about a dozen book shops and some art galleries.
• Another interesting place is the old town of Saint-Malo with its National Fort, ramparts, draw-bridge and underground passage. Inside the walled city are old streets and houses, the cathedral, the fish market and the Aquarium.

GEE-GEES!

Mayenne has the winged-horse of Pegasus as its symbol, with the caption “Widen your horizons”. Horse riding (per hour or even per day) is available within easy driving distance, and so are the race courses with their many events.

In Juvigny-sous-Andaine (6 km from Bagnoles) you can watch for over an hour a superb show with about 20 horses (mostly Percherons). There is Hungarian bareback riding, vaulting, team riding (with up to 7 horses). A feature is “the return of Ben Hur” with spectacular chariot racing. This Draught-Horse Farm has a collection of horse-drawn farm implements dating back to 1830.

The Haras du Pin, east of Argentan, regularly has horse riding events open to the public. During the visit there is a commentary on stallions and carriages. This National Stud Farm, built between 1715 and 1730, has a majestic front gate and the main courtyard is laid out in the shape of a horseshoe.

There are 23 national stud farms in France. The Haras de Saint-Lô (Manche) has a courtyard dating back to 1879. The stables consist of more than hundred horses, thoroughbred English, French saddle-horses and trotters, Normandy Cobs and Percherons.

OTHER SPORTING ACTIVITIES

There are open-air swimming pools close by in Gorron and at Ambrières. In the latter you can also participate in tennis, archery, with canoe/kayak and pedaloes on the large lake. Fishing is possible in most rivers, although a permit is required. Hikers and VTT (all terrain bikes) enthusiasts will be delighted with the many sign-posted routes. Golfers are well catered for with a variety of courses – 9 hole at Bagnoles and 18 holes close to Laval, two on the way to St Malo, and one close to Vitré, which is set in the grounds of a magnificent chateau and where you can keep your golf shoes on in the club house! It is situated in the converted stables which still retain the original flag-stone flooring.

Martine and David Dowden of Les Rochers

Why not stay at Les Rochers?

Last minute availability - Two weeks available in the Gard / Cevennes National Park from 18th May. Chck out Late Availability section on home page.

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