The old route to Le Mans
Discussion
I still use the N138 from Rouen to Le Mans. Its largely straight with some duel. But it goes through all the villages and valleys, which slows you down a fair bit, especially as most villages have by-passes, with 4 small roundabouts, which really does slow you down, but if you've go the time its a fast drive in the country
From memory, Calais to Rouen isn't as good on the D1001 and D928. This too has been replaced by Peage (free south of Abbeville). If you get bored with the D roads you can always join the Peage at the next junction.
Well worth a try, but allow for the extra time
From memory, Calais to Rouen isn't as good on the D1001 and D928. This too has been replaced by Peage (free south of Abbeville). If you get bored with the D roads you can always join the Peage at the next junction.
Well worth a try, but allow for the extra time
Depending what you mean by THE old route (and ignoring the Calais region) we go cross country on D roads from Abbeville, crossing Le Seine at Les Andeles rather than Rouen. That route won't have changed much over the years.
The Calais stretch is straight forward non-motorway, at least south from Boulogne-sun-Mer - but I've yet to find any interesting driving roads in the Pas to make it worth the extra 45min.
Of course you can just tell your satnav/Google Maps to aboid motorways and toll roads you'll get a route that would 99% be a pre-motorway one... (Though interestingly Google DOESN'T take you all the way over to Alen on and down the old N138, which was certainly the 'classic' entry in to Le Mans). 2.5hrs longer Calais to Le Mans in case anyone's interested.
The Calais stretch is straight forward non-motorway, at least south from Boulogne-sun-Mer - but I've yet to find any interesting driving roads in the Pas to make it worth the extra 45min.
Of course you can just tell your satnav/Google Maps to aboid motorways and toll roads you'll get a route that would 99% be a pre-motorway one... (Though interestingly Google DOESN'T take you all the way over to Alen on and down the old N138, which was certainly the 'classic' entry in to Le Mans). 2.5hrs longer Calais to Le Mans in case anyone's interested.
Edited by //j17 on Sunday 29th May 12:11
A good old skool route is the one we take. Autoroute to Abbeville, then south to Marseille-en-Beauvaisi, south west through Gournay-en-Bray to Les Andelys. Cross the Seine and through Évreux and south south west, through L'Aigle and Bellême and Bonnêtable into Le Mans from the north east.
Only traffic you tend to see is when you briefly join the Le Mans outter ring road for about 2 junctions before you're at the circuit.
Only traffic you tend to see is when you briefly join the Le Mans outter ring road for about 2 junctions before you're at the circuit.
//j17 said:
A good old skool route is the one we take. Autoroute to Abbeville, then south to Marseille-en-Beauvaisi, south west through Gournay-en-Bray to Les Andelys. Cross the Seine and through vreux and south south west, through L'Aigle and Bell me and Bonn table into Le Mans from the north east.
Only traffic you tend to see is when you briefly join the Le Mans outter ring road for about 2 junctions before you're at the circuit.
Ill take a look at that one, thank you Only traffic you tend to see is when you briefly join the Le Mans outter ring road for about 2 junctions before you're at the circuit.
A note of caution chaps,using the old route from Rouen D route has its peril's.
Most village's have roundabout's,lots of and very pretty one's too ,slow down and admire, because most have a camera enforced speed limit of 50kph...........31mph
I successfully collected a few fines returning from the classic in 2018,in a vw campervan.
Time allows me to laugh now , a t25 speeding ,ha ha ,
but i had 3 fines to prove it can landing on my doorstep a few weeks later.
Just be careful.
Enjoy your trips.
Most village's have roundabout's,lots of and very pretty one's too ,slow down and admire, because most have a camera enforced speed limit of 50kph...........31mph
I successfully collected a few fines returning from the classic in 2018,in a vw campervan.
Time allows me to laugh now , a t25 speeding ,ha ha ,
but i had 3 fines to prove it can landing on my doorstep a few weeks later.
Just be careful.
Enjoy your trips.
They did go mad on speed cameras about 5 years ago. You have the old 4 drawer filing cabinet type, the two poles, and the gantry types. They announced a mobile system that could work on cars going either way, but I've heard no more. Best bet is to look for a parked blue car with a man looking through binoculars, either behind the car or in the bushes, especially on the way back to Calais.
Back to the old route - I haven't made it yet, but I'm told the Perche valley is picturesque. It runs north south about 20 miles east of Alencon. Aim for Mortagne au Perche to Belleme. It may fit in with routes via Evreux
Back to the old route - I haven't made it yet, but I'm told the Perche valley is picturesque. It runs north south about 20 miles east of Alencon. Aim for Mortagne au Perche to Belleme. It may fit in with routes via Evreux
As I am lead to believe, when the uk cars were driven to the circuit from the uk (I’m talking pre 1939), the drivers used to stop in Gace for a bite to eat. As a tradition we stopped there for many years for breakfast as there is a typical square with a couple of restaurants on it.
Unfortunately since the peage avoids the town, in recent years it has become some what neglected which is a shame, as there were always a few Classics to admire.
Unfortunately since the peage avoids the town, in recent years it has become some what neglected which is a shame, as there were always a few Classics to admire.
Plus8 said:
As I am lead to believe, when the uk cars were driven to the circuit from the uk (I’m talking pre 1939), the drivers used to stop in Gace for a bite to eat. As a tradition we stopped there for many years for breakfast as there is a typical square with a couple of restaurants on it.
Unfortunately since the peage avoids the town, in recent years it has become some what neglected which is a shame, as there were always a few Classics to admire.
Still sounds like a pleasant enough place for a stop thoughUnfortunately since the peage avoids the town, in recent years it has become some what neglected which is a shame, as there were always a few Classics to admire.
When I've done the overnight Portsmouth/Le Havre route we used to stop just west, in Trun. Nice, basic brasserie for brunch (followed by a cake for later from the patisserie next door) and always got a parking space right outside - https://goo.gl/maps/d58qAzXboCrwtn556
For the Calais run it's stop in the square in Les Andelys (hoping they have finished the 2021 building work, it USED to be nice...) and grab food from one of the many boulangerie (I think baking might be the towns main industry there are so many around there) - https://goo.gl/maps/uFMbpRT75udXP4nF9
The drop down and parking up - https://goo.gl/maps/Tt57MXufnN5ytmi58
And walking down to enjoy our food watchng the boats on Le Seine - https://goo.gl/maps/EcQmRM1VngjrguYd9
For the Calais run it's stop in the square in Les Andelys (hoping they have finished the 2021 building work, it USED to be nice...) and grab food from one of the many boulangerie (I think baking might be the towns main industry there are so many around there) - https://goo.gl/maps/uFMbpRT75udXP4nF9
The drop down and parking up - https://goo.gl/maps/Tt57MXufnN5ytmi58
And walking down to enjoy our food watchng the boats on Le Seine - https://goo.gl/maps/EcQmRM1VngjrguYd9
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