Excellence Luxury Villas · Le Mans
Luxury Chateaux to Rent near Le Mans
Chateaux and manor houses from the Sarthe to the Loire, within reach of the circuit and the vineyards
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Race weekend, Plantagenet history and the Loire close by
For most Britons, Le Mans means one weekend in June, when the 24 Hours fills the Sarthe with engine noise and campfire smoke. The city has an older story too. Its hilltop old town, the Cité Plantagenêt, is ringed by one of the most complete Gallo-Roman walls to survive anywhere, and Henry II, the first Plantagenet king of England, was born here in 1133. Around it lies quiet, wooded countryside of manors, rivers and vineyards that runs south to the Loire.
Our collection here runs to 70+ properties, most of them chateaux and manor houses spread across western France. They range from the Sarthe around Le Mans to the vineyards of Maine-et-Loire, the Vendée and the Indre. The largest has 39 bedrooms, so this is one of the easier corners of France in which to gather a whole family under one slate roof.
Below you will find the areas, the race and the best months to come.
Le Mans at a glance
- Chateaux
- 70+ chateaux and manor houses, with up to 39 bedrooms
- Guide prices
- Typically £3,000 to £8,100 a week, from around £1,800
- Best areas
- The Sarthe for the circuit, Maine-et-Loire for Saumur and the vineyards, the Vendée and the Indre for quiet country
- Best time
- May to September; June for the 24 Hours, September and October for the grape harvest
- Getting there
- TGV from Paris Montparnasse to Le Mans in around an hour; the Channel ports at Caen and St Malo are a drive away
Browse all 70+ properties in Le Mans
Villa numbers and guide prices are updated daily from our live collection.
Château Philippe de Fay | Normandy Chateau Rental | Sleeps Up To 100 Guests39 bedrooms
Chateau Gombardy & Cottage France6 bedrooms
Rent Domaine Le Mans Loire Valley9 bedrooms
Chateau Cendrillon France9 bedroomsWhere to stay in Le Mans
The Sarthe for Le Mans and the circuit, Maine-et-Loire for Saumur, Fontevraud and the Layon vineyards, the Vendée for Puy du Fou and the Atlantic, and the Indre for the lakes of the Brenne.
A Roman wall, a cathedral and the Circuit de la Sarthe
Le Mans rewards an afternoon on foot. The cobbled lanes of the Cité Plantagenêt climb to the Cathedral of Saint-Julien, with its medieval stained glass, and the Gallo-Roman walls along the river are still in remarkable condition. Old-town restaurants keep to local cooking, and a pot of rillettes du Mans is the obvious place to start.
The 24 Hours has been run on the Circuit de la Sarthe since 1923 and comes round every June, with scrutineering held in the city centre in the days before the start. The Musée des 24 Heures at the circuit is worth a visit in any month. Chateaux in the Sarthe, around villages such as Lombron and Saint-Jean-du-Bois, put you within a short drive of both.
Browse chateaux in the Sarthe
White stone, cave cellars and Plantagenet tombs
About an hour and a half south of Le Mans, the country around Saumur is built of pale tufa stone, and the hills are riddled with troglodyte caves that now hold wine cellars, mushroom farms and the odd restaurant. Saumur is home to the Cadre Noir, France's elite riding school, and to sparkling wines that cost a fraction of Champagne.
Fontevraud Abbey, a short drive away, holds the tombs of Henry II, Eleanor of Aquitaine and Richard the Lionheart. It makes a fitting pair with a visit to Le Mans. Our chateaux near Les Ulmes, Concourson-sur-Layon and Vernantes sit among the vineyards of the Loire Valley, which is listed by UNESCO.
Browse chateaux in Maine-et-Loire
Hedgerows, lakes and a famous spectacle
West of the Loire, the Vendée's farmland of hedges and sunken lanes hides villages such as Menomblet, within reach of Puy du Fou. This historical theme park is known for its huge night show, and children talk about it for months afterwards. The Atlantic beaches are an easy day out.
Further east, the Indre around Ciron borders the Brenne, a regional nature park known as the land of a thousand ponds and loved by birdwatchers. To the north, a chateau in Eure-et-Loir puts Chartres and its great Gothic cathedral within easy reach.
Browse chateaux in the Vendée
Rillettes, Saumur-Champigny and a long summer
This is unshowy, generous country for food. Expect rillettes and rillons, river fish with beurre blanc, goats' cheeses, and honeyed Coteaux du Layon with pudding. Red Saumur-Champigny is the local wine to drink with lunch, and many growers welcome visitors to their cave cellars.
May to September brings the warmest weather and long evenings by the pool. Race week in June books up very early, so plan well ahead if you want to be near the circuit. September and October bring the harvest and quieter roads. Our concierge can arrange wine tastings, private chefs, restaurant tables and help with race week.
Ask our conciergeFeatured properties in Le Mans
Chateau De St Louis France10 bedrooms · sleeps 20From £11,786 a week
Chateau de La Belle France22 bedrooms · sleeps 44From £11,448 a week
Chateau Des Dynasties France9 bedrooms · sleeps 18From £10,260 a week
Chateau De Vezins | 9-Bedroom Chateau in Vezins Nuaille9 bedrooms · sleeps 17From £10,066 a week
Rent Luxury Chateau Le Mans Loire Valley14 bedrooms · sleeps 28From £10,000 a week
Chateau Alvere France12 bedrooms · sleeps 24From £9,793 a week
Chateau Le Logis Du General France10 bedrooms · sleeps 20From £9,000 a week
Chateau De Court France8 bedrooms · sleeps 16From £8,455 a weekWhy book your house in Le Mans with Excellence Luxury Villas
The right house, not the nearest one
Our chateaux here are spread across several departments, some close to the circuit and others among the Saumur vineyards, and we know which suit race week and which suit a long, slow summer. With 70+ properties in Le Mans, we can usually find the house that suits you rather than the one that happens to be free. Search by size, pool, location and price, or tell us what you have in mind and we will put together a shortlist.
Book direct
You book with us directly, with no booking fees. Questions about access, parking, pool heating or how far it really is to the nearest beach go to people who can find out the answer.
A concierge who knows the territory
Help with race week, wine tastings in Saumur and the Layon, private chefs, restaurant reservations, tickets for Puy du Fou, car hire and transfers from Le Mans station or the Channel ports. Our concierge team arranges all of it, leaving you free to decide which terrace to sit on.
A house for every kind of party
Couples, families with small children, three generations together or a crowd of friends celebrating a birthday: we match the house to the group, down to the number of bathrooms and whether the pool is fenced.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where should I stay for a chateau holiday near Le Mans?
Choose the Sarthe if you want to be close to Le Mans and the circuit. Maine-et-Loire, around Saumur, is the choice for wine, Fontevraud and the Loire Valley, while the Vendée and the Indre suit those who want deep countryside and space.
When is the best time to visit?
May to September is best for warm weather and time by the pool. The 24 Hours of Le Mans takes place each June, and September and October are lovely for the grape harvest around Saumur.
How close are your chateaux to the 24 Hours circuit?
Our properties in the Sarthe are a short drive from the Circuit de la Sarthe. Those in Maine-et-Loire, the Vendée and the Indre are further away, so tell us if race week is the reason for your trip and we will suggest the best-placed chateaux.
Can you arrange a private chef at a house in Le Mans?
Yes. Our concierge can arrange a private chef for a single dinner or your whole stay, along with cookery lessons, guided visits, transfers and restaurant reservations.
How much does a luxury propertie in Le Mans cost?
Across our 70+ properties in Le Mans, weekly rates typically range from £3,000 to £8,100, with the most affordable from around £1,800 a week and the largest estates well above. Prices depend on the size of the property, its location and the season, with July and August the most expensive. These are guide prices based on current listings; each property page shows its own rates for your dates.
How do I get to Le Mans from the UK?
The TGV from Paris Montparnasse reaches Le Mans in around an hour, so the Eurostar is an easy option. Drivers can take the ferry to Caen or St Malo and be in the Sarthe in a few hours. Our concierge can arrange transfers and car hire.
Are there houses in Le Mans for large groups?
Yes. Our Le Mans collection includes properties with up to 39 bedrooms. Tell us the size of your party and the occasion, and we will send a shortlist that suits it.
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Find your house in Le Mans
Tell us your dates and who is coming, and we will find the right chateau among our 70+