Le Mans, in France, has little reputation—yes, even in France—beyond its connection to the auto race known as Le 24 Heures du Mans. (Where, yep, people drive cars for a solid twenty-four hours straight.)

To illustrate: On a trip to Toulouse we passed a group of young adults and overheard one ask another where he grew up. When he said, “Le Mans,” the female said, “Where?”

She’d never heard of it.

However, if you find yourself in Le Mans either to visit people (like me) or to accompany a race fan, I have a few ideas for you on what to do, see, and eat that has nothing to do with motorsports.

Food and Dining Options in Le Mans

Though Le Mans has no reputation for gastronomy, it takes pride in its local specialty—a pork paté called “les rillettes de porc”—and you’ll find several tasty dining options for your visit:

• If in Le Mans on a beautiful day, consider lunch on the terrace at La Bourse. We enjoyed our simply-prepared three-course meals from the midday menu—and the people watching.

• For a family-friendly meal with warm and welcoming service, try Le Capitole. The wait staff and owner received us with smiles and friendly conversation for a late dinner amid happy families and groups of all ages.

• The pizza at Libertà surprised us, as we are more than a little snobby when it comes to a good Napoletan-style pizza, from the crust to the toppings. You can eat in the restaurant—which aims for a trendy atmosphere that, if I’m honest, I found a little lacking—or get a pizza to go.

• We purchased meats, cheeses, assorted appetizers, and even dessert at the centrally located Chez L’Italien. Though you won’t find sit-down dining, you can take away a fantastic picnic—or yummy meals and snacks to enjoy at your place of stay.

• For an elegant meal, try Le Grenier à Sel. We enjoyed a delicious family birthday luncheon with elegant, impeccable service at this Michelin-recommended restaurant. You can order from the multiple-course menu or choose à la carte.

And hey, while in Le Mans, do try the pork paté. I didn’t love it—but I didn’t hate it, either. (I even specially called out not hating it in my list of regional delicacies to skip while in France!)

Tourist-Site Recommendations for Le Mans

If you’ve come to Le Mans for the race, you’ll find the race and a museum dedicated to the race. (Of course.)

However, if you’d like to spread your horizons or if you have zero interest in racing or cars, Le Mans has other options as well:

• The Musée Jean-Claude-Boulard Carré Plantagenêt—I know, what a long name!—is a free museum focused on the region’s archaeology from prehistoric times through the medieval era, with artifacts from each epoch.

• In the center of town, you can visit a massive mostly Gothic cathedral built between the 11th and 15th centuries, the Cathédrale de Saint-Julien de Mans. It features its original 12th century stained-glass windows and ceiling paintings from the 14th century.

• Though not large, I highly recommend a stroll through the medieval old town in Le Mans, known as the Cité Plantagenêt, where you’ll find the cathedral mentioned above and, on a few of the sides, remains of the old roman and medieval fortified walls.

Also, as always, I’d recommend stopping into the Le Mans tourism office to see what they have to offer and what they can recommend to suit your specific tastes.

Where to Stay in Le Mans

Le Mans doesn’t get much tourism outside of the race, so it doesn’t have the greatest options when it comes rental apartments. However, it has a few decent options and serviceable hotels. You’ll find several acceptable places to stay—though nothing particularly elegant.

I’d recommend you stay in the old town or city center, unless you want to sleep as close to the racetrack as possible at race time.

Though Le Mans will mainly attract race fans, those of us there to work, visit family and friends, or tag along with someone who wants to watch the 24 Heures du Mans won’t go completely without things to do, see, and eat.