Your webmaster has just returned from a holiday in northern France, with a recommendation: the Manor of the Automobile and Old Trades of Lohéac is well worth a visit.
The museum lies just outside Lohéac, about an hours and a half’s drive from St Malo, just south of Rennes. There is something for every taste, from early De Dion Boutons to much more recent French cars. Not surprisingly, Le Mans racers and French rally cars such as Alpines, are well represented.
As an added bonus, there is a fascinating section dealing with the old trades of the region, including complete shops and workshops – and a 1930 Hotchkiss hauling a contemporary caravan.
And when you’ve exhausted yourself seeing the hundreds of exhibits, we can also recommend the restaurant La Gibecière in the centre of Lohéac.
While at the museum, we also saw a notice from another museum that might be of interest to those of us with more interest in the internal workings of motor cars: the Musée du Moteur in Bagneux (Saumur), near Angers and south of Le Mans. A possible further place to visit?
Have a great summer – and please let us know if you have any recommendations, in the UK or overseas – we’ll be happy to share them with the membership.
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