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(S/E) Start in Le Mans, Rue Tristan Bernard, near the car park by the Saint-Aldric Fountain dating from 1527. Turn left into Rue des Grands Bois, then left at the end of the street (Rue Prémartine) and immediately right into Rue Vanneaux. At the roundabout, turn left onto Rue des Fauvettes and cross the small playground. Turn right onto Rue des Cygnes. Continue in this direction along Rue de l’Ardoise. At the ‘Cygnes’ bus stop, take the small path running alongside Méhoncourt Castle.
Turn left at the end of the path. Walk 20 metres to Parc de Gazonfier. Cross Rue de l’Éventail.
(1) Enter the park. This is a realm of plum trees, poplars, ginkgo biloba, oaks and laburnums. Populated with remarkable trees, a meadow and two small woods were preserved during the development of the neighbourhood.
(2) Exit to the right before reaching the bottom of the park, and head back up towards the roundabout on Rue de Marivaux. Opposite, climb the steps leading to a cul-de-sac on Rue François Coppée. Turn left to reach the end of the street and continue straight on, following Rue de la Solitude, then keep going straight on Chemin de Malpalu at a sharp right-hand bend in the road. Enjoy a superb 180° view of the western part of the city. The footpath turns into a street and leads to a school.
(3) At Lycée Saint-Charles Sainte-Croix, turn right onto Rue Fernand Davoy. Head straight across at the roundabout and walk alongside the cemetery on Rue Emmanuel Maire, then turn left onto Rue de l’Éventail. Walk down this street to the entrance of the Jardin des Plantes (on the right).
(4) Cross the park, starting with the English-style garden. Take the rock-lined underpass (under Rue de Sinault). Walk through the French-style garden with its beautiful rose garden.
Leave the garden via the Rue Prémartine exit. Then take Rue du Jardin des Plantes opposite, then turn right at its end onto Rue de la Rivière. Continue to the second junction.
(5) Turn left (Rue des Pompes). Note the Maison des Pompes with its interesting history. You’ll come to Rue d’Isaac. Turn right and you’ll come to the church of Saint-Aldric.
(6) Go round it on the right to take the footpath. At the end of the footpath, turn right onto Rue du Docteur Boëteau, then immediately left onto Rue Abraham to reach the tram stop. Cross Rue des Maillets and take the steps leading to the entrance of Parc Banjan.
(7) Follow the main path, then the path on the left. Go round the playground. Join Boulevard Nature. Head up the path on the right. To leave the park, turn left onto Impasse Olivier and don’t miss the path on the right leading to Rue des Terrasses. Turn right then left onto Rue de Sargé before continuing straight on (Rue des Fontenelles). After 500 m, take the second right (Chemin de l’Osier). Cross Rue des Maillets to reach Rue de l’Osier. Continue straight on to Parc de Verdigné.
(8) Cross the park and, at the exit, turn right (Rue d'Isaac) to take thefirst left onto Rue Claire-Fontaine, then right again onto Rue Tristan Bernard until you reach the starting point (S/E).
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