Venir / se déplacer au Mans

1) FLYING INTO FRANCE

The best way to come to the conference by plane is to land at either of Paris's airports.

Your choice of airplane company usually determines which airport you will land at.

The two Parisian airports are:

• Paris-Charles-de-Gaulle ("CDG"), the busiest French airport, lies approximately 23 kms northeast of Paris.
• Paris-Orly ("ORY") is situated around 10 kms south of Paris.

Airports in other cities (e.g., Bordeaux or Nantes) run international flights. Bordeaux lies around 450 kms (or 280 mi) away from Le Mans while Nantes is situated much closer (180 kms, or 110 mi).

2) GETTING TO LE MANS ONCE YOU ARE IN PARIS

> If you're landing at Paris-Charles-de-Gaulle (CDG), the easiest way to travel to Le Mans is to take a direct TGV train (a high-speed train, for "Train à Grande Vitesse").

There are DIRECT TGVs to Le Mans leaving right from CDG airport.

In other words, in this case, you do not need to go to Paris' city center to catch a train: simply walk from your CDG terminal to CDG's TGV station.

It usually takes 80 mins to reach Le Mans from CDG's train station.

> If you're landing at Orly airport (ORY), the easiest way to travel to Le Mans is to take the Underground to Gare Montparnasse (Montparnasse train station).

Take a METRO LINE 14 TRAIN to "Bercy" underground station (10 stops from Orly Airport), then a METRO LINE 6 to "Montparnasse".(11 stops from Bercy underground station).

> You should buy your TGV tickets online, as early as possible. All TGVs can be reserved online 3 months ahead, at https://www.sncf-connect.com/

You can also download the "SNCF Connect" app here: https://www.sncf-connect.com/outils/application-mobile (go to the bottom of the page)

Two important notes:

1) LUGGAGE ALLOWANCE ON FRENCH TRAINS

Train operators advise travellers to "pack lightly".

Please chech your luggage allowance on this website: https://www.sncf-voyageurs.com/en/travel-with-us/plan-your-journey/luggage-on-bpard/

2) LOW-COST HIGH-SPEED TRAINS CALLED "OUIGOs"

A few TGV trains are called OUIGOs. A OUIGO is a low-cost version of a TGV train, running at the same high speed but with rules of its own. For instance, for a OUIGO train you will need to:

•    Print your ticket yourself or download it into your OUIGO telephone app;
•    Show a piece of ID before boarding;
•    Board your train 30 mins before departure.

On OUIGOs, no refreshments are usually sold onboard. On the other hand, fares start at a mere €10, but will vary, depending on how many pieces of luggage you are taking with you. In other words, this is cheaper – but do read the fine print!

3) GETTING AROUND IN LE MANS

Here are a few helpful street maps:

> City Centre: with a street name index (the Old Town is highlighted in orange).

> Old Town ("Cité Plantagenêt"): Basic 1-page map or A few historical pointers with a 2D map (English at right)

4) TAKING THE TRAM TO GET TO THE CONFERENCE

 > Here's a map of all the stops between the train station and our university: as a PDF file or an image.

> Please note:

   The T1 tram (from Antarès to Université) will take you easily from the city centre to the University.

   Trams run every 6 minutes, both ways.

    It is best to get off the tram at "Campus-Ribay", that is to say just one stop before the final stop.

5) TOURIST INFORMATION ABOUT LE MANS

> Information for day-trippers or week-end visitors: in English or in French.

> Why is Le Mans dubbed "The Home of the Plantagenets"? Learn why here, in English or in French.

> Visitors to the Old Town should not miss the Cathedral or those 10 must-sees (in French).

> Visitors can ride the tram to follow Le Mans' Architecture trail or Nature trail (in French).

> Full tourist guide: in French.