First pick
Arche de la Nature
Park or garden
495 ha63.7 km of path
14 h 10 minto walk all 63.7 km of path
3.9 km eastfrom the center
Chemin de l'Épau au Gué-PerréChemin aux BœufsChemin aux Boeufs+3 paths
Directionsto a point inside
Photo: David Brossard · CC BY-SA 2.06.6%woodland
Outdoors in Le Mans · protected areas, woods and footpaths
Le Mans has more footpaths per km² than 9 in 10 French towns
287 km of footpaths cross Le Mans (5.5 km per km²). No protected area reaches Le Mans; the nearest, Vallée du Narais, forêt de Bercé et ruisseau du Dinan (Natura 2000), is 11 km from the town center. 6.6% of Le Mans is mapped woodland. France has no Outdoors Grade yet: these are the figures, each beside the compared towns’ median.
Protected areas
0%
of the commune’s land
Nearest: Vallée du Narais, forêt de Bercé et ruisseau du Dinan, 11 km
Woodland
6.6%
of the land, mapped on OpenStreetMap
Compared town: 13%
Footpaths
287 km
5.5 km per km²
Compared town: 1.7 km per km²
Hiking routes
24 km
waymarked, GR and others
Compared town: 0.3 km per km²
Parks & woods
30
named, in or within 400 m of the commune
First: Arche de la Nature
Throughout this page, the Sarthe median and the France median are the median of compared communes (those with an overall grade), each figure its own median.
Against French towns
How Le Mans compares with French towns
Each figure against the 3,798 compared French towns (communes with an overall grade): the marked bar is the town’s, the line the median. Described, not graded.
Protected areas0%Share of the land in a national park, regional nature park, nature reserve or Natura 2000 site
22out of 100
Woodland6.6%Share of the land mapped as forest or woods on OpenStreetMap
29out of 100
Footpaths5.5 km per km²Km of mapped footpath and track open on foot, per km² of the commune
92out of 100
Hiking routes0.5 km per km²Km of waymarked hiking routes (GR and others), per km² of the commune
58out of 100
Percentiles among compared French towns; ties count half.
Towns its size
Le Mans has the 21st fewest footpaths per km² of 41 towns its size
The 40 compared French towns nearest in population (100,679 to 185,140 residents), by km of footpath per km². Hover for each one’s protected land and woods; click for its page.
From Paris 12e (16.7 km per km²) to Nîmes (1.3 km per km²).
Every town in the comparison
| Town | Paths (km/km²) | Woodland | Protected | Coast | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Paris 12e Paris | 16.7 | 30% | 0% | 153 km |
| 2 | Paris 16e Paris | 11.9 | 25% | 0% | 147 km |
| 3 | Grenoble Isère | 11.6 | 4.6% | 0% | 204 km |
| 4 | Paris 19e Paris | 11.1 | 2.1% | 0% | 148 km |
| 5 | Paris 20e Paris | 10.9 | 0.1% | 0% | 151 km |
| 6 | Paris 14e Paris | 10.6 | 0.4% | 0% | 151 km |
| 7 | Paris 13e Paris | 9.2 | 0.4% | 0% | 152 km |
| 8 | Caen Calvados | 8.1 | 2.4% | 0% | 14 km |
| 9 | Tours Indre-et-Loire | 7.8 | 6.3% | 4.7% | 184 km |
| 10 | Villeurbanne Rhône | 7.4 | 2.8% | 0.3% | 253 km |
| 11 | Saint-Denis Seine-Saint-Denis | 7 | 2.4% | 1.8% | 142 km |
| 12 | Nancy Meurthe-et-Moselle | 6.9 | 2.7% | 0% | 366 km |
| 13 | Metz Moselle | 6.8 | 8% | 0% | 329 km |
| 14 | Angers Maine-et-Loire | 6.3 | 5.6% | 17% | 118 km |
| 15 | Orléans Loiret | 6.3 | 5.4% | 4.3% | 206 km |
| 16 | Boulogne-Billancourt Hauts-de-Seine | 6 | 2% | 0% | 147 km |
| 17 | Dijon Côte-d'Or | 6 | 6.5% | 0% | 402 km |
| 18 | Brest Finistère | 5.9 | 6.7% | 0% | On it |
| 19 | Lyon 3e Rhône | 5.9 | 0.5% | 0% | 251 km |
| 20 | Mulhouse Haut-Rhin | 5.7 | 4.3% | 0% | 441 km |
| 21 | Le Mans Sarthe | 5.5 | 6.6% | 0% | 135 km |
| 22 | Paris 11e Paris | 5.4 | 0% | 0% | 150 km |
| 23 | Besançon Doubs | 5.3 | 37% | 0.6% | 402 km |
| 24 | Montreuil Seine-Saint-Denis | 5.2 | 1.8% | 4.7% | 153 km |
| 25 | Rouen Seine-Maritime | 5.1 | 6.2% | 0% | 53 km |
| 26 | Paris 17e Paris | 5.1 | 0.2% | 0% | 145 km |
| 27 | Reims Marne | 4.8 | 2.1% | 1.1% | 199 km |
| 28 | Annecy Haute-Savoie | 4.6 | 29% | 0.2% | 260 km |
| 29 | Paris 18e Paris | 4.4 | 0.5% | 0% | 146 km |
| 30 | Amiens Somme | 3.8 | 3% | 0.7% | 55 km |
| 31 | Clermont-Ferrand Puy-de-Dôme | 3.7 | 4.6% | 0.7% | 258 km |
| 32 | Le Havre Seine-Maritime | 3.6 | 5.8% | 3.3% | On it |
| 33 | Toulon Var | 3.6 | 23% | 26% | On it |
| 34 | Saint-Étienne Loire | 3.5 | 31% | 33% | 210 km |
| 35 | Limoges Haute-Vienne | 3.3 | 15% | 0% | 163 km |
| 36 | Argenteuil Val-d'Oise | 3.2 | 5.5% | 0% | 136 km |
| 37 | Perpignan Pyrénées-Orientales | 2.2 | 0.2% | 0.3% | 12 km |
| 38 | Aix-en-Provence Bouches-du-Rhône | 2.1 | 18% | 9.1% | 21 km |
| 39 | Saint-Denis Réunion | 1.6 | 62% | 73% | On it |
| 40 | Saint-Paul Réunion | 1.4 | 20% | 64% | On it |
| 41 | Nîmes Gard | 1.3 | 29% | 4.6% | 37 km |
The map
Parks, woods, footpaths & countryside
Tap a number to zoom to a park or wood. Tap a layer to hide it. The dashed line is the commune’s boundary.
Green: parks, gardens and woods mapped on OpenStreetMap, named or not.© OpenStreetMap contributors · INPN / PatriNat · IGN
Places to walk
Parks and woods to walk in, in and around Le Mans
Named parks, gardens and woods in the commune or within 400 m, the biggest and best-pathed first: Arche de la Nature leads, at 495 ha. Directions go to a point inside.
Bois de Pannetière
Wood or forest
89 ha11.9 km of path
2 h 40 minto walk all 11.9 km of path
5.6 km north-westfrom the center
Directionsto a point inside
Bois de Chaoué
Wood or forest · 20 m outside the commune
51 ha6.6 km of path
1 h 30 minto walk all 6.6 km of path
4.4 km south-westfrom the center
Voie Verte des Bords de la Sarthe
Directionsto a point inside
Parc du Gué-de-Maulny
Park or garden
15 ha2.7 km of path
35 minto walk all 2.7 km of path
1.5 km south-westfrom the center
Chemin des Enfants du GuéChemin de la PrairieChemin de l'Enclos+4 paths
Directionsto a point inside
Parc de Gazonfier
Park or garden
7.7 ha2.9 km of path
40 minto walk all 2.9 km of path
2.1 km eastfrom the center
Directionsto a point inside
Jardin des plantes
Park or garden
5 ha3.3 km of path
45 minto walk all 3.3 km of path
1 km north-eastfrom the center
Directionsto a point inside
Plaine des Glonnières
Park or garden
5 ha2.3 km of path
30 minto walk all 2.3 km of path
2.8 km southfrom the center
Avenue Gréco
Directionsto a point inside
Arboretum
Park or garden · 330 m outside the commune
6.7 ha1.3 km of path
15 minto walk all 1.3 km of path
3.6 km northfrom the center
Directionsto a point inside
All 30 named parks, gardens and woods
Arche de la NaturePark or garden · 495 ha · 63.7 km of path
DirectionsBois de PannetièreWood or forest · 89 ha · 11.9 km of path
DirectionsBois de ChaouéWood or forest · 51 ha · 6.6 km of path · just outside
DirectionsParc du Gué-de-MaulnyPark or garden · 15 ha · 2.7 km of path
DirectionsParc de GazonfierPark or garden · 7.7 ha · 2.9 km of path
DirectionsJardin des plantesPark or garden · 5 ha · 3.3 km of path
DirectionsPlaine des GlonnièresPark or garden · 5 ha · 2.3 km of path
DirectionsArboretumPark or garden · 6.7 ha · 1.3 km of path · just outside
DirectionsParc du Gué-de-Maulny (Ouest)Park or garden · 5.6 ha · 1.7 km of path
DirectionsParc des Trois ValléesPark or garden · 6.9 ha · 1.1 km of path · just outside
DirectionsLe Petit BoisPark or garden · 4.9 ha · 1.8 km of path
DirectionsParc de BanjanPark or garden · 4.7 ha · 1.6 km of path
DirectionsForêt de Robin de BoisWood or forest · 8.4 ha · 2.2 km of path
DirectionsParc de JublancPark or garden · 3.7 ha · 1.4 km of path · just outside
DirectionsParc Marcel-PaulPark or garden · 4.2 ha · 1.1 km of path
DirectionsPlaine du RoncerayPark or garden · 3.3 ha · 1.4 km of path
DirectionsJardin du musée de TesséPark or garden · 2.7 ha · 1.5 km of path
DirectionsQuinconces des JacobinsPark or garden · 2.5 ha · 1.5 km of path
DirectionsLes GentianesPark or garden · 3.9 ha · 0.8 km of path
DirectionsParc Théodore MonodPark or garden · 2.2 ha · 1.5 km of path
DirectionsParc de la RoseraiePark or garden · 3.1 ha · 0.9 km of path · just outside
DirectionsBois Robert ManceauPark or garden · 3.9 ha · 0.4 km of path
DirectionsParc de la PréfecturePark or garden · 2.4 ha · 0.8 km of path
DirectionsParc de VerdignéPark or garden · 2.4 ha · 0.9 km of path
DirectionsParc de la CigognePark or garden · 3.1 ha · 0.5 km of path
DirectionsParc Roland et Annette BecdelièvrePark or garden · 2.4 ha · 0.7 km of path
DirectionsArboretum de la Grand PréePark or garden · 3.5 ha
DirectionsParc de l'Île-aux-PlanchesPark or garden · 1.5 ha · 0.9 km of path
DirectionsParc François MitterrandPark or garden · 1.3 ha · 0.9 km of path · just outside
DirectionsJardin PublicPark or garden · 1 ha · 0.8 km of path
DirectionsSource: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL): named parks, gardens and woods; sizes are the whole site.
Protected areas
Vallée du Narais, forêt de Bercé et ruisseau du Dinan is the nearest protected area, 11 km away
The protected areas reaching the commune, and the nearest: national parks, regional nature parks, nature reserves and Natura 2000 sites.
Natura 2000 site
Vallée du Narais, forêt de Bercé et ruisseau du Dinan
11 km from the town center
Share of the commune’s land
Any protected area0%
Designations overlap (a regional park can hold a Natura 2000 site), so the rows don’t add up; the first counts each piece of land once.
Source: INPN / PatriNat, protected areas July 2026, Natura 2000 December 2024; shares of IGN’s commune boundary.
Footpaths and woods
Footpaths and woods in Le Mans
Paths, bridleways, steps and tracks open on foot, and waymarked hiking routes, mapped on OpenStreetMap inside the commune; woods are mapped forest and woodland, private woods included.
Footpaths
287 km
5.5 km per km²
Hiking routes
24 km
waymarked: 0.5 km per km²
Woodland
6.6%
about 3.5 km² of mapped woods
Km per km² of the commune · mapped on OpenStreetMap
Le MansSarthe medianFrance median
Footpaths5.5
Hiking routes0.5
03.57 km per km²
Share of the land · mapped woods and forest
Le MansSarthe medianFrance median
Woodland6.6%
0%50%100%
That is more than in 92% of compared French towns for footpaths per km², and for woodland less than in 71% of compared French towns. Hiking routes often follow paths and lanes already counted, so the two lengths overlap: don’t add them. Every home in Le Mans is within 800 m of a mapped park or wood, as in most French towns.
23 named hiking routes within 2 km
Other named walk
Le tour du Mans21 km
Allonnes et ses patrimoines12 km
Circuit Rouge12 km
Parcours rando forêt9.2 km
Le parcours de Saint-Christophe8.4 km
Chemin rouge8.2 km
Circuit jaune8.1 km
De gazonfier au jardin des plantes7.7 km
Le circuit du petit chien7.1 km
Circuit patrimoine6.7 km
Les étangs6.3 km
Parcours rando bocage6.3 km
+11 more
Source: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), extracts of October 25, 2026 (Geofabrik).
When to get out
The best walking months in Le Mans: April to September
Météo-France’s 1991–2020 normals at Le Mans, 5.8 km away, and the daylight at the town’s latitude. Outlined months have long days, highs of 15 to 30 °C and little rain for the place.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight (h) | 8.8 | 10.1 | 11.7 | 13.6 | 15.1 | 16.0 | 15.7 | 14.3 | 12.5 | 10.7 | 9.2 | 8.4 |
| High (°C) | 8 | 10 | 13 | 17 | 20 | 24 | 26 | 26 | 22 | 17 | 12 | 9 |
| Rain (mm) | 66 | 49 | 52 | 51 | 63 | 55 | 49 | 49 | 51 | 66 | 67 | 75 |
August is the driest month (49 mm) and July the warmest (highs of 26 °C). 75 mm of rain falls in December, the wettest month. Frost comes on about 40 nights a year. The climate in Le Mans →
Gardens
6 gardens to visit in Le Mans
Named gardens in the commune.
Arboretum de la Grand PréeIn Le Mans
DirectionsJardin des plantes du MansIn Le Mans
DirectionsJardins Pierre-de-RonsardIn Le Mans
DirectionsParc à fourrageIn Le Mans
DirectionsParc de la PréfectureIn Le Mans
DirectionsParc Théodore-MonodIn Le Mans
DirectionsSource: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) and Wikidata.
Neighbors
Next to Le Mans
The nearest towns of 2,500 or more, colored by the share of their land in protected areas.
CoulainesAllonnesSargé-lès-le-MansYvré-l'ÉvêqueChangéArnageLe Mans
Under 1%1–10 %10–25 %25–50 %50 %+
| Town | Protected | Woodland | Paths (km/km²) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Le Mans | 0% | 6.6% | 5.5 |
| Coulaines 8,121 · 3.1 km | 0% | 5.5% | 5.4 |
| Allonnes 10,739 · 4.7 km | 0% | 15% | 3.2 |
| Sargé-lès-le-Mans 3,851 · 5.1 km | 0% | 11% | 1.6 |
| Yvré-l'Évêque 4,181 · 5.4 km | 0% | 26% | 2.2 |
| Changé 6,911 · 6.5 km | 0% | 33% | 1.5 |
| Arnage 5,445 · 7.3 km | 0% | 11% | 1.6 |
Yvré-l'Évêque and Changé are more wooded.
How to read these numbers
What this data can and can’t tell you
- Protected areas. National-park cores, national parks’ outer areas, regional nature parks, nature reserves and Natura 2000 sites, from INPN. A national park’s core is strictly protected; its outer area and a regional park are charters between communes, not bans. Designations overlap, so the total counts each piece of land once.
- Woodland. Forest and woods as OpenStreetMap maps them, private woods included: woods nobody has mapped are missing, and a mapped wood isn’t necessarily open to walkers.
- Footpaths and hiking routes. Footpaths, bridleways, steps and tracks open on foot, then waymarked hiking routes (GR and others) measured apart. A route often follows a path or lane already counted: the two overlap. Paths nobody has mapped are missing.
- Green space nearby. The share of residents (INSEE’s 200 m grid) within 800 m, as the crow flies, of a mapped park, garden or wood edge. It measures nearness, not a way in. Guadeloupe and French Guiana have no grid: their pages say whether the town center is within 800 m.
- The coast. The straight-line distance from the town center to OpenStreetMap’s coastline, which follows the tide line into estuaries. A commune is on the coast when the coastline crosses its boundary.
- No grade yet. U.S. and UK towns have an Outdoors Grade; French towns don’t yet. Each figure is set beside the median of compared communes (those with an overall grade) in the département and in France, each figure its own median.
Questions about the outdoors in Le Mans
Is Le Mans in a national or regional nature park?
No. The nearest protected area is Vallée du Narais, forêt de Bercé et ruisseau du Dinan, 11 km from the town center.
Are there good walks in Le Mans?
OpenStreetMap maps 287 km of footpaths and tracks open on foot in the commune, 5.5 km per km² (the median compared town: 1.7 km per km²); 24 km of waymarked hiking routes cross it.
How much of Le Mans is woodland?
6.6% of the commune is mapped woodland, private woods included; the median compared French town has 13%.
Is Le Mans near the sea?
No: the coast is 135 km from the town center, as the crow flies.
When is the best time for walking in Le Mans?
April to September: long days, mild highs and little rain, from Météo-France’s 1991–2020 normals at the nearest suitable station.
Why is there no Outdoors Grade for French towns?
TownRatings grades the outdoors in the U.S. and the UK; the French figures are new and not graded yet. This page sets each one beside the median compared French town instead.
Sources: INPN / PatriNat (protected areas 2026, Natura 2000 2024) · © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL (paths, hiking routes, woods, coast, gardens) · INSEE, Filosofi 2021 200 m grid (residents) · IGN Admin Express (boundaries) · Météo-France normals 1991–2020 · Medians and percentiles: TownRatings, over compared French towns, updated November 9, 2026. Under the Licence Ouverte / Open Licence 2.0 (Etalab).
Contains public sector information under the Licence Ouverte / Open Licence 2.0 (Etalab): INSEE, DGFiP, the Interior Ministry’s statistics service (SSMSI), the Ministry of Education (DEPP), the Health Ministry’s statistics service (DREES) and the Housing Ministry (Carte des loyers). Commune boundaries: IGN Admin Express.