A luxury gite with fishing in Mayenne, North West France

MONDAY is market day in CRAON.

The town contains an original covered market and a selection of similar period houses. North of the town on the D771, to Laval, is Chateau Craon, built in the 18th Century before the Revolution, it contains Louis XVI furniture. There are formal and flower gardens together with a unique walled kitchen garden all set in 42 hectares of parkland.

TUESDAY, market day in La Guerche de BRETAGNE. One of the largest and most comprehensive markets held locally. It is a twenty five minutes drive to the west on the D110. The town contains many Old Merchant Houses. The MARCHANT restaurant in the Square serves good reasonably priced food that has been cooked over a wood fire (old vines). Dine outside and watch the French and France go by. There are also a moules and frites tavern, two traditional restaurants and a sea-food restaurant located in the area.

WEDNESDAY, market day in Segré, a bustling town with a church high above the river and flowers cascading down the rock face.

THURSDAY, a market in CHATEAU GONTIER. Another large comprehensive market. It is three-quarters of an hour by car, via Craon. The town is built on either side of the Mayenne River and has retained many old properties. There is a picturesque area by the river where Restaurant Boats offer trips both up and down the Mayenne. South of the town on the road to St Fort is the Refuge de l'Arche, a fourteen hectare animal sanctuary. About 1500 animals and birds have been rescued to date and given new habitats within the refuge. The list is endless, but includes bears, lions, wolves, wallabies, baboons and many birds of prey.

THURSDAY, is also market day in POUANCE. this is a small market, but it is only ten minutes by car, south on the D771. Chateau Pouancé is currently being renovated by a group of volunteers. The chateau featured in the Hundred Years War when it was the rendezvous point for thousands of French soldiers to form up to fight the English invaders.