Le Mans
Le Mans | |
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Prefecture and commune | |
Top, from left to right: 24 Hours of Le Mans automobile race at night; Le Mans Justice Department Office Middle: View of Sarthe River and historic area, including the Palais of Comtes du Maine Bottom, from left to right: Le Mans tramway in Gambetta Street; Facade of Le Mans Commerce Center; Saint Julien Cathedral | |
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Coat of arms | |
Location of Le Mans | |
Le Mans Le Mans | |
| Coordinates: 48°00′28″N 0°11′54″E / 48.0077°N 0.1984°E | |
| Country | France |
| Region | Pays de la Loire |
| Department | Sarthe |
| Arrondissement | Le Mans |
| Canton | Le Mans-1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 |
| Intercommunality | Le Mans Métropole |
| Government | |
| • Mayor (2020–2026) | Stéphane Le Foll |
Area 1 | 52.81 km2 (20.39 sq mi) |
| Population (2023) | 146,249 |
| • Density | 2,769/km2 (7,173/sq mi) |
| Demonym(s) | Manceau (masculine) Mancelle (feminine) |
| Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) |
| INSEE/Postal code | 72181 /72000 |
| Dialling codes | (0)243 |
| Elevation | 38–134 m (125–440 ft) (avg. 51 m or 167 ft) |
| 1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. | |
Le Mans (/ləˈmɒ̃/; French: [lə mɑ̃] ⓘ) is a city in northwestern France on the Sarthe River where it meets the Huisne. Traditionally the capital of the province of Maine, it is now the capital of the Sarthe department and the seat of the Roman Catholic diocese of Le Mans. Le Mans is a part of the Pays de la Loire region.
Its inhabitants are called Manceaux (male) and Mancelles (female). Since 1923, the city has hosted the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the world's oldest active endurance sports car race. The event is among the most attended and prestigious motor sports events in the world.