Lohéac: between the Automobile Museum and cultural heritage

Lohéac combines automotive history and motorsport with a heritage walk through its lanes. The Manoir de l’Automobile et des Vieux Métiers brings together several themes under one roof, while the driving experiences offer a different focus. Information panels about the history of the house façades and the local importance of water complete the picture of the town. You can tailor your trip to your interests, without limiting your choices to automobiles.

Automotive history and traditional trades at the Manoir

The Manoir de l’Automobile et des Vieux Métiers offers 15,000 m² of exhibition space in a 17th-century manor house. More than 400 vehicles of different types, ages and nationalities illustrate a century of automotive history. The collection also includes 30 horse-drawn carriages and 50 motorcycles and bicycles. Its range makes it interesting if you want to explore vehicle history beyond just one type of vehicle.

The model section offers another perspective: it includes 30 dioramas and more than 3,000 miniature cars from every make and motorsport category. While the vehicle collection spans different types and ages, this section focuses on models and dioramas. The “Les Vieux métiers” section turns to other historical themes. It recreates around twenty shops and workshops, with mannequins in period clothing and objects from the time. The Manoir thus presents automotive history, miniature displays and former trades as distinct exhibition themes.

Driving experiences and motorsport

A 2.5 km automobile circuit at the Manoir is available for hire by driving schools, individuals and clubs. If you plan to use the circuit, confirm the rental with the venue before your trip. Founded in 1987, Actarus offers groups and individuals a range of formats for driving courses in Formule France cars. With Actarus, you can therefore explore course options; hiring the circuit is a separate planning consideration.

HMC offers driving experiences with different types of vehicles and in various formats on the asphalt circuit at the Circuit de Lohéac. RKO Lohéac is a karting complex for businesses and individuals. It has two racing tracks, a seminar room and a clubhouse with panoramic terraces. The options differ in focus: driving experiences, courses in Formule France cars and karting are different ways to include motorsport in your trip plans. Actarus and HMC offerings may change, so check in advance which formats are currently available.

Lanes, architecture and local history

The Église Saint-André was built in 1890 by Arthur Regnault. The heritage walk through the lanes of Lohéac offers another way to explore the town’s history. Information panels explain the history of the house façades and the local importance of water. The walk focuses on the built environment and a theme connected with the town, rather than on vehicles and motorsport.

Lohéac also has the “Lohéac c’est aussi” geocaching trail. If you want to include it in your plans, check the current platform before your visit. This gives you a named activity to consider alongside the exhibitions and motorsport options; check the platform’s current information to plan the practical details.

Planning your trip around your interests

For a trip focused on automotive history, the Manoir offers several distinct themes: vehicles, dioramas and miniature cars, as well as recreated shops and workshops. If you are more interested in motorsport, you can explore the different formats offered by Actarus and HMC, hire the automobile circuit or visit the RKO karting complex. The heritage walk and Église Saint-André add an architectural and local-history dimension. This comparison can help you decide what to focus on during your trip; confirm specific driving experiences and circuit hire in advance.

Discover more destinations: Fougères, Domagné, Saint-Gilles, Luitré, Saint-Jacques-De-La-Lande, Janzé, Dingé, Goven

See the full travel guide: Ille-Et-Vilaine.