Reviews of Recent Outings

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SATURDAY, 21st MARCH 2026 – Visit to ‘Champignonnière LOU’ in LANDIVY and Lunch at ‘Le Lion d’Or’ in FOUGEROLLES DU PLESSIS

Have you ever visited LOU MUSHROOM FARM in LANDIVY (53)? Well, this is exactly what we did – to our great delight – on the morning of Saturday, 21st March. There were 28 of us – 17 English-speakers and 11 French-speakers – all members of Euromayenne, and we thoroughly enjoyed this delightful day, which was full of discoveries about mushrooms, mycelium and the step-by-step process of this unique cultivation method.

We were fortunate to enjoy a guided tour in two groups, thanks to Ms. ROZE, who provided commentary in English for the first group, and her colleague Alexandra, who led the second group, this time in French. Both were knowledgeable and pleasant at the same time, sharing their expertise with us with a smile. In fact, we could have easily spent the entire day there if we’d wanted to. Our group showed its interest by asking a multitude of questions, and each of us had a truly enriching experience.

After all that effort, it was time for some comfort! Next, for lunch, we headed to the Hôtel-Restaurant du Lion d’Or in FOUGEROLLES DU PLESSIS, whose reputation, as always, lived up to our expectations. Mr. and Mrs. NOLLIERE, the owners, treated us to simply delicious dishes with something for every taste.

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Saturday, 24th January 2026 – Visit to ‘Le Quarante’ and ‘Le Zoom’ in Laval

On Saturday 24 January 2026, 23 EuroMayenne members came together in Laval for the first visit of the year. The day combined culture, history, good food and science, beginning with a guided visit to the cultural centre Le Quarante, followed by lunch at Le Petit Périgord in the historic town centre, and ending with an afternoon at Laval’s Science Museum, Le Zoom.

Le Quarante – from banking powerhouse to cultural landmark

Our morning visit took us to Le Quarante, a striking and emblematic cultural centre where art, music and heritage now meet. We were guided by Stéphane Illand, Head of Laval’s Heritage Service, who led a special tour entitled ‘Du Crédit Foncier au Quarante‘. He explained how this imposing building, originally constructed between 1938 and 1944 to house the Crédit Foncier de France, was designed in a modern, functional style using reinforced concrete, with clean geometric lines typical of the period.

We learned how the name Le Quarante was chosen following public consultation, referring both to 40 rue du Britais and to the 1940s decade during which construction was completed. The transformation of this former banking institution into a contemporary cultural hub, completed in 2022, has been widely praised for its architectural sensitivity and urban integration.

One memorable moment came when we examined the historic lottery wheels once used for bond prize draws — prompting laughter when Susan jokingly called out, ‘I’ve won!‘ as the tiny numbered slips were revealed.

‘I really enjoyed the morning visit because it brings together the old and the new. It’s easy to access, free to enter, and full of possibilities for the future — especially with a good website to help people discover everything it offers.‘ — Anna D

Lunch at Le Petit Périgord

We then made our way to the historic heart of Laval for lunch at Le Petit Périgord, a well-known restaurant specialising in traditional French cuisine. Over a relaxed and convivial meal, members enjoyed the opportunity to chat, meet new faces, and deepen connections. As one participant put it:
‘It was nice to meet new people over lunch and get to know others a little more, discovering things in common.‘ Sara B

Le Zoom – comets and cosmic exploration

The afternoon continued at Le Zoom, Laval’s Science Museum, where we visited the temporary exhibition ‘Comètes‘, running until 26 April 2026.

Accessible and engaging, the exhibition explores the origins of comets, their composition, their role in the history of the solar system, and their place in human imagination. Visitors are taken on a journey alongside the European space mission Rosetta and its lander Philae, the first human-made object to land on a comet in 2014. One of our group commented:

‘I really enjoyed the Science Museum and reading about the whole of the Rosetta project.‘ Tony B

A warm start to the year bringing together heritage, shared experiences and discovery, this first EuroMayenne outing of 2026 set a friendly and engaging tone for the year ahead. With a blend of learning, laughter and lively conversation, the day offered something for everyone — and plenty to talk about on the journey home.

Le Quarante: