Jacobins Square

The Place des Jacobins, in Le Mans

The Place des Jacobins is an emblematic place of Le Mans, at the foot of the cathedral, that owes its name to a former Dominican convent of the thirteenth century. The Le Mans audio-guided tour stops here to evoke this vast square open onto the chevet of the St. Julian's Cathedral, neighbour of a tunnel inherited from an underground gallery of the eighteenth century, at the heart of the history of Le Mans.

The square of the Dominican convent

Welcome to the Place des Jacobins, an emblematic place of Le Mans. Before arriving here, you have doubtless noticed, on your left, the entrance of a tunnel. It is a former underground gallery, dating from the eighteenth century, that served to transport the water of the river towards the city. Today, it no longer ensures its initial role, but remains a fascinating element of the heritage, allowing pedestrians and vehicles to circulate under the city while sheltering vestiges of the past. Once on the Place des Jacobins, you find yourself at the heart of the history of Le Mans. The square owes its name to the convent of the Jacobins, a Dominican monastery founded in the thirteenth century, whose buildings formerly occupied a great part of the current space. This convent was a major religious centre until the French Revolution, when, like many other religious monuments, it was closed and dismantled. Of this disappeared ensemble, only the name of the square remains, become a vast open space. But the Place des Jacobins offers above all the finest view over the Gothic chevet of the St. Julian's Cathedral, whose spectacular flying buttresses spring towards the sky, making this panorama one of the most photographed of the city. Lined with trees and gardens, open onto the great events, the square is a place of passage and gathering much appreciated by the people of Le Mans. A historic square and a belvedere over the cathedral, the Place des Jacobins is a fine stop of the discovery of Le Mans.

What to see

Here you discover a vast emblematic square at the foot of the cathedral, that owes its name to a Dominican convent of the thirteenth century disappeared at the Revolution; it offers the finest view over the Gothic chevet of the St. Julian's Cathedral and its flying buttresses, and neighbours a former tunnel inherited from a water gallery of the eighteenth century. The Place des Jacobins is a belvedere over the cathedral of Le Mans. It is a fine stop, to be explored on foot.

Practical information

The Place des Jacobins lies at the foot of the St. Julian's Cathedral, on the edge of the Plantagenet City, in the centre of Le Mans, reachable on foot. It is a vast public square freely accessible, shaded by trees, that offers a fine view over the chevet of the cathedral and hosts great events. You discover it during a walk in the centre.

Where does the name of the Place des Jacobins in Le Mans come from?

From the convent of the Jacobins, a Dominican monastery founded in the thirteenth century, whose buildings formerly occupied a great part of the space; a major religious centre until the Revolution, when it was closed and dismantled, it left its name to this vast square, that today offers the finest view over the Gothic chevet of the St. Julian's Cathedral.

Where is the Place des Jacobins in Le Mans?

At the foot of the St. Julian's Cathedral, on the edge of the Plantagenet City, in the centre of Le Mans, in France.