Le Mans (/ləˈmɒ̃/; French: [lə mɑ̃] ⓘ) is a city in Northwestern France on the Sarthe River where it meets the Huisne.

Since 1923, the city has hosted the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the world's oldest active endurance sports car race.

As the principal city of Maine, Le Mans was the stage for struggles in the eleventh century between the counts of Anjou and the dukes of Normandy.

[6] Industrialization took place in the 19th century which saw the development of railway and motor vehicle production as well as textiles and tobacco manufacture.

[6] Wilbur Wright began official public demonstrations of the airplane he had developed with his younger brother Orville on 8 August 1908, at the Hunaudières horse racing track near Le Mans.

It was used by several American fighter and transport units until late November of that year in additional offensives across France; the airfield was closed.

[9][10] Le Mans has a temperate oceanic climate (Cfb) influenced by the mild Atlantic air travelling inland.

As of 2018[update], there were 367,082 inhabitants in the metropolitan area (aire d'attraction) of Le Mans, with 143,252 of these living in the city proper (commune).

It takes 1 hour to reach Paris from Le Mans by TGV high speed train.

The city is home to Le Mans Sarthe Basket, 2006 Champion of the LNB Pro A, France's top professional basketball division.