Mayenne is a picturesque little market town that gives it's name to the river that runs smack through its centre. It also gives its name to the Department it sits in, though Laval, also on the river, is much larger and is the administrative centre. It is one of the lesser known Departments in France and on my travels from Paris to Nice I have found few French people who have even heard of it.

The town has been built on both banks of the river which rise steeply for about 50 metres on both sides. At the top of the right bank there is what remains of a once imposing 14th century castle that belonged to the lords of Mayenne. It has now been excavated, restored and turned into a museum of the towns history.

In the town centre, Place Clemonceau, next to the old château, are held the markets. The one on Monday is for general goods, clothes, hats, and hardware and Saturday is full of stalls selling fish and such local produce as fresh cream, locally made breads, vegetables along with travelling butcheries and charcuteries. There are a number of good restaurants and brasseries dotted about the town and the centre is a very pleasant little shopping area.

The chateau side of the town is the older part with steep narrow streets, some old half timbered houses and the huge 16th century Basilica of Notre Dame. The left bank has the newer buildings on it mainly due to Second World War damage. However, overall you can still find little cobblers shops where shoes are made by hand. Wonderful charcuteries that make all their own products and even spit roasted chickens on the pavements sending wonderful smells wafting down the streets. These mingle with freshly roasted coffee being made in a mall off the main Place or the whiff of chocolate being manufactured in a little chocolatier's shop and of course, the beautiful odor of baking bread and patisserie from the boulongeries.

There are, naturally, quite a few bars all of which seem to vie with each other by putting tables and chairs onto as much of the pavement as they can possibly get away with without actually causing traffic jams.

Mayenne and its depatment are host, throughout the year, to many of Frances top cultural and arts occasions. Plays, concerts, son et lumieres, historical spectacles, art exhibitions all form the many and varied attractions Mayenne has to offer. Mayenne, town and department are one of the hidden gems of France and that is why Mayenne is Magnifique.

If you want more? then follow the links above, in the images, where you can buy Fraser's published books.

Fraser Blake, 70, author of 'Dear Chips' and 'A Rant Too Far?' grew up in Africa, was at school in Scotland, and worked for the British South Africa Police in Southern Rhodesia. He has taught English in Saudi Arabia and sold and renovated hundreds of properties in Northern France.

In 1998 Fraser was selling houses in the Mayenne department of the Pays de la Loire region and so was the obvious choice, when Cle France was started, to be their first agent on the ground in France. In retirement he writes, blogs, cooks, drinks wine, and hosts to dinner unlimited numbers of ex-pats.

Always on hand with a viewpoint, Fraser is going to share his views on France, the French and the British, and other people who buy in France. Sometimes informative, sometimes funny, painfully true, outrageously opinionated but always entertaining so we hope it adds a slightly different dimension to the usual normality of searching through the fantastic properties for sale on the Cle France website.

Watch out for more rants and opinion next week or buy the book today for a rollicking good read.