Sarthe

Sarthe is a department in the Pays de la Loire region of northwestern France, with Le Mans as its prefecture. It is internationally famous for hosting the 24 Hours of Le Mans, one of the world's most prestigious endurance car races, held annually at the Circuit de la Sarthe. The department is characterized by its mix of agricultural landscapes, forests, and historic towns, and is named after the Sarthe River that flows through it.