A81 autoroute
Encyclopedia
The A81 autoroute is a motorway in north-western France
. It forms the first part of a long-term project to upgrade the road connection between Le Mans
and Brest
to motorway standard throughout. Until 1982 the motorway was known as the F11. The A81 is a part of European route E50
linking Brest to Makhachkala
in Russia
.
Section completed:
Sections not yet upgraded:
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. It forms the first part of a long-term project to upgrade the road connection between Le Mans
Le Mans
Le Mans is a city in France, located on the Sarthe River. Traditionally the capital of the province of Maine, it is now the capital of the Sarthe department and the seat of the Roman Catholic diocese of Le Mans. Le Mans is a part of the Pays de la Loire region.Its inhabitants are called Manceaux...
and Brest
Brest, France
Brest is a city in the Finistère department in Brittany in northwestern France. Located in a sheltered position not far from the western tip of the Breton peninsula, and the western extremity of metropolitan France, Brest is an important harbour and the second French military port after Toulon...
to motorway standard throughout. Until 1982 the motorway was known as the F11. The A81 is a part of European route E50
European route E50
European route E 50 is an A-type east–west connection across the European continent. It connects the key naval port of Brest France with Makhachkala, on the Caspian Sea in the Russian republic Dagestan....
linking Brest to Makhachkala
Makhachkala
-Twin towns/sister cities:Makhachkala is twinned with: Sfax, Tunisia Siping, China Spokane, United States Vladikavkaz, Russia Yalova, Turkey Ndola, Zambia-See also:*...
in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
.
Section completed:
- Le MansLe MansLe Mans is a city in France, located on the Sarthe River. Traditionally the capital of the province of Maine, it is now the capital of the Sarthe department and the seat of the Roman Catholic diocese of Le Mans. Le Mans is a part of the Pays de la Loire region.Its inhabitants are called Manceaux...
- La GravelleLa GravelleLa Gravelle is a commune in the Mayenne department in north-western France....
(managed by Cofiroute)
Sections not yet upgraded:
- N157: La GravelleLa GravelleLa Gravelle is a commune in the Mayenne department in north-western France....
- RennesRennesRennes is a city in the east of Brittany in northwestern France. Rennes is the capital of the region of Brittany, as well as the Ille-et-Vilaine department.-History:... - N12Route nationale 12The Route nationale 12, or RN12, is a trunk road in France connecting Paris with Brittany. The road forms part of European route E50.-History:...
: RennesRennesRennes is a city in the east of Brittany in northwestern France. Rennes is the capital of the region of Brittany, as well as the Ille-et-Vilaine department.-History:...
- BrestBrest, FranceBrest is a city in the Finistère department in Brittany in northwestern France. Located in a sheltered position not far from the western tip of the Breton peninsula, and the western extremity of metropolitan France, Brest is an important harbour and the second French military port after Toulon...
Itinerary
A11 autorouteA11 autorouteThe A11 autoroute is a motorway which connects Paris with Nantes via Le Mans and Angers. It is called L'Océane .- Regions crossed :The following list indexes the sites worth visiting within 14 km of the road.* Paris* Chartres* Le Mans...
interchange
Rest areas: La Landrière (westbound), La Chevallerie (eastbound)- Rest areas: Les Gripperies (westbound), La Coire (eastbound)
Exit 1 (27 km): for Sillé-le-GuillaumeSillé-le-GuillaumeSillé-le-Guillaume is a commune in the Sarthe department in the region of Pays-de-la-Loire in north-western France, named after Guillaume de Sillé....
, Sablé-sur-SartheSablé-sur-SartheSablé-sur-Sarthe, commonly referred to as Sablé, is a commune in the Sarthe department in the Pays de la Loire region in west France.-Geography:...
, Joué-en-CharnieJoué-en-CharnieJoué-en-Charnie is a commune in the Sarthe department in the region of Pays-de-la-Loire in north-western France.-References:*...
Service areas: Saint-Denis d'Orques (westbound), Thorigné-en-Charnie (eastbound)
- Exit 2 (50 km): for ÉvronÉvronÉvron is a commune in the Mayenne department in north-western France. Evron is noted for its chapel of Notre-Dame-de-l'Epine , with 13th C wall paintings and Aubusson tapestries. The nave and tower of the church of Notre-Dame date from the 11th C, the rest of the structure from the 18th....
, VaigesVaigesVaisges is a commune in the Mayenne department and Pays de la Loire region of France.-Geography:The River Vaige forms part of the commune's northern border, then traverses the commune's territory from north to south before forming part of its south-western border....
- Rest areas: Villeray (westbound), Loriolet (eastbound)
- Service areas: Laval-Bonchamp (westbound), Laval-le-Coudray (eastbound)
- Exit 3 (70 km): for Laval, MayenneMayenneMayenne is a department in northwest France named after the Mayenne River.-History:Mayenne is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790. The northern two thirds correspond to the western part of the former province of Maine...
- Rest areas: La Mayenne (westbound), Château de Ricourdet (eastbound)
- Exit 4 (77 km): for LavalLaval, MayenneLaval is a commune in the Mayenne department in north-western France.It lies on the threshold of Brittany and on the border between Normandy and Anjou. Its citizens are called Lavallois.-Geography:...
, ErnéeErnéeErnée is a commune in the Mayenne department in north-western France.It is named after the River Ernée, which runs through the town and is situated about halfway between the towns of Laval and Fougères...
, FougèresFougèresFougères is a commune and a sub-prefecture of the Ille-et-Vilaine department in Brittany, in north-western France.-Sights:Fougères' major monument is a medieval stronghold built atop a granite ledge, which was part of the ultimately unsuccessful defence system of the Duchy of Brittany against...
- Rest areas: La Paplonnière (westbound), La Sorinière (eastbound)
- Exit 5 and current end of motorway (94 km): for LavalLaval, MayenneLaval is a commune in the Mayenne department in north-western France.It lies on the threshold of Brittany and on the border between Normandy and Anjou. Its citizens are called Lavallois.-Geography:...
, La GravelleLa GravelleLa Gravelle is a commune in the Mayenne department in north-western France....
, VitréVitré, Ille-et-VilaineVitré is a commune in the Ille-et-Vilaine department in Brittany in north-western France.Vitré, a sub-prefecture until 1926, is the seat of a canton of around 17,000 inhabitants . It lies on the edge of Brittany, near Normandy, Maine, and Anjou...
- Service areas (on N157): Derbée (westbound), Mondevert (eastbound)