France/ The Sougé-le-Ganelon Sister City Committee is launching a puzzle contest to fund its trips

The Sougé-le-Ganelon Sister City Committee will host the first-ever puzzle contest open to adults and children on Sunday, October 18, 2026.

The Alpes Mancelles in Europe Sister City Committee is organizing its first jigsaw puzzle contest on Sunday, October 18, 2026, from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., at the multipurpose hall in Sougé-le-Ganelon (Sarthe).

The Sarthe region is a puzzle hotspot, spearheaded by three-time world champion Sophie de Goncourt, who, through her initiative, has succeeded in making Aubigné-Racan the puzzle capital of the Sarthe by hosting, among other events, a French Open that brings together puzzle enthusiasts from across the country.

If jigsaw puzzles are so popular today, it’s because they fulfill a modern aspiration: to slow down, focus, and share a moment of camaraderie. Part intellectual challenge and part relaxing break, they’ve left family closets to become a true social phenomenon.

“Several of us in the association are puzzle enthusiasts, and we came up with the idea of organizing this first-of-its-kind event in northern Sarthe. The date was set for the first weekend of school break to make this competition a time for friends and family,” explains Sylvie Coupé-Martinez, the president.

“Good for our mental health”

For this competition, the association is expecting sixty two-person teams of participants over the age of twelve and twenty-five two-person teams of children under the age of twelve. Two competitions will therefore take place simultaneously, with the goal of completing a 300-piece puzzle for the younger participants and a 500-piece puzzle for the older ones.

How the game works: Each team is given an identical puzzle at the same time and has two hours to complete it, with a thirty-minute break after one hour of play.

“Of course, this is a competition, but it’s also a fun activity that’s good for our mental health and open to everyone. This friendly event strengthens team spirit, fosters camaraderie among participants, and will provide financial support for organizing future exchanges between the sister cities,” concluded the president. The city is twinned with Bassum in Germany and Spilsby in the United Kingdom.

Note that Isabelle Rouillard, an artisan who creates wooden art puzzles and is based in the Sarthe region, will be present and will give demonstrations. Last May, she received the 2026 Best in Show award in San Francisco.

Source: actu.fr/pays-de-la-loire/