Introduction
Pays-de-la-Loire stretches from the lower Loire Valley to the Atlantic in western France — a region of châteaux and vineyards, long sandy beaches and islands, salt marshes and one of Europe's most spectacular theme parks. For travellers it means Nantes, the inventive former capital of Brittany with its mechanical elephant; the white-stone châteaux of Angers and Saumur and the wines of the Loire; the great beach at La Baule and the surf and islands of the Vendée coast; the epic live shows of Puy du Fou; and the racing town of Le Mans.
Overview
Pays-de-la-Loire, on France's Atlantic flank, runs from the lower Loire Valley down to the ocean and combines river-valley châteaux, a fine coastline and a streak of bold creativity. Its capital, Nantes — historically the capital of Brittany, and still claimed by it in spirit — is one of the most inventive cities in France: the moated Château des ducs de Bretagne tells the city's story, the former shipyards on the Île de Nantes now carry Les Machines de l'île, where a giant walking mechanical elephant carries passengers along the Loire, and each summer Le Voyage à Nantes paints a green line through the streets to link art installations across the city. The Loire itself, France's longest river, threads the region's eastern half: Angers guards a mighty medieval fortress that houses the Apocalypse Tapestry, the largest medieval tapestry in the world, while Saumur's white tuffeau-stone château rises above the river in a town famous for its sparkling wines, its cave dwellings cut into the soft rock, and the Cadre Noir, France's elite classical riding academy. This is wine country — crisp Muscadet around Nantes, Anjou rosé and the wines of Saumur — and the soft tuffeau stone gives the lower Loire its luminous towns. On the coast, the resort of La Baule curves around one of Europe's great beaches beside the salt marshes of Guérande, while south lies the Vendée, with the long beaches and pine of its coast, the island of Noirmoutier (reached at low tide across the Passage du Gois), the Île d'Yeu, and Les Sables-d'Olonne, home port of the Vendée Globe solo round-the-world race. Inland, Puy du Fou — repeatedly voted the best theme park in the world, and built entirely on epic live historical spectacles rather than rides — and Le Mans, with its legendary 24-hour endurance race and a beautifully preserved Roman and medieval old town, complete the picture. Nantes is about two hours from Paris by TGV; a car is best for the coast, the vineyards and the châteaux. Late spring to early autumn is the prime season for the coast and the festivals.
Discover Pays-de-la-Loire
Nantes, the historic capital of Brittany and today the capital of Pays-de-la-Loire, is one of France's most creative and liveable cities. At its heart, the moated Château des ducs de Bretagne — once home to the dukes and to Anne of Brittany — now holds an excellent museum of the city's history, including its difficult past as a major Atlantic trading port. Just across the water, the former shipyards of the Île de Nantes have been reborn as Les Machines de l'île, a workshop of fantastical mechanical creatures inspired by Jules Verne (a native son) and Leonardo da Vinci, crowned by the Grand Éléphant, a twelve-metre walking mechanical elephant that carries passengers along the quays. Each summer the city stages Le Voyage à Nantes, painting a green line along the pavements to guide visitors past art installations, gardens and hidden corners across the whole city — a model of how contemporary art can reinvent an urban centre. Add the Gothic Cathedral of Saint-Pierre, the elegant Passage Pommeraye shopping arcade, the Jardin des Plantes and a lively food and bar scene, with the crisp white Muscadet wine made at the city's edge, and Nantes rewards two or three days of exploring on foot.
Ways to Experience This Destination
The Château des ducs de Bretagne, Les Machines de l'île and its giant mechanical elephant, the Jules Verne heritage and the summer art trail of Le Voyage à Nantes.
Angers and its Apocalypse Tapestry, the white château and Cadre Noir riding academy of Saumur, the troglodyte caves and the wines of Muscadet, Anjou and Saumur.
La Baule's great beach and the Guérande salt marshes, the Vendée coast and Les Sables-d'Olonne, and the islands of Noirmoutier and Yeu.
The epic live historical spectacles of Puy du Fou, the 24 Hours of Le Mans and its walled Roman and medieval old town, and the quiet rural interior.
Frequently asked questions
Tourism & destination guides
Official regional tourism site — Nantes, the Loire and its châteaux, the Atlantic coast and islands, Puy du Fou, itineraries, events and accommodation across the region.
Official tourist office of Nantes Métropole — the château, Les Machines de l'île, the summer art trail, guided tours and the city pass.
Cities in Pays-de-la-Loire
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