Regions of France : Pays de la Loire
Pays de la Loire includes the part of the Loire valley downstream from
Saumur. The ancient houses of Anjou and Plantagenet held sway here, and
history lurks on every corner.
In the areas surrounding Nantes and Le Mans, the cultural influences of
Brittany and Pays de la Loire are strong. The countryside is rich in historical gems
and natural beauties away from the better-known attractions of the Loire
valley itself that are just waiting to be discovered.
Pornic harbour
By road, the region is easily reached in a few hours from any of the
Channel crossings, though the ports of
Saint Malo and Caen (sailings from
Portsmouth) offer the shortest drive. Nantes also has an
airport.
(see also France attractions)
Loire-Atlantique
- Home of the famous dry white wine Muscadet – a seafood lovers’ paradise
- Former capital of Brittany, Nantes is a major port boasting a medieval
quarter
Château Des Ducs De Bretagne (600 metres) - after 15 years of renovation and a 3 year closure a new museum will open within this imposing yet stunning castle in 2007. Exhibitions will detail Nantes' history, from its time as an ancient Roman-Gallic settlement to the bustling metropolis of today.
Cathedral Saint-Peter Saint-Paul (800 metres) - this beautiful, ancient building comes to life at night, when it is lit by blue fibre optic lights.
- Chic seaside resort
La Baule has some of the best beaches on the west
coast
Maine-et-Loire
-
Angers was once the second capital of England and has impressive 13th
century château
- Picture postcard pretty
Saumur produces delicious wine from its vineyards
on the banks of the Loire
-
Fontevraud l’Abbaye contains the gravestones of Richard the Lionheart and
Eleanor of Aquitaine
Mayenne
- The enormous Parc Naturel Régional de Normandie et Maine is a haven for
outdoor types
-
Laval’s 11th century château and steep city walls hint at its turbulent
past
- Amateurs of Roman history should head for Les Jublains
Sarthe
- Le Mans - Like Nantes, Toulouse or Montpellier, is Le
Mans on the way to becoming the next fashionable weekend destination of
coming years? The question seems crazy, this town being so neglected, too
often reduced to its rillettes (potted meat) and 24 Hour car race... And
yet, on closer inspection, you can feel in this town - which witnessed the
birth of the first automobile in history, in 1873 - a certain buzz, an
atmosphere that is both friendly and committed. The beauty of the site,
the charm of the surrounding countryside, the proximity of the capital,
all served by an inspired and enterprising town policy (construction of a
tramway, intensification of cultural life, support for small traders and
the craft industry, respect for the environment), today combine to make Le
Mans a "pioneer" town as regards quality of life.
- Asnières-sur-Vègres working watermill and 11th century church are always
popular
- The renowned 17th century military academy at La Flèche is open to
visitors
The Vendée throws open its protected natural sites. Between rocky escarpments and beaches of divinely fine sand which stretch out before the eye to the harmonious accompaniment of the waves, come and discover the delights of the 250 kms of coastline in the Vendée!
Gastronomy
It is no surprise that seafood predominates the menu in this coastal location with Mussels being the local delicacy. Other seafood such as, sardines, lobsters, sea bass, scallops, and tuna to name a few can be found in the local Vendée markets and restaurants. The Vendee and Cherbourg however does have other famous cuisine dishes such as “mogette” for instance. This culinary delight is slowly cooked for hours to create it’s distinctive taste and is made from tiny white haricot beans grown in local towns, often served with local gammon.
The Vendee has been known as the ‘duck capital’ for many years now and so the region certainly doesn’t disappoint with a variety of methods used for cooking wild duck. Another sumptuous meat dish is ‘poulet’ which is wild black feathered chicken. You may have already heard of this as Selfridges food hall often stocks the fine cuisine delight, so why not taste the difference from the home town it orginated from.
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