A Travel Guide to Pays de la Loire
Pays-de-la-Loire is a beautiful holiday destination with lush countryside, the Loire River and more than 250 miles of long and sandy beaches together with a number of enchanting bays. It also has beautiful islands like Yeu and Noirmoutier. Visitors can drive deep into Pays de la Loire to explore the undulating and quiet hinterland where mansions, abbeys and chateaux reveal the rich past of the region. Pays-de-la-Loire has always been the place where nobles and Kings used to live.
The Royals and nobles built the fascinating chateaux that visitors will find. These chateaux are occupied by their current owners who open them to the public. It is also a great place for motorists or motor racing enthusiast who would know a lot about Le Mans and 24 heures, the world famous car race that is held over here every year.
Some of the well-known traditional cities like Nantes and Angers are also a great place to spend a day or two. These cities have museums, castles and chateaux along with picturesque narrow streets that lead to busy shops and provincial markets.
When it comes to wine, a variety of wines ranging from still to sparkling and sweet to dry are produced in Pays-de-la-Loire. While the visitor should be sure to taste Cabernet, Gamay rosé, Gros-Plant and Muscadet. Apart from these wines there are also many lesser known ones which are equally good and should not be missed.
Nantes is the sixth largest city of France. It is the regional capital and is the biggest economic hub in north-western France. It was a flourishing seaport in the 18th century and due to the importance that came to the city due to the seaport, the city had greatly prospered during that time, something that can be seen in the city even today. At the centre of the Nantes visitors will find an elegant square known as Place Royale which was built in the 17th century. The St Nicholas Church located towards the North East of the square is also a great place to visit.
There is a wide variety of self catering holiday accommodation in Pays de la Loire ranging from holiday apartments the the cities and coastal resorts to fine holiday houses and gites in the countryside.
