Pays de la Loire (all)

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Pays de La Loire lies in the west of France, stretching from Sarthe to Loire-Atlantique on the Bay of Biscay. The region has a varied landscape of beaches, marshes and granite coasts, though it’s most popular for the lush vineyards of the Loire Valley.

The valley’s must-visit wine areas are the Nantais and the Anjou-Saumur. Other popular sites include the Château de Saumur, a hilltop medieval fort with a city museum, and the 7-storey Château de Brissac. While you’re in the Loire Valley, you should also pay a visit to the Royal Abbey of Our Lady of Fontevraud, a UNESCO World Heritage site near Saumur.

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Nantes
Nantes is a city of western France famed for its quality of life. Settled on the banks of the mighty Loire River, 50 km from the Atlantic Ocean, it’s a kind of ‘surf and turf’ city that links bountiful agricultural lands with coastal areas. Named after a tribe of Ancient Gaul, it’s almost an understatement to say that the city has a long history. From the Place du Bouffay (Bouffay Square) in Old Nantes to the Castle of the Dukes of Brittany to the Passage Pommeraye, historical landmarks abound in the city centre.

Labelled a European Green Capital in 2013, Nantes is also home to lively art, culture and dining scenes. The Muscadet white wine produced here is a perfect match to the seafood caught along the neighbouring coast. The bygone industrial heritage of the city can still be seen in the Machines of the Isle of Nantes, a splendid family-friendly attraction boasting undeniable creativity. Home city of Jules Verne, one of the most popular French science fiction writers, Nantes has a lot to seduce and surprise you.
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