Pays de la Loire Tourism


			La Baule Hotel Hermitage (in the back) Lucien Barrière Group	La Loire-Atlantique Nantes : Nantes has seven museums and the 2d of France (the fine Arts museum) for paintings just after Louvre with two thousands oil paintings. The dukes of Brittany’s castle, masterpiece of the medieval architecture (which construction began in 1466) and highest and vastest sanctuary of France, Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul cathedrale (1434 to 1893) are a must when visiting the city. Loire-Atlantique is the first department for shipbuilding (Saint-Nazaire). Many seaside resorts welcome you from Amour to Jade coasts as Le Croisic, Le Pornic, La Baule-Pornichet, Saint-Brévin, Le Pouliguen, La Bernerie.
			Saumur	Le Maine-et-Loire (Anjou) Angers : In Angers, the Angevine sweetness, written by Du Bellay is perceptible. After the castle of king René (12th century), you should visit the Saint-Maurice cathedrale (12th century), the Saint-Serge church (nave of the 15th century). You ought to discover the tapestries of Lurçat in the Saint-Jean Hospital (12th century). Do not the museums devoted to fine Arts and to wine. As while of a walk, you should see the mansions of Pénitentes and of Pincé (1532) or the Adam house (a beautiful carved facade). Do not miss Saumur, especially for its castle and its museum, the Notre-Dame-de-Nantilly church, the tanks museum or Queen of Sicilia house and its famous riding school of Cadre Noir founded in 1814. Here you could sample the white sparkling wines. You should also see the castles of Baugé, Boumois, Brissac-Quincé, Brezé, Montreuil-Bellay, Montgeoffroy, Montsoreau, Le Plessis-Bourré, Le Plessis-Macé, Serrant, and the abbeys of Fontevrault (tombs of Richard Lion's Heart and Aliénor of Aquitaine) and Asnières. Other sites are not to be missed : the fortified village of Coudray-Macquart, the cave dweller museum at Louresse-Rochemenier, the greatest dolmen of France at Bagneux (near Saumur), and the churches of Saint-Florent-le-Vieil (with the tomb of Bonchamps, the Vendean hero), Champtoceaux, La-Roche-des-Murs, Denée.
				La Mayenne Laval : In its ancient districts of the 11th, 12th and 15th centuries, Laval houses the old castle and its dungeon (12th century), the churches of Avesnières (romanesque), Saint-Vénerand, the Pritz chapel. You should not miss its archeological museum and its Naive Art museum. You can also make a promenades in the Perrine’s garden. Other places not to be missed are the valley of Erve, the grottos of Saulges, the Gallo-Roman Castellun fortifications at Jublains. You should also see the abbeys : Notre-Dame-de-Clermont (Cistercian towards 1150), and Port-Salut (at Entrammes, Cistercian), or the castle of Mortiercrolles (15th century), the cornice of Pail, the fortified city of Sainte-Suzanne, and the Robert Tatin museum of Cossé-le-Vivien.
				La Sarthe Le Mans : Its most notorious events is the 24 hours of Le Mans, pitiless car race for pilots and mecanics. Le Mans is also an Art city. You should see or visit the Saint-Julien cathedrale, the Notre-Dame-de-la-Couture church, the Saint-Martin priory, the Epau abbey church, the Saint-Pierre-la-Cour collegiale and the museums of Queen Berangère and Tessé. Do not miss its car museum. On your road, you ought to see the castles : Lude (son et lumières), Verdelles (at Poillé-sur-Vègre), Montmirail, Poncé, Bazouche-sur-le-Loir, Ballon, Pescheray (at Breil-sur-Mérize). You should also visit the war museum at Lavardin, the Arts Tessier workroom (at Malicorne). Do not miss the abbey church of Solesme (11th century - major place of Gregorian song), and the craft center of Poncé.
				La Vendée Between bocage and marshland (Breton and Poitevin), the region is named coast of Light because of sunlight. Do not miss the coast with great dikes, polders and beaches, the islands of Yeu and Noirmoutier, the bay of Bourgneuf-en-Retz and the coastal forests of Monts, Olonne-sur-Mer, and Longueville. The «Green Venice» is a real must when visiting the region (North-East part of Poitevin marshland ) with many artificial lakes. You should not miss the abbey church of Fontenelle, the abbeys of Malezais (11th- 15th centuries), Nieul-sur-Autize (Cloister), La Grainetière (11th century). You ought to see many churches at Chaize-le-Vicomte, Vouvant, Benet, and castles of Talmont-Saint-Hilaire, Tiffauges, Saint-Mesmin, Apremont, Puy-du-Fou, La Pierre-Levée, Beautour (at Chaize-le-Vicomte). Finally, you should visit the museums of La-Roche-sur-Yon, Saint-Vincent-sur-Jard, Saint-Sulpice-le-Verdon.