| The coastline stretches some 300 miles from
La Baule to La Tranche-sur-Mer, from the Côte d'Amour to
the Côte de Lumière, with the long sandy beaches of famous
seaside resorts giving way at times to rocky inlets or
salt marshes with their oyster beds. Each fishing harbour
boasts has its own inimitable charm distilled from the
flash of colour and bustling activity of the quaysides. |
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In the Loire-Atlantique département, not
far from the small fortified town of Guérande and its salt
marshes, lies the Brière Regional Nature Reserve. This
is a place of mystery and a paradise for bird-watchers,
where barges explore the network of canals. The Vendée
coast is famed for its long hours of sunshine and for its
islands like the Ile d'Yeu or the Ile of Noirmoutier (...) |
| The Western Loire, looking inland: to the
North, the Normandy Maine Regional Nature Reserve invites
the visitor to discover its forests while the Poitou marshes
the region's southernmost tip open their labyrinth of waterways
for exploration on foot, by boat or bicycle. The Sarthe
and Mayenne départements offer houseboat cruises on their
gently flowing rivers, or the relaxation of cycle rides
between small towns and villages. The Anjou, bathed by
the waters of the Loire, invites tourists to admire the
wealth of its heritage of châteaux and abbeys, troglodyte
dwellings and romanesque churches. |
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And in the Vendée, a spotlight on history
is provided with the Puy du Fou extravaganza in the heart
of the bocage, or wooded countryside. From East to West
stretch the Anjou and Saumur vineyards, followed by those
of the Nantes region. Gourmets will delight in the felicitous
marriage between these vintages and the Loire fish and
seafood, the succulent meat of the Mayenne and the rillettes,
or potted goose or pork, from Le Mans (...) |
www.cr-pays-de-la-loire.fr :
official web site of the Pays de la Loire Tourism Office: few
information available but you can order brochures about the
region.
www.vallee-du-loir.com :
discover the Loir valley : its castles, its water leisures,
its protected nature... This website of the Association for
the Development of the Loir Valley, a non profit making association,
provides you a huge ammount of information to plan your stay
in the Loir valley.
www.puydufou.com
: this historic park offers you a medieval city which
show how people lived at that time.
www.nantes-tourisme.com :
the official website of the tourism info center in Nantes (website
under construction). Don't forget to visit region's capital:
from the cathedral to the port, each of the city's quarters
and monuments testifies to its opening to the world of the
Atlantic.
last update: Jannuary 22, 2001
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