The Pays de La Loire Region of France : rich in rivers, nature and culture
February 14, 2008
The Pays de la Loire region is in the west of France, between the Armorial solid mass, the Parisian basin and the Aquitaine basin. This region of France is home to 3,222,061 inhabitants and stretches over 32,082 km2. The area, whose chief town is Nantes, shares borders with Poitou-Charente in the south, the Limousin region and the Centre region in the east; Basse-Normandy and Brittany in north. It is composed of 5 departments, or districts: Loire-Atlantique (44), Maine-et-Loire (49), Mayenne (53), la Sarthe (72) and Vendée (85). The region bears the name of the Loire, which crosses two of its departments before emptying into the Atlantic Ocean.
Bordered on 368 km by ocean coastline, coastal landscapes are some of the Pays de la Loire’s major assets. In the north of the Loire’s mouth is the still-wild coastal area whose principal points are Baule, Pouliguen and Pornichet. The pale sand beaches are among most beautiful of Europe, and world-renowned seaside resorts sit side by side with the authentic fishing ports of the guérandaise peninsula, such as Piriac-sur-Mer and Croisic. Lower down, between the Loire and Noirmoutier is the Jade Coast, thus named because of the color of its waters. The sandy beaches invite the practice of various nautical activities such as kayaking and water skiing, and small inlets hide treasures like the fishing port of Pornic. The island of Noirmoutier, characterized by its beautiful nature and its salt-water marshes, offers a landscape of beaches, ports and marshes, all gaily decorated with mimosa flowers.
Finally the Vendean coast, known as the “coast of light”, combines the pleasure of long fine sand beaches and cool pine forests, as with Sables d’Olonnes, the most famous beach of the coast and a capital of sailing thanks to the Vendée Globe race. The seaside resorts of Jard-sur-Mer, la Faute-sur-Mer and l’Aiguillon present a landscape of beaches and dunes, with the additional interest of its excellent reserves of marine birds. Across from Saint-Jean-de-Monts, the Ile d’Yeu offers visitors wild, well-preserved natural surroundings great for bike tours, and is also among the most ideal spots in France for fishing and deep-sea diving.
Besides its marine landscapes, the Pays de la Loire region of France has a significant system of rivers: more than 180,000 km. The Loire and its feeders irrigate the entire area. The last truly wild river left in Europe, the Loire flows past meadows and slopes, wooded islands and sandy banks. Rich in varied fauna and flora and an exceptional cultural and historical heritage, the Loire Valley is a registered UNESCO world heritage site. The Loire valley traverses captivating cities such as Saumur, built of “tuffeau,” the local calcareous rock, dominated by its castle and more than 50 classified historic buildings. There is also the city of Angers at the doorway of the Loire, where the Sarthe, Mayenne and the Dormouse gather to form the mighty Maine river. At the mouth of the river, Nantes recalls its past as a prestigious seaport and river port where one can still see the typical residences of 18th century ship-owners.
All in all, several rivers share the irrigation of the five departments, each one bordered by small, peaceful villages and charming bucolic landscapes. Mayenne, for example, is one of the most beautiful inland waterways of the west of France. It crosses Laval, whose castle, medieval lanes and religious past constitute a historical heritage of great interest. Sèvre Nantes and its wooded valley and cliff sides prove to be very pleasant surroundings for all kinds of hikes and treks. Erdre, whose banks are also wooded, completes its journey in Nantes and is strewn with elegant manors and various sailing and rowing schools. The Loir, unlike its neighbors, traverses a mosaic of landscapes alternating between grain fields, green meadows, sloping vineyards and forests. This valley of the Loir which passes by Vendôme and La Fleche, shows off its originality with its troglodytes houses, dug in cliffs of tuffeau rock. The Sarthe also waters this area of France, flowing past ore-rich mountains, forests and steep hills as it traverses cities such as Sablé-sur-Sarthe and Le Mans. Le Mans, known the whole world over for its 24 hour car race, is also a place of cultural interest in France with monuments like its Roman cistern dating from the 3rd century, cobblestone lanes and half-timbered houses, and its grand homes dating from the Renaissance.
Last but not least, la Sevre is set apart by its canal system which forms a preserved natural site: the Poitevin Marsh. A veritable water labyrinth, it is known as “Green Venice” and is home to an extremely rich variety of wildlife and plants. In a similar vein, the Regional Natural reserve of Brière, near Saint-Nazaire, is the second largest marsh in France, after the Camargue. While its bodies of water are not large, they possess an astonishing ecological richness made up of wet meadows, hills, rose hedges and canals.
With all this diversity of landscapes and a different culture in each department, the area has found its unity in its industrial and food economy. It is the cradle of a number of the most famous and best-loved food manufacturers of France, including the Saint-Michel, BN (biscuiterie Nantaise) and LU cookie factories, and also of several dairies making the products of Bel and Yoplait and canneries of Fleury Michon and Saupiquet.
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