Pays de la Loire

Pays-de-la-Loire

Capital is Nantes

Is one of the 26 regions of Western France. It is one of those regions of France created artificially in the late 20th century. Pays-de-la-Loire is made up of the following historical provinces:

A part of Brittany (department of Loire-Atlantique) ,
Anjou: (department of Maine-et-Loire)
Maine: (departments of Mayenne and Sarthe)
A part of Poitou: (department of Vendée)
A part of Perche: (Department of northeast of Sarthe)
A small part of Touraine: (department of southeast of Maine-et-Loire).

Its territory stretches over 12,390 square miles, at the base of the Brittany peninsula it is Frances second leading agricultural region.The major cities either straddle the rivers that feed into the Loire or lie along a stretch of Atlantic Coast of 300 kilometres with sea breezes, long sandy beaches, enchanting bays and IslandsThis long coast on the Bay of Biscay to the west is bordered by Brittany to the north and west, Lower Normandy to the north, Centre to the east, and Poitou-Charentes to the south.

Its rich in both history and architecture. Pays de la Loire has an abundance of small farms, and the predominant agricultural pursuit is the raising of cattle and pigs and the making of dairy products.

Its Atlantic coast is the site of a number of fishing and shipping ports and ducks are also raised in this area. Iron and uranium are mined in Pays de la Loire, and its industries produce motor vehicles, ships, and textiles.

Like the river Loire, this vast region runs through the heart of French life. Its sophisticated cities, luxuriant landscape and magnificent food and wine make it a favourite with tourists and it has been declared a World Heritage Humanity Site by UNESCO who described it as a "cultural landscape of exceptional beauty."

Area	32,082 km2
Capital	Nantes
Population	3,222,061 (1999)
Departments	Loire-Atlantique (44)
	Maine-et-Loire (49)
	Mayenne (53)
	Sarthe (72)
	Vendee (85)


		This part of France has always been a popular place for kings and nobles, who built their elegant châteaux throughout the region. Many have been restored and are inhabited by their owners, who open them to the public. Some stately homes accommodate overnight guests in their comfortable apartments. Other châteaux open their homes and gardens to the production of "Sound and Light" shows. Exploring beyond the busy valley, the tourist can drive deeper into the peaceful, quiet surroundings where châteaux, abbeys and mansions reveal the testimony of a rich past. There are some 8500 km/5000+ miles-waterways for pleasure sailing in France and thus France has the first river network in Europe.


	Tourist Information Centre for Pays-de-la-Loire is: www.westernloire.com