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With the Atlantic Ocean to the west and the Loire running through it, the Loire-Atlantique has a rich nautical heritage from both sea and river.
Water is the constant link in the development and the heritage of towns and cities, industry and trade, as well as in the lives of the people.

Guérande, la médiévale

Bienvenue à « Gwen Ran », la capitale du pays blanc !

Les marais salants ne sont pas très loin ; la ville en a tiré toute sa prospérité grâce au commerce du sel depuis le Moyen-âge ! Entourée de ses remparts des XIVème et XVème siècles, elle était autrefois la capitale économique, religieuse et administrative de la presqu’île qui porte son nom.

Clisson, Italian sytle

In Clisson, you are straightaway enticed.

In France, there is nowhere quite like Clisson. Surrounded by vineyards, this small town has a Tuscan look about it.

Chateaubriant

Châteaubriant, more than steak!

Legend has it that the Chateaubriand steak gets its name from this delightful walled town. Certainly, there is still a weekly cattle market.

Ancenis and the River Loire

Dominated by its 15th-century castle, Ancenis was considered the ‘gateway’ to Brittany.

The towers may not be as high as they once were, but you can still see how the castle was fortified repeatedly between the 10th and 16th centuries. Here, the Edict of Nantes was drawn up in 1598, ending France’s Wars of Religion.

Le Croisic, Piriac, a little touch of Brittany

Great little towns on the coast.

Western France recognises « Petites Cités de Caractère », small towns known for their outstanding character and charm. Piriac-sur-Mer combines lovely old houses with a delightful seaside setting.

St Nazaire, port town

Saint-Nazaire, the city-port

Right on the Atlantic at the mouth of the Loire, Saint-Nazaire was once home to fishermen and pilots, who guided ships up to Nantes. But in the 19th century, Saint-Nazaire took over from Nantes as a port, and in the 20th century led the world in building transatlantic liners. Today, Saint-Nazaire is again a leader – in industrial tourism.

Nantes, pleasant surprises all in one place!

Nantes: city of art and history

One of France’s ‘Villes d’Art et d’Histoire’, cities known for their outstanding combination of art and history, Nantes relied on the river and the sea for its wealth. There is no better way to appreciate the development of the ‘Venice of the West’ than on foot. Stroll along medieval streets in the Quartier du Bouffay, cross neo-classical squares, such as the Place Graslin and the Place Royale, shop in the Passage Pommeraye, a 19th-century covered arcade.

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Ask for the guides and leaflets at tourist offices,
by ringing +33 (0)2.40.48.96.10 or downloading them

Guérande, la médiévale

Bienvenue à « Gwen Ran », la capitale du pays blanc !

Clisson, Italian sytle

In Clisson, you are straightaway enticed.

Chateaubriant

Châteaubriant, more than steak!

Ancenis and the River Loire

Dominated by its 15th-century castle, Ancenis was considered the ‘gateway’ to Brittany.

Le Croisic, Piriac, a little touch of Brittany

Great little towns on the coast.

St Nazaire, port town

Saint-Nazaire, the city-port

Nantes, pleasant surprises all in one place!

Nantes: city of art and history

Enjoy your time

CONTACT

Guides and leaflets

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