Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Jon Bryant

Ancient Angers to antique emporiums: how to spend a week in the Atlantic Loire valley

City of Angers in France, tourist landscape and castle of the Loire.
Historic Angers’ riverside chateau is just one of many in the Atlantic Loire valley. Photograph: Labellepatine/Shutterstock

From beautiful countryside to historic chateaux, and sprawling vineyards to markets selling local delicacies, there’s plenty to explore and enjoy in the Atlantic Loire valley. Wondering where to start? Here are our tips for a week in a region that takes in the cities of Nantes, Saumur, Le Mans, Angers and La Baule, and covers the five departments of Loire Atlantique, Anjou, Mayenne, Sarthe and Vendée.

Outdoor activities
Atlantic Loire valley’s forests, riverbanks and hillsides make it the perfect setting for holiday activities, and it’s a popular destination for cyclists, hikers and anyone wanting to take to the water. As such, there are more than 400 nautical centres on the Loire and its tributaries, making it great for canoeing, kayaking and boat hire, or simply a pleasant walk by the water.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.