Top 15 Activities and Attractions in Pays de la Loire

Located in north-western France, the Pays de la Loire is a region renowned for its châteaux and vineyards, with the city of Nantes serving as its capital.

This area is also home to Puy du Fou, one of the most frequented theme parks in the nation, featuring medieval and fantastical performances executed with remarkable technical skill.

Nantes is brimming with attractions deserving of your attention, as are the historic cities of Angers and Le Mans. Additionally, the countryside boasts exquisite botanical gardens and zoos that are sure to captivate younger visitors accompanying you.

Now, let us explore the top activities to experience in Pays de la Loire:

1. Puy du Fou, Les Epesses

Puy du Fou is themed around historical narratives and ranks among France’s five leading attractions. It is remarkable that visitors experience minimal waiting times; by being mindful of the schedule, you can enter the shows with ease.

The spectacles are distinguished, artfully blending historical themes with fantasy elements.

The production quality surpasses what is typically found in other amusement parks, featuring large casts, exhilarating pyrotechnics, and astonishing stunts.

One standout example is the Phantom Birds Dance, a captivating birds of prey display where numerous falcons swoop from a dilapidated tower above the audience.

With an abundance of experiences, a single day may not suffice, making a two-day pass advantageous.

2. Château des Ducs de Bretagne, Nantes

As the final château along the banks of the Loire before it meets the Atlantic, this edifice is also extraordinarily magnificent, located in the heart of Nantes.

Historically, the river supplied water for the château’s moat, which has now transformed into a habitat for turtles basking in the sun.

The castle underwent an extensive restoration process from the 1990s to 2007, reviving its facades and Renaissance loggias to their original splendor.

Within its walls lies the Museum of Nantes, showcasing 850 contemporary exhibits that piece together the city’s history as the residency of the Dukes of Brittany and later as a maritime trade hub.

The museum takes a serious turn as it addresses Nantes’ involvement in the slave trade.

3. Les Machines de l’île, Nantes

Originating from Nantes’ former shipyards, this attraction features both indoor and outdoor elements and includes remarkable machines inspired by the imaginative realms of Jules Verne, the mechanical inventions of Leonardo da Vinci, and Nantes’ industrial heritage.

It has been developed in collaboration with the La Machine theatre company, recognized for its impressive operating models.

The Grand Éléphant, an incredible piece weight nearly 50 tons and capable of accommodating 52 passengers, provides a breathtaking view of the Trentemoult riverside and Place du Commerce.

4. Château d’Angers

This formidable castle, constructed between the 9th and 13th centuries, has remarkably never been conquered.

The outer wall measures three metres in depth and is flanked by 17 broad circular towers.

The gardens within the old moat create a serene environment, and the views from the ramparts alone justify the entrance fee.

However, the primary reason to visit this castle is to witness the Apocalypse Tapestry, crafted between 1377 and 1382. This monumental textile consists of six sections, each measuring 24 metres wide and 6.1 metres high, depicting scenes from the Book of Revelations.

This tapestry is the oldest surviving French medieval tapestry and a significant element of French heritage.

5. Terra Botanica, Angers

Here lies an opportunity to explore the world’s first and only botanical theme park.

This park aims to embody the spirit of the 1700s, a period characterized by a fervent interest in discovering and categorizing exotic plant species worldwide.

The park features an impressive 275,000 varieties of plant species, including exceptional displays of orchids and a magnificent butterfly garden.

The Loire Valley is often known as the “Garden of France,” and such an attraction fittingly resides here due to its historic ties to agriculture and horticulture.

Education is a key focus; for instance, the “Botanical Odyssey” offers a riverboat experience that illuminates the medicinal uses of various plants, flowers, and vines.

6. Le Mans

Famous for its legendary racetrack and the prestigious 24-hour race, Le Mans presents a myriad of attractions.

Visitors can pay tribute at the circuit and reminisce at the Automobile Museum.

Moreover, it is worth noting that Le Mans possesses one of the region’s most charming historic centres, which has been inhabited for over 2,000 years.

Some areas remain fortified by Gallo-Roman Walls, and a bath complex is situated along the riverside.

Quaint cobblestone alleys and stairways bordered by stone and timber houses contribute to the picturesque scenery.

The city is filled with diverse dining options and hidden corners to explore, and during summer evenings, one can enjoy the enchanting Nuit des Chimères light show that narrates the city’s history.

7. Nuit des Chimères, Le Mans

Translated as “Night of Dreams,” this captivating light show occurs from Tuesday to Saturday, illuminating various landmarks such as the Roman walls, central fountain, cathedral, Jardin du Conservatoire, and other sites with vibrant moving holograms.

The illuminations carry an educational aim, unveiling the history of Plantagenet Le Mans and its medieval life.

A convenient display of these presentations can be experienced via the road train, or alternatively, uncover them on foot as you unexpectedly encounter each new display.

8. Fontevraud Abbey

Entry to this magnificent UNESCO World Heritage site also provides discounts at 11 historical attractions in the vicinity.

The abbey, established in the early 12th century, has expanded over the following centuries in Romanesque and Gothic architectural styles.

Its historical significance is vast; it served as a necropolis for monarchs, including Eleanor of Aquitaine and Henry II, with their tombs, alongside those of Richard the Lionheart and Isabella of Angoulême, preserved here.

The abbey has garnered accolades for its innovative displays, which enrich the experience for younger visitors, allowing them to engage interactively, such as “painting the walls” through a touchscreen projected onto the historic stones.

9. Passage Pomeraye, Nantes

An architectural gem dating back to the mid-19th century, Passage Pomeraye is recognized as one of Europe’s most stunning covered shopping galleries.

Recently restored, it connects Rue de la Fosse and Rue Santeuil along an unusually steep gradient for a shopping gallery.

Architects Jean-Baptiste Buron and Hippolyte Durand Gasselin navigated the steep slope with ingenuity, creating a magnificent intermediate level on the stairway, complete with colonnades and additional passages extending from each side.

This location offers opportunities for window shopping while admiring Renaissance-style sculptures, ornate iron lampposts, and the early metal and glass roofing.

10. Zoo de la Flèche

If you are a parent aware that children are often enthusiastic about zoos, yet find many of these establishments somewhat disheartening, rest assured that Zoo de la Flèche prioritizes ample space for its animal inhabitants.

The enclosure for grizzly bears, for instance, closely resembles a forest setting akin to that of the Rocky Mountains.

The zoo participates in forty breeding programs, which represent a third of all species residing in the park.

Moreover, young visitors will be captivated by the daily feedings for elephants, penguins, polar bears, and hippopotamuses.

Recently, overnight stays have been introduced at unique lodges providing viewing windows that overlook animal enclosures, allowing guests the chance to spend a night in proximity to wolves, for example.

11. Nantes Cathedral

This structure possesses an atypical history, having taken over 500 years to reach completion; nevertheless, it retains a coherent Gothic design throughout.

Construction commenced in the 1400s and progressed through five distinct phases until 1891. The exterior has an unassuming aspect, but the interior, with its ethereal quality of clean white stone and soaring nave vaults that rise 50 metres above the floor, is truly awe-inspiring.

A historical note of interest: Nicolás Foucault was apprehended by d’Artagnan on the orders of Louis XIV in front of the cathedral in 1661.

12. Château de Brissac

Despite enduring a 50-year hiatus following the French Revolution, this charming château remains in the possession of the Cossé-Brissac family, which acquired it in the 16th century—over 20 generations ago! The most substantial additions were made in the 1600s, fusing Renaissance and Baroque elements into the architecture.

At this point, it became the tallest château in France, a title it retains to this day.

Guided tours are available in English, and a useful fact sheet is provided for those who can only attend a French tour.

The grounds were landscaped in the 19th century in a romantic style, featuring a 250-metre underground canal designed to divert water during floods from the Aubance River.

13. Bioparc de Doué la Fontaine

Located in Maine-et-Loire, this zoo is one of the few in France where visitors can observe black rhinos and the okapi, an animal reminiscent of a giraffe found in central Africa.

The park’s unique setting, established in a former quarry, artfully utilizes the natural recesses and canyons within the rock.

Spanning 14 hectares, the Bioparc encompasses anteaters, zebras, snow leopards, Sumatran tigers, and gibbons, among numerous other species.

Guests can learn extensively about the conservation initiatives undertaken by the park, and the expansive enclosures convey that the Bioparc prioritizes the welfare of wildlife over mere exhibition.

14. Guérande

This fortified town is recognized as one of the 120 select “Villes et Pays d’Art et d’Histoire” in France.

Encircled entirely by ramparts, some of the most intact in the nation, these defenses were constructed during the War of the Breton Succession in the 1300s, coinciding with the commencement of the Hundred Years’ War.

The wall forms an uninterrupted barrier extending nearly 1.5 kilometers, punctuated by four gates.

At the formidable Porte Saint-Michel, visitors can enter to view an exhibition on the history of the fortifications.

The town’s centre abounds with charming specialty shops featuring salted caramels and fleur de sel, harvested from the extensive salt marshes on the Guérande Peninsula.

15. Vineyards

The culture of “bien vivre” (well-living) in the Loire Valley significantly encompasses wine production, with an array of terroirs attributable to the region’s varied soils, micro-climates, and elevations, although the same two grape varieties, Chenin Blanc and Sauvignon Blanc, prevail.

Pays de la Loire represents only a section of the Loire Valley, with Saumur emerging as one of its primary production centers.

When accompanied by children, certain cellars have made efforts to engage younger guests and make viticulture enjoyable for them.

For instance, at the Caves Louis de Grenelle, celebrated for their sparkling wines, children can participate in tasting sessions where they can sample sparkling grape juice.