Introduction
Pays de la Loire is a modern region of France, created by the French government in the late 20th century. It encompasses parts of the much older provinces of Anjou, Brittany, Maine and Poitou and parts of the Loire Valley, one of France's most popular holiday destinations. Finding a local winemaker in this land of vines and enjoying a tasting is a defining moment of any tailor-made holiday to Pays de la Loire.
Pays de la Loire's regional capital is Nantes, the biggest city and main economic centre. The region also encompasses Le Mans, home of the annual 24-hour motor race, Saumur, a pretty town on the Loire River and Angers, which is famous for its magnificent medieval château. Whether it's hopping in a canoe and paddling down one of the region's pretty rivers - the Loire, the Loir and the Sarthe - visiting the country's wineries or wandering among the grand halls of the region's châteaux, it's easy to see why holidays in the Pays de la Loire are popular with so many travellers.
