City: Pays de la Loire
Top Things to do in Pays de la Loire
Top Hotels in Pays de la Loire
- 1. Chateau du Boisniard
- 2. Hotel & Spa Les Roches Noires
- 3. Hotel La Villa en l'Ile
- 4. Atlantic Hotel & Spa
- 5. Hotel Voltaire Opera Nantes Centre
- 6. Radisson Blu Hotel, Nantes
- 7. Hotel Anne d'Anjou, The Originals Collection
- 8. Golden Tulip Nantes Carquefou
- 9. Hotel Anne d'Anjou, The Originals Collection
- 10. Hotel les Embruns
Countries
The 10 Best Free Things to do in Pays de la Loire, France
Pays de la Loire (French pronunciation: [pe.i də la lwaʁ]; Breton: Broioù al Liger, meaning Loire Country) is one of the 18 regions of France. It is one of the regions created in the 1950s to serve as a zone of influence for its capital, Nantes, one of a handful so-called "balancing metropolises" (métropoles d'équilibre)¹.
Restaurants in Pays de la Loire
1. La Cote Sauvage du Croisic
2. Cathedrale de Saint-Pierre et Saint-Paul
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,547 reviews
This Gothic cathedral features a high nave and many tombs, including that of François II.
Reviewed By johnmN5785EK - Lyon, France
The construction of Nantes Cathedral, officially called La Cathédrale Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul (or simply Cathédrale Saint-Pierre in the vicinity) took more than 400 years to complete. Begun in 1434, it took 457 years to finish, finally reaching completion in 1891. Since 1862 it has been listed as a historic monument in France. The striking white stone is especially impressive and the rich colors of the stained-glass windows make for a striking contrast. The architecture in this classic Gothic cathedral, with the imposing main nave and aisles, great organ and the immense inner column all combine to create a Gothic atmosphere inside the cathedral and make it even more memorable than others, such as Note Dame and Quimper. The beautiful Tomb of Francis II, the Duke of Brittany, and his second wife, Marguerite de Foix the parents of local heroine Anne of Bretagne, with its haunting sculptures of white Carrara marble is considered to be a French renaissance masterpiece. Also noteworthy is the tomb of Gen. Juchault de Lamoricière, a Nantes native and a great African campaigner; sculptor Paul Dubois completed the tomb in 1879. The cathedral's crypt, dating from the 11th century, shelters a museum of religions. The Cathedral was bombed heavily on June 15th, 1944; this necessitated a prolonged restoration which was almost completed in January 1972 when a disgruntled labourer started a massive conflagration with a blow torch. The restoration is nearing complete; an attempt was made to reconstruct the decor of the west façade to the state it was originally in the fifteenth century. This restoration proceeds on the other facades. The cathedral's crypt, dating from the 11th century, shelters a museum of religions. All in all well worth a visit.
3. Passage Pommeraye
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,986 reviews
A narrow passage covered with a glass ceiling consisting of three levels of shopping galleries.
Reviewed By doreend120 - Wakefield, United Kingdom
A wonderful place to shop, or just to visit and view. Quaint shop fronts, beautiful staircases which bring you out at street level two floors up. Browse for a couple of hours as we did on a wet afternoon. If following the 'green line` which takes you round Nantes, it recomences on the top level
4. Arche de la Nature
5. Jardin de la Perrine
6. Entre Cours et Jardins - Cite Plantagenet
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 743 reviews
Reviewed By perreobo - Orsa, Sweden
Was traveling by car and would not stop, me and my company talked about what we saw and thought it really was an unethical city. Then swung in a cross and a magnificent cathedral stood before us it was incredible as from any fairy tale with its pinnacles and special architecture. We parked to check out the cathedral itself and were going to walk around it to see it from all directions. In the back compared to where we parked our car, a fantastic part of Le Mans was revealed, the really old part of the city architecture was from the Middle Ages and a century ago, we stayed much longer than we would but then we had 300 kilometers to our destination we were obliged to leave but would have liked to stay at least one night to see everything worth seeing. Very good!
7. Cite Medievale de Guerande
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,577 reviews
Reviewed By Tanmouss - Oslo, Norway
Inside the centuries old walls stands a pretty village with pedestrian streets and local specialties shops many of which sell the world famous salt of Guerande in different variations including caramel with salt. The number of creperies is also striking, regional specialty as well. Many shops close between 1 and 2pm. Meanwhile, one can have a few crêpes!
8. Jardin des Plantes
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3,902 reviews
The Botanical Garden: at the heart of plants The Botanical Gardens of Nantes, with 7 hectares of green spaces in the centre of town, more than 10,000 living species, 800 square metres of greenhouses and more than 50,00 flowers planted each season, holder of the Remarkable Garden label, is among the four leading botanical gardens in France. The collections have developed and specialised over 150 years. The Botanical Garden, which is both a scientific and a pleasure garden, has become a world reference, especially for its camellia collection which is unique in France, for the culture of epiphytic* plants in a semi-natural setting and for its permanent concern for the re-introduction of rare species. As an example we will cite the wild tulip, which disappeared in the 1970s and was reintroduced in 2010 in the vineyards of the region. Its great beauty in all seasons and its remarkable specimens (Hectot's Magnolia, American tulip tree and more recently a Wollemi pine, etc.) make the Botanical Garden a major tourist attraction in Nantes, visited every year by more than 1.2 million visitors. * Plants that grow on other plants without being parasites. The Botanical Garden Rue Stanislas-Baudry - Nantes Summer: 8:30 am - 8 pm Spring, autumn: 8:30 am - 6:30 pm Winter: 8:30 am - 5:30 pm Tram line 1, SNCF train station stop Bus 12, SNCF train station stop Greenhouse visit (by reservation) Wednesday: 3:15 pm Thursday: 12:30 pm Friday: 3 pm Saturday: 3 pm and 4 pm (all year round); 5 pm (from 15 January to 17 November). Sunday: 10 am, 11 am, 3 pm and 4 pm (all year round); 5 pm (from 15 January to 17 November). Additional services Orangery cafe Restaurant - Tearoom Merry-go-round All year round from 10 am to 6 pm
Reviewed By 666sabineb
somes years ago, Nantes Botanic Garden decided to get help from a kid book writer: Claude Ponty, and their collaboration to redesign this historical beautiful park made it wonderful.
9. Cathedrale de Saint-Julien de Mans
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 738 reviews
Reviewed By M901FOsteved - Le Mans City, France
A fantastic day and such wonderful archetectutere The tranquility of the cathedral local cafes and places to eat nearby makes for a perfect day in The old City of le man's
10. Le Sacre Coeur
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 102 reviews
Reviewed By E8580YHcarolw
We visited Le Sacre Coeur on a rainy cold evening and were enthralled with it's beauty and peaceful feeling inside and out. The view of Paris from the top of the hill is breathtaking. There was no cost to get inside.
