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 Sacred & Religious Sites 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. Eglise Saint-Etienne
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 3 reviews
2. Abbaye de la Coudre
3. 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.
4. Abbey of Saint-Pierre de Solesmes
5. Site de l'Abbatiale Deas
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 32 reviews
6. Abbaye de Tuffe
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 5 reviews
7. La Chapelle Sainte-Ursule
8. L’Abbaye Royale de Fontevraud
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,000 reviews
Founded in 1101 on the intersecting borders of three regions, Anjou, Touraine and Poitou, Fontevraud Abbey is the largest surviving monastic complex from the Middle Ages. At the heart of the Abbey Church, the reclining effigies of Eleanor of Aquitaine, Henry II and Richard the Lionheart are a reminder of its close links with the Plantagenet kings. Converted into a prison between 1804 and 1963, then in 2000 designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site along with the Loire Valley, Fontevraud lives and breathes heritage, culture, the art of living and tradition of hospitality, continuing to embody its founder's vision of an "ideal city".
Reviewed By bebsaurus_13 - Paris, France
We visited the monumental and historically fascinating Abbey to start our trip in the Loire Valley and it was a great introduction to the region. The building, having survived many tumultous periods and some massive transformations (including its stint as a prison for nearly 100 years), has been beautifully restored and looks gorgeous. There are clear and interesting explanations in each room, and several interactive screens that told more precise stories related to the Abbey - such as Alineor of Aquitaine's history - that kept our visit moving and also provided a lot of context for the other sites we visited later in our trip. Furthermore, there are a number of temporary exhibits in some of the Abbey rooms that were excellent. I especially appreciated the exhibit on modern church windows, and the curious but mesmerising light installation in the great hall. The grounds are also quite nice to visit, but the rain put us off from spending too much time there. This is a wonderful site and is really worth the stop.
9. Le Sanctuaire de la Salette
10. Basilique de Notre Dame de Pontmain
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