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
The 10 Best Things to do Good for a Rainy Day 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. 24 Hours of Le Mans Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 876 reviews
Come and discover the exciting story of the 24 Heures du Mans and the legendary heroes. Through 120 vehicles, the Automobile Club de l'Ouest tells you the epic of the automobile in the Sarthe and the success of its international event. Bentley, Ferrari, Jaguar, Ford, Porsche, Matra, Audi ... all the big names are represented by their mythical models that immerse the visitor in the world's greatest endurance race. 300m² of temporary exhibitions complete this themed route, which can be continued by visiting the famous 24 Heures du Mans circuit.
Reviewed By Alexve1 - Redruth, United Kingdom
Called in on a European bike trip, well worth a visit if you are a petrol head, would definitely go again
2. Chateau des Ducs de Bretagne
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3,592 reviews
The Castle of the Dukes of Brittany houses the Nantes History Museum, displaying more than 850 historic objects with multimedia installations in a contemporary layout. The former ducal palace also holds temporary exhibitions and cultural events all year round. Besides, the rampart walk offers a number of viewpoints of the fortress. The night-time illuminations further reveal the architectural complexity of the site. A restaurant and a gift shop are as well at your service.
Reviewed By KEinSF - San Francisco, United States
Take a few hours to learn the history of Nantes from the medieval to WWII - the castle interior tour takes you through all the important events in the history of this fascinating city. There are guides in different languages in the entrance and in every room there are information boards written in multiple languages. Learn about the role of Nantes in the slave trade and about the Lu biscuit factory. Sadly you cannot buy the biscuits in nantes anymore ! Although there is a small elevator to all exhibition floors, there are many steps and narrow doorways. The walk around the ramparts is a must, with great views of the cathedral and the tower that marked the entrance to the Lu biscuit factory. The chateau is the best attraction in Nantes!
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. Musee Lurcat
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 309 reviews
Reviewed By AlbertSalichs - Manresa, Spain
Museé Lurçat is a wonderful museum of tapestries located in Angers, a town in Loire Region, in the North part of France. The museum has only a big room, where there are a lot of fantastic Contemporanean tapestries. Really, they are different to classical ones. So, you can see great compositions in (almost) all of them. I walked around the room two times, really I was awesome and I do not like very much tapestries, I prefer other kinds of art. A top in the city! and probably a number one museum of tapestries manufactured in 20th Century!
5. 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
6. Musee des Blindes
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,336 reviews
Reviewed By ianj776 - Usk, United Kingdom
Situated near Saumur in the Loire Valley is this superb display of armoured fighting vehicles, some in full working order including the formidable Tiger 2. there are some 300 vehicles on display -all under cover, well presented and maintained.
7. Caves Louis de Grenelle
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 259 reviews
Situated at 12m underground in the centre of Saumur, the Louis de Grenelle wine cellars have been producing, in the purest tradition, Cremant de Loire and Saumur Brut ever since 1859. In this former tufa quarry, you will discover the secrets of traditional wine-producing methods. After the guided tour there will be a commented wine-tasting session. You will also be able to discover wine in a wine-dedicated space.
8. Le Cadre Noir
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,140 reviews
Reviewed By 959billm - Berwick upon Tweed, United Kingdom
We had a fantastic look around last week - a really knowledgeable guide who spoke excellent English and took a great deal of time to discuss horses with my granddaughter who is a very proficient and experienced dressage rider It's a absolute must place to visit if you are in the area even if you are not a Horsey person
9. Galerie David d'Angers
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 271 reviews
The former Toussaint abbey church, dating from the 13th century, was restored in 1984. It is now covered with a glass roof, an audacious feature of modern architecture, and houses the works of sculptor, Pierre-Jean David, known as David d’Angers (1788-1856). David d’Angers’ work is scattered throughout France and Europe. Therefore, the main interest of the gallery in Angers is that it showcases the quasi-totality of his sculptures as plaster models, the preparatory studies for the final work, the latter being cast in bronze or sculpted in marble and stone. An idyllic promenade where the light reveals the beauty of the sculptures!
10. Ackerman
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 309 reviews
Tourisitc visits of Ackerman's cellars in Saumur and tasting. A three-part visit at the heart of troglodyte cellars: a trip throughout history, an artistic experience and a break on the Loire river... Founded in 1811, Ackerman is the leading producer of Loire Valley fine sparkling wines. Situated in Saumur, on the banks of the Thouet river, a tributary of the Loire, at once informative and entertaining, the cellars of the House of Ackerman combine charm, heritage, and prestige. The wines of Ackerman are true to type, well-balanced and elegant. Thanks to a large selection of fine sparkling wines (Cremant de Loire, Saumur Brut) and Loire Valley still wines (Saumur-Champigny, St Nicolas de Bourgueil, Chinon, Sancerre...), you will be able to appreciate the prestige of a great brand which has seduced consumers world-wide over the past two centuries. Ackerman is bubbly, luminous and enticing. The House's still, sparkling, organic and alcohol-free wines are available at its boutique all year round. Discover Ackerman's world of wines.
Reviewed By KeiSanHolDav
We spent a couple of hours here on a particularly hot day. Self-guided tour was leisurely and it was a very quiet day so not many other people around really. The exhibit is informative and the art displays were good too. We enjoyed the free tasting at the end and bought 6 bottles to take home. Not all the bottles made it home as we drank them on holiday so I will have to find somewhere in the UK which sells Ackerman Cremant de Loire.
