Pays-de-la-Loire

In the west of the Pays-de-la-Loire is the lively city of Nantes. It is a thriving port with high-tech towers, canals and Art Nouveau squares.

Southwards from Nantes is the Vendee region where the wild sandy coastline makes a perfect venue for windsurfers and nature lovers.

Further inland are troglodyte caves, Romanesque churches and numerous sleepy hamlets with inviting inns offering a selection of fish, game and fresh vegetables. Some of the best troglodyte dwellings in France have been carved out of the soft limestone of the Loire Valley, especially around Saumur. These caves are cut out of cliff faces and although they were used as a source of cheap accommodation for centuries, they are now more commonly used for wine storage or mushroom growing. At Rochemenier, near Saumur, there is a well-preserved village which consists of a warren of caves, barns, wine cellars and even an underground chapel.