Last reviewed: · Prices are approximate and for orientation only.
Overview of Pays de la Loire Region (Pays de la Loire)
Pays de la Loire Region (Pays de la Loire) is located in the Pays de la Loire region of France, with its prefectural capital at Nantes. Key sights and travel highlights across the prefecture include Les Machines de l'Île & Château des Ducs de Bretagne in Nantes, Angers Castle & Apocalypse Tapestry, Saumur & Fontevraud Royal Abbey, Le Mans Plantagenet Old Town, La Baule bay & Guérande salt marshes.
How to get to Pays de la Loire Region
TGV INOUI from Paris Montparnasse to Le Mans (55m), Angers (1h30) and Nantes (2h00); Aléop TER coastal links to La Baule-Escoublac, Pornic and Les Sables-d'Olonne. Use our SNCF TGV INOUI, Ouigo & TER Fare & Route Calculator and Rail Pass Value Helper to compare rail tickets and regional passes.
Signature local food in Pays de la Loire
When visiting cities across Pays de la Loire, look out for these regional specialties at morning marchés, boulangeries, and traditional bistros:
- Loire pike-perch (sandre) with traditional beurre blanc sauce
- Fleur de sel de Guérande & salted-butter caramels
- Rillettes du Mans, Cul de Veau & Fouace Angevine
- Gâteau Nantais, Brioche Vendéenne & Cointreau specialties
- Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine sur Lie, Savennières & Saumur-Champigny wines
Best time to visit Pays de la Loire
Best time to visit Pays de la Loire: May–Oct.
All 34 cities & municipalities in Pays de la Loire Region
Click any city below for its individual travel guide, demographics, rail access, food specialties, and nearby stops:
| Commune (Department) | Type / Status | Population | Area | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nantes Nantes (44109) | Commune | 306,694 | Regional km² | City guide → |
| Angers Angers (49007) | Commune | 151,229 | Regional km² | City guide → · Flagship guide |
| Le Mans Le Mans (72181) | Commune | 142,991 | Regional km² | City guide → |
| Saint-Nazaire Saint-Nazaire (44184) | Commune | 69,719 | Regional km² | City guide → |
| La Roche-sur-Yon La Roche-sur-Yon (85191) | Commune | 53,741 | Regional km² | City guide → |
| Cholet Cholet (49099) | Commune | 53,718 | Regional km² | City guide → |
| Laval Laval (53130) | Commune | 49,492 | Regional km² | City guide → |
| Saint-Herblain Saint-Herblain (44162) | Commune | 46,603 | Regional km² | City guide → |
| Les Sables-d'Olonne Les Sables-d'Olonne (85194) | Commune | 43,219 | Regional km² | City guide → |
| Rezé Rezé (44143) | Commune | 40,368 | Regional km² | City guide → |
| Saumur Saumur (49328) | Commune | 27,125 | Regional km² | City guide → · Flagship guide |
| Saint-Sébastien-sur-Loire Saint-Sébastien-sur-Loire (44190) | Commune | 26,872 | Regional km² | City guide → |
| Orvault Orvault (44114) | Commune | 25,931 | Regional km² | City guide → |
| Sèvremoine Sèvremoine (49301) | Commune | 25,681 | Regional km² | City guide → |
| Vertou Vertou (44215) | Commune | 23,581 | Regional km² | City guide → |
| Beaupréau-en-Mauges Beaupréau-en-Mauges (49023) | Commune | 23,146 | Regional km² | City guide → |
| Chemillé-en-Anjou Chemillé-en-Anjou (49092) | Commune | 21,600 | Regional km² | City guide → |
| Couëron Couëron (44047) | Commune | 20,900 | Regional km² | City guide → |
| Challans Challans (85047) | Commune | 20,303 | Regional km² | City guide → |
| Montaigu-Vendée Montaigu-Vendée (85146) | Commune | 20,084 | Regional km² | City guide → |
| Carquefou Carquefou (44026) | Commune | 19,384 | Regional km² | City guide → |
| La Chapelle-sur-Erdre La Chapelle-sur-Erdre (44035) | Commune | 19,348 | Regional km² | City guide → |
| Bouguenais Bouguenais (44020) | Commune | 19,049 | Regional km² | City guide → |
| Mauges-sur-Loire Mauges-sur-Loire (49244) | Commune | 18,366 | Regional km² | City guide → |
| Segré-en-Anjou Bleu Segré-en-Anjou Bleu (49331) | Commune | 17,577 | Regional km² | City guide → |
| Château-Gontier-sur-Mayenne Château-Gontier-sur-Mayenne (53062) | Commune | 16,858 | Regional km² | City guide → |
| Orée d'Anjou Orée d'Anjou (49069) | Commune | 16,324 | Regional km² | City guide → |
| Guérande Guérande (44069) | Commune | 16,186 | Regional km² | City guide → |
| Les Herbiers Les Herbiers (85109) | Commune | 15,972 | Regional km² | City guide → |
| Montrevault-sur-Èvre Montrevault-sur-Èvre (49218) | Commune | 15,971 | Regional km² | City guide → |
| Loire-Authion Loire-Authion (49307) | Commune | 15,821 | Regional km² | City guide → |
| La Baule-Escoublac La Baule-Escoublac (44055) | Commune | 15,455 | Regional km² | City guide → |
| Sainte-Luce-sur-Loire Sainte-Luce-sur-Loire (44172) | Commune | 15,247 | Regional km² | City guide → |
| La Flèche La Flèche (72154) | Commune | 15,163 | Regional km² | City guide → |