Pays de la Loire
Holiday Rentals France – Self catering holiday homes in the Pays de la Loire region, France
Renting self catering holiday rental villas, houses and cottages in Pays de la Loire is very popular with holiday-makers travelling to France. Search the Rent-in-France holiday directory for self catering Pays de la Loire rental accommodation in the most popular destinations of the region, and find the ideal holiday for you! Pays de la Loire is one of the 26 regions of France that wasn’t created till the late 20th century, an artificially created region that was made to serve as a zone of influence for its capital, Nantes. Rhone Alpes and Midi Pyrenees are other examples of artificially created regions which were created to serve Lyon and Toulouse respectively.
Found between northern Poitou Charentes and southern Brittany on the west side of France, the region is made up of the following departments. Loire Atlantique, Maine et Loire, Mayenne, Sarthe and Vendee. Unlike other regions in France, Pays de la Loire was not named based on history, its named purely due to its location and translated the region reads Lands of the Loire River. The River Loire flows from the foothills of the Massif Central to its mouth which is situated near Nantes within the Pays de la Loire region. The region is made up of the following former historical provinces of France, Anjou, Maine, the majority of Poitou, part of Brittany, part of Perche and a small part of Touraine. Stretching inland from the northwest Atlantic coast as far as Le Mans, Pays de la Loire is a region of beauty with its ancient walled towns, its gorgeous forests, fairytale chateaux, great food and drink and its mild climate.
Food in this magnificent region of France is second to none with many believing that that the larder of the Loire is one of the richest in France. From the shellfish from the Atlantic to the freshwater fish from the number of rivers seafood lovers will be in paradise with fish dominating many dishes in the region. The locals are also known to have a very sweet tooth so don’t be surprised to see a wide range of tarts and pies all produced using local fruits. Be sure to hunt for those small village restaurants to ensure you can experience the traditional cuisines of this wonderful region of France. Pays de la Loire has a wide range of activities on offer to keep you active during your stay; there is excellent swimming and sailing on the coast with fishing and hire boats available on a number of rivers throughout the region. There are also various golf courses in the region all of which are inexpensive and easily accessible. Like many areas of France there are festivals in all of the towns and villages throughout the year with markets open different days of the week.
Visit the famous seaside resorts of La Baule and Les Sables d'Olonne, where the round-the-world yacht race starts. Other attractions of the region include Le Puy du Fou, one of the most popular theme parks in France and Le Mans, which is host to the well known annual 24 Heures du Mans motor race.
Places to visit during your holiday rental in the Pays de la Loire region
Nantes. Situated on the banks of the Loire River upstream from La Baule this popular coastal town is the Capital of the Pays de la Loire region. Nantes will offer you a balanced mix of old and new, there is the beautiful old quarter where you can walk through its winding narrow streets past half timbered mediaeval buildings to the fine beaches scattered with excellent cafes, bistros and even a casino. Home to the Ducal Castle, this is where the Edict of Nantes was signed in 1598 which gave freedom of religious belief to non Catholics in France, toady it is home to two wonderful museums. Be sure to also put aside time during your stay to visit the Talensac market, this fantastic market is open every day.
Le Mans. Take stroll around the cobbled streets and admire the half timbered houses and Renaissance buildings that the ancient city of Le Mans has offer. Most people associate Le Mans with motorsport and the famous 24hour race, due to this our visitors are often surprised when they discover the old town of this beautiful ancient city. This beautiful city has been used in many films including Cyrano de Bergerac and Le Bossu. The months June through to September see this magnificent city come alive with illuminations and music with the Nuit des Chimeres every evening. The Musee de l’Automobile and the Romanesque and Gothic Cathedral of St-Julien are two attractions which are a must during your stay in Le Mans.
Angers. Angers is the historical capital of Anjou. The town will offer you some beautiful old architecture, gourmet restaurants, festivals, wonderful parks and gardens and fantastic museums for you to enjoy during your trip. Take a stroll through the lanes of the old town and take in the incredible views over the Maine River from the Chateau d’Angers. Chateau d’Angers is an imposing 13th century fortress that is guarded by 17 impressive towers, this magnificent chateau is home to the Apocalypse Tapestry, the largest medieval tapestry in the world. A small train runs around the city which means you and the family can enjoy the wonderful sights whilst resting your legs and finish the day of by visiting the Place du Ralliement where you can enjoy the ambience on the cafe terraces.
Saumur. This sparkling and delightful town is known to many as the white city due to the number of beautiful limestone (tufa) buildings. Located on the Loire River and guarded by the Chateau de Saumur, this fairytale castle dates back to the 13th century. The town boast some great shopping facilities with a number of good bars and restaurants allowing you to wind down at the end of the day. Saumur is the equestrian capital of the Pays de la Loire and is famous for the Ecole Nationale d’Equitation and their Cadre Noir displays of spectacular horsemanship. Places of interest include the Troglodyte Dwellings and the sculptures at the subterranean Parc Pierre et Lumiere. 
Climate in the Pays de la Loire region
Located in the Middle west of France the Pays d la Loire region is known for its sweet weather all year round. Summers are impressively hot, autumns and spring are really mild and winters remain sweet. This region of France benefits from around 1956 sunshine hours each year. The vendee department sees a climate similar to the southern parts of France, really hot and long summers. The temperature remains cool but not harsh in the winter months and spring and autumn months remain pleasantly mild ideal for late getaway as the English summer comes to an end. Pays de la Loire is lined along its south western side by the Atlantic Ocean which means the region benefits from a micro climate located on the littoral. The blend of oceanic, continental and southerner weather causes this wonderful region of France to have a number of different landscapes, plants and agricultures. If you’re a nature lover a trip to this region is something you cannot miss with its wonderful verdant spots of offer.
Travelling to the Pays de la Loire region.
There is a wide range of options when choosing how you’re going to reach your rent in France self catering holiday destination in the Pays de la Loire region. Direct flights operate from throughout the UK and Ireland, Nantes Airport which is officially known as l’Aeroport Nantes Atlantique sees around two million passengers each year enter or leave the Pays de la Loire region through its doors. Nantes is by far the busiest airport in the region and you can fly to Pays de la Loire from, Bournemouth, Cardiff, Cork, Dublin, East Midlands, Liverpool, London Gatwick, London Stansted, Manchester and Shannon by the following airlines, Aer Arann, Easyjet and Ryanair. Alternatively the Eurostar will take you from London direct to this wonderful area of France, the excellent high speed TGV system include a number of stations in the Pays de la Loire region. Angers, La Baule, Le Croisic, Laval, Le Mans, Nantes, Pornichet and St Nazaire are all connected to the network. Driving is also a realistic option when travelling to your holiday destination due to the region being only being 2 hours away from the English Channel and a number of ferry ports. Pays de la Loire has excellent motorway links to the rest of France and drivers from the UK will be pleased to hear that they remain rather quiet and you will rarely be stuck in traffic jams for hours.