pays de la loire
La Chaumiere cottage is ideally situated to serve as a base to discover the Loire region and there is plenty to see and do during your stay. The Loire Atlantique is host to over 130 kms of coastline and the wild natural shore is interspersed with isolated sandy coves and some of the finest beaches in France, like the one at Penestin below.
Popular high quality resort towns such as Pornichet and La Baule offer luxury hotels, restaurants and nightlife, and these are complemented by a variety of harbour towns and fishing villages, such as Le Croisic and La Turballe, whose existence provide the numerous local eateries with a ready supply of fresh ingredients. Sardines and shellfish are a speciality here.
A visit to St. Nazaire is also worthwhile. The bridge spanning the Loire is a spectacular sight, as are the massive Carribean cruise liners constucted in the town's shipyards. This work provides prosperity for the whole region. The town is particularly remembered for the 1942 commando raid culminating in the ramming of the dock gates by HMS Campbeltown. The U boat pens that were part of the fortifications are now part of a maritime museum and are well worth touring.
The interior is populated by megolithic remains, castles, towers and impressive chateaux which are all worth investigating. The city of Nantes is only 60km away from the cottage.
For further details of attractions, architecture, gastronomy and heritage of the entire Loire region with detailed tourist maps click here and visit the website of the Loire valley tourist board.