Things to see and do Pays De La Loire

Snipe of marshes are hardly visible because it melts in vegetation. This great traveller born in northern Europe in the spring, likes to come to Calvados to get there during his migration. Large gatherings are observed in October. The farouche white spatula is not easy to reach. Its white plumage, its large white paws and its long bec shaped bec give its originality. Marshes are a quality pantry for this protected species travelling from the Netherlands to Senegal. It nests every spring in willow groves in the middle of roselière.

Park the streets of Nantes at your pace, with the only directive to follow the Green Line that connects many works of art. From the Unique Place to the tip of the island of Nantes, go to the meeting of a rich cultural and architectural heritage, which combines contemporary art. The castle of the Duke of Brittany, the Cathedral Saint Peter, the Bouffay district, the Nid, the Pomeraye Pass, the Machines of the island, the Carrousel des Mondes Marins, a stopover at La Cantine or the Rings of Buren: The works will surprise you. The city becomes an open-air museum and your ride takes a completely different direction. This Green Line is 12 kilometers long and has no departure or arrival. We'll follow her as he sees fit. At some sites, mediators are present to accompany you in the discovery of works. A paper guide is also available in Nantes Tourism (the Tourist Office). Most sites are free access.

Tariff: free.

Distance: about thirty steps (choice).

Difficulty: easy.

In the heart of the Loir Valley, km from Le Mans and km from Tours and Angers, the Mansigné leisure base is ideal for family or friends. Besides swimming, fishing and other water activities around its lake, the area has a very interesting network of hiking and cycling trails. All marked, they invite you to discover the natural riches and built in the surroundings, for example the stones of the Mother and Daughter, the chapel of La Faigne, the church Saint-Martin or the mare aux Cochons. As for those who prefer to make simple, they will settle for a tour of the lake, let alone!

Tariff: free.

Distance: hiking tour between 4 and 55 km.

Difficulty: pretty easy.

Built in 1902, renovated and enlarged in 2002, its greenhouses are superb, bordered by small red brick walls. These greenhouses cover an area of 500 m² and house century-old exotic plants. They are divided into two large areas: one dry and the other wet. The first one shelters species that need a rest period: jojoba, baobab, kapok... The second one allows to observe spice plants, fruit trees, precious woods, textile plants...

«Growing our curiosities» is the watchword of Regards. To this end, the Nantes cultural association has been organizing conferences in Nantes for 10 years and guided tours in Nantes and Paris. The program varies from volunteers to various profiles (architect, lawyer, art historian, public writer, graphologue…). Objective: better understanding our society. The 2016-217 season offers seven conferences in partnership with today's Knowledge and Life. Among other things, "The man who works: life experience» with journalist Bernard de la Villardière; " Let us do it! We have already started» with the writer Alexandre Jardin, founder of the citizen movement «Blue, White, Zebra». Side tours (guided by professional guides), three themes to explore: the sampled neighbourhoods; the gardens - three centuries of botanical tradition in Nantes; art professions. Each theme includes six guided tours. In addition to this, there is a trio of escapades in Paris (musée d'Orsay, Musée du quai Branly, Montmartre…).

Stroll through the bucolic alleys of this 6-hectare park where you can spend some quality time with the farmyard animals. From hens to guinea fowl, rabbits, turkeys, guinea pigs, as well as goats, ponies, donkeys and pheasants. Children can feed some of them with the food provided at the entrance. There are also more atypical species, such as four-horned sheep, dwarf cows and llamas. And the surprise is even greater when you discover a camel and a dromedary in the same field. Picnic area.

This club chaired by Bernard Renoux and his charming team is opened with all in love ones with nature and the sport (as of five years)! It accommodates all the year most sporting within the club located at the nautical base of Papinière. Independently, one can rent kayaks for one strolls as regards water which constitutes Erdre worthy of Sucked. One will be able also to go up the river or to go down again it by the strength of paddles. And it is an absolutely exceptional environment which is revealed with us... It is possible to come to Sucé-sur-Erdre by the train in twenty minutes from Nantes. Attention, the rental of the kayaks is carried out on reservation by phone or by e-mail; and it is well at the port of Sucé-sur-Erdre that we are invited to recover equipment (not with the club). Various fixed rate formulas are proposed, into individual or group. In addition, within the water sports club, one can practise the following activities: schools of paddle for young people and adults, kayak-sports shirt, left in water-sharp and discovered. Here with Sucked, a shuttle can take us along upstream from Nort-sur-Erdre to Moulin des Vaux, in order to go down again the river. To make in family or between friends, guaranteed pleasure! It any more but does not remain to take along the sunscreen, a quantity of water sufficient and to envisage one hour, one half-day or the day for the excursions!

La Roche-sur-Yon is home to a popular café called Cafés Albert la Boutik. This café is a roaster that offers in-store shopping. Coffee lovers can find a wide selection of ground, bean, fair-trade and organic coffees, as well as teas and accessories. La Boutik also offers expert advice to help customers make their choices and discover new coffee flavors from around the world. For fans of industrial tourism, it's possible to visit the inside of the café, where you can discover automatic production lines and an educational circuit. A factory store is also on site.

Parc de la Chantrerie, Parc de Procé, Parc des Oblates, Parc des Chantiers, Arboretum of the Landscape Cemetery, Jardin des Fonderies, Île de Versailles... The list of the multiple parks and gardens of Nantes is long. So much so that Nantes has become the "City of a hundred and one gardens". The maintenance of these spaces is managed by the Nature and Gardens Department. It proposes a set of actions to preserve the environment and develop urban biodiversity with the objective of putting the city in a garden. It also accompanies garden projects in the neighborhoods in partnership with local associations and works with many cultural partners, through various themes and with artistic works integrated into the parks and gardens. Finally, the 5 green corridors link the urban parks to the large natural spaces of the Nantes metropolis, forming a star that is ideal for walks.

The site keeps the memory of a long-lasting rural industry. The forges of Cormorin, also known as the forges of Vibraye, were founded in the ^17th century in a region where there was sufficient wood production to feed the blast furnaces and the flow of the Braye, with its diversion canal, was sufficient to turn the wheels and produce hydraulic energy. From the ^17th century, the quality of the iron from the Champrond forges was renowned as far away as Paris. For 6 generations, until the ^19th century, the forge owners were all from the same family: the Desportes.