Things to see and do Pays De La Loire

Of the great forests of Anjou, only a few are left, of which the forest of Chandelais is the most important. In the 15th century, King René used it for hunting, close to his residence in Baugé. Nowadays, the most remarkable trees of Anjou can be found there, oak and beech trees, as well as about fifty species of mushrooms. This 2,000-hectare forest offers numerous hiking, biking and horseback riding trails: 80 kilometers in total!

After more than three years of work, the new Nantes train station is out of the ground and up in the air! And what a look! Since the end of November 2020, travelers have been able to use the majestic white lace-clad footbridge, which is reminiscent of the Mucem in Marseille... and for good reason. The architect Rudy Ricciotti was responsible for this modern concrete and glass building, 160 meters long and 25 meters wide, covering 4,000 m². And just as at the airport we like to see the planes take off or land, here we take pleasure in admiring the 360° panorama as if in cinemascope revealed by these immense bay windows which, on one side, offer us the beautiful city of Nantes, from the Lu Tower to the cathedral, passing by its castle, and on the other, the rails which are spinning towards the horizon... We are already on our way to an elsewhere which begins with our imagination. This mezzanine, which flies over the tracks, allows you to reach, to the north, the esplanade leading to the haven of peace that is the Jardin des plantes, and to access, to the south, the new European business center, Euronantes Gare. Before or after your train journey, you can now do your shopping in the 1,500 square meters dedicated to shops or relax on one of the 220 seats offered by the connected spaces among the forest of white trees. This luminous work of art represents a real springboard to other means of transportation: tramway, busway, cabs, car and bicycle parking. A beautiful invitation to travel!

Built by the powerful family of De from the th century, the castle later became the property of the Dukes of Brittany. Neglected by its owners from the second half of the 1793 th century, it burned down in, during the wars of Vendée. The ruins of the old fortress then become a reserve of wood and stone. In 1807, the sculptor Frédéric Lemot bought the monument and incorporated it into his Parc Park, which was being developed. The site was classified as a historic monument in 1924. The Department became the owner in 1962. Restoration work is regularly undertaken. This site still offers many examples of offensive architecture: archères, gunboat, assommoirs… A majestic and essential site.

"It's a famous three-masted mast... "which is the pride of the Nantes people. Born in the Dubigeon shipyards of Chantenay, Belem celebrated its 120th anniversary in 2016 on the Quai de la Fosse, in Nantes, its home port. 58 metres long, with 22 sails, it looks great. The last tall French commercial sailboat of the 19th century inherited its name from its crossings to Belem, Brazil. Classified as a Historic Monument in 1984, it is one of the oldest ships in the world. Owned by the Caisse d'Épargne and managed by the Belem Foundation, it is both a training boat that takes in apprentice sailors for a large part of the year to help them discover sailing and a museum boat that can be visited at each of its stops. The opportunity to get on board, to survey its wooden pontoons, to discover the crew's working spaces, to approach the wheelhouse and the helm, to enter the mahogany lounges... The Belem also regularly takes part in tall ship gatherings and sometimes on more distant trips to fully play its role as ambassador of the French flag.

This historic site is made up of two distinct parts only a few dozen metres apart: a castle and a hospital with a magnificent apothecary. The first was, in the 15th century, the hunting lodge of King René who had it built on the ruins of the 11th century. Enter the place of pleasure of the Good King and meet the various characters who have marked the history of this domain and the region. A projection, followed by a show, presents chivalry and courtly love as practiced by the members of the Anjou dynasty. King René's bedroom, the star room of the visit, has been reconstructed from period documents.

As for the Hôtel-Dieu, it refers to the exceptional 17th century hospital complex, which was in operation until 2001. Note that it is only accessible with a guide. Through the exhibition in the large sick room, you will learn more about medicine at the time of Louis XIV. The visit ends with a visit to the admirable apothecary: 650 jars, flasks and other containers welcome you to this pharmacy dating from 1675, still filled with the products of yesteryear and a true testimony to a crucial period in the development of medicine. Don't miss the baroque chapel with its double choir, as well as part of the conventual buildings. To make the most of these places, theatrical tours rich in twists and turns are regularly scheduled.

Come and live an adventure in the heart of science, following in the footsteps of a brilliant scientist through an interactive and sensory visit in the dwelling and the gardens. Discover Réaumur's study, the history of the thermometer, travels in the ^18th century, the natural history cabinet, the reading room, the laboratory, a place for experiments. The gardens also offer treasures of curiosities... Free or guided visits, animations all year long, exhibitions, scientific workshops.

Opened on the northern square of the train station, this Jardin des Plantes delights the people of Nantes and travelers in transit. With its 7 hectares of greenery, it is one of the four major botanical gardens in France, with 10,000 living species, 800 m² of greenhouses, more than 50,000 flowers planted each season and its collection of camellias, the emblematic flower of Nantes. Some trees, like the old magnolia, have been there since the early 19th century! Children and adults alike love the aviary and the dwarf goats, as well as the playgrounds.