Art of living

Meilleur ouvrier de France 2015, Benjamin Patissier took over the helm of La Chabotterie restaurant with his wife Audrey in July 2021. Convinced by the environmental approach of short circuits and keen to showcase regional know-how, they call on Vendée artisans as often as possible. Interview with Benjamin Patissier, new Michelin-starred chef in 2022.

Would you like to spend a weekend in the Pays de la Loire region? To make your getaway as easy as possible, there are gift boxes and gift sets available for a gourmet weekend in Loire-Atlantique (44), Maine-et-Loire (49), Mayenne (53), Sarthe (72) or Vendée (85). Let yourself be inspired by these weekend ideas concocted just for you.

The Routes des vins du Val de Loire can inspire your next getaway in Pays de la Loire! From the vineyards of Nantes to Anjou-Saumur, via the Fiefs Vendéens and the Vallée du Loir, wine comes in all colors in Pays de la Loire. From cellar tours to unusual vineyard walks, there's a wide range of activities to discover the region and its vineyards, for a weekend or a vacation!

If you’re looking for a unique wine-themed experience, then we have just the thing for you! We’ve selected five authentic, sociable experiences where you’ll learn more about wine and make your time here in the Atlantic Loire Valley region a time to remember.

Local produce is part of the richness of every region. Pornic has the chance to delight the taste buds with both sweet and savoury dishes, accompanied by a few local drinks. Seafood products (mussels, oysters, fish) are often featured on the best tables in Loire-Atlantique. And inland, the Curé nantais and the galette Saint Michel are flagship products that you'll be delighted to take home as a souvenir of your stay in Pays de la Loire. And why not take along some salt, spirulina and strawberries from Pornic?

Discover the Fiefs Vendéens wines when you explore the department of the Vendée, between the marshland area of the Marais Poitevin and the Atlantic Ocean. Located between La Rochelle and Nantes, the Vendée invites you to discover a land where life is good. By bike, by car, on foot or even on horseback, explore the Routes des Vins wine trails to the attractive towns of Brem-sur-Mer and Île d’Olonne.

The Loir Valley (without the ‘e’) lies between Château-du-Loir, Chartre-sur-le-Loir and Ruillé-sur-Loir. Let us introduce you to its delightful landscape, dotted with châteaux, gardens, windmills and wash houses. As you will discover, the little villages you will encounter along the way are perfect for a stroll at any time. And while its appellations may be less well known than those of its neighbours, you are bound to love its wines.

The Anjou-Saumur winegrowing region stretches from Ancenis to Saumur, via Angers. Taking in little villages, markets and the banks of the Loire, with superb views and cultural sites, the Routes des Vins wine trails are an invitation to explore. And exploring also means tasting! Among the region’s AOC-labelled wines are red, white, rosé and semi-sparkling - so there is sure to be something to suit all tastes!

The Vignoble de Nantes winegrowing area stretches from the Atlantic Ocean to the hills of Ancenis, east of Nantes. The route offers up a gorgeous mosaic of landscapes including lakes, châteaux, panoramic views, fishing villages, vineyards and more. Why not drive to a local wine estate to meet the winegrower and taste their AOC-labelled wines?

Just outside Angers, Monique and Tessa Laroche cultivate their feminine sensibility at Domaine aux Moines, producing white wines quite unlike any others that delight even at great Parisian restaurants. They gladly welcome visitors to their Savennières domaine...

Come and stroll or grab a bargain at the many car boot sales, bric-a-brac shops or flea markets in Atlantic Loire Valley. This little selection of unmissable places in each of the 5 departments should help you find that rare gem...

Enjoy this selection of culinary specialities from the Atlantic Loire Valley region, the envy of other regions! From rillauds and Mayenne cheese to gâteau nantais or Vendée ham, this is bound to make your mouth water...