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Loire-Atlantique department 44
Capital is Nantes
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Loire-Intérieure (Loire-Atlantique) was one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution in 1790. It was renamed in 1957. It was originally part of Brittany, and contains what many people consider to be Brittany's capital. Loire-Atlantique is part of the current region of Pays-de-la-Loire and is surrounded by the departments of Morbihan, Ille-et-Vilaine, Maine-et-Loire, and Vendée, with the Atlantic on the west.
Loire-Atlantique is located in west central France, it's name comes from the Loire River and the Atlantic Ocean. Situated mostly in the Armorican Massif, the department covers an area of approximately 2,695 square miles ( 6,815 km²) with a population of 1,052,183 (1990 census).
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The Loire-Atlantique boasts 68km of coastline with authentic ports - such as Le Croissac and La Turballe where oyster production & tourism supports the local economy. Here you can embark for the islands of Ponant, Houat or Belle-Isle where the local speciality is 'bass in sea salt' or 'bar en croute de sel'.
This department has 59 cantons and 221 communes The highest point is Bretèche-en-Châteaubriant (377 feet/115 m).
The climate of this seaside department is characterized by mild winters and temperate summers.
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Natural attractions include the rugged coast and mysterious salt marshes, the Brière regional nature park and the Nantes/Brest Canal.
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Saint-Nazaire - Sant-Nazer
Saint-Nazaire is famous for its ship yards (the Queen Mary, the world's largest cruise liner was built here). There are stylish seaside resorts like La Baule and Pornic.
Saint-Nazaire (65,000 inhabitants) is a sous-préfecture of the departement of Loire-Atlantique, located on the mouth of the river Loire (northern bank). It is named after St. Nazaire of Milan, martyrized under Emperor Nero.
In 1850, Saint-Nazaire was a small fishing port of only 800 inhabitants.The outer port of Nantes was established in Saint-Nazaire in 1856, when a 10.5 ha basin was built. This new port was established to receive ships of large tonnage, which could not sail on the river Loire up to Nantes.
The PenhoÎt basin (22 ha), one of the largest in Europe, was built in 1881. During the First World War, Saint-Nazaire was one of the main ports used by the Allied forces. During the Second World War, the Germans established in Saint-Nazaire a submarine base.
The city of Saint-Nazaire, as well as the surrounding pocket of resistance, was nearly totally destroyed during the Second World War, and was later rebuilt with right-angle streets.
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The flag dispute in Saint-Nazaire is linked to the debate over the administrative status of the department of Loire-Atlantique.
When the Vichy government decided to divide the French territory into regions, the department of Loire-Atlantique was placed into the region Pays de la Loire.
However, Nantes was the historical capital city of the Duchy of Brittany, which explains the local claim of incorporation of Loire-Atlantique into the region Bretagne.
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Mauves
The site, on a hill overlooking the Loire and covering an area of more than 20 ha, marks a small Gallo-Roman city that was inhabited from the 1st to the 4th c. A.D.
A number of luxurious villas has been uncovered, and the richness of the materials used to decorate the walls and floors (green, pink, and white marble, painted walls and stucco, mosaics) is evidence of the wealth of the inhabitants.
In the 19th century the remains of a theatre were found on the city's boundary. It is built, not on a slope as recommended in the Classical treaties, but on the top of the Coteau de Mauves overlooking the Loire and the surrounding countryside. The semi circular wall is built of mortared rubble faced with small blocks and having iron joints; it consists of broken sections placed end to end to form a series of 20 oblique walls.
The diameter of the theatre at the level of the stage wall is 44.2 m. The seats and the actual stage must have been of wood, since no traces of them have been found.
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Le Chateau de la Motte Glain - La Chappelle Glain
Rebuilt in the 15th century by Pierre de Rohan. Decorated in sculpted tufa stone.
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Abbey Notre Dame de Melleray - open to visitors since 1142.
La Carriere des Fusilles - This area of France was very active in the Resistance and the Liberation of France during World War Two. This is commemorated in the statue dedicated to 27 local hostages who were murdered in a quarry by Nazis on 22nd October 1941.
Le Musee de la Resistance - Permanent exhibition dedicated to the memory of the Chateaubriant hostages.
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Ocearium - Le Croisic
A veritable Atlantic observatory with its transparent tunnel displaying rays, groupers and other fish. Fish from Canada, feeding time for the penguins. NEW: special "Austrailian Shark" pool holding a million litres of seawater.
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Planete Sauvage - Port-Saint-Pere
A wildlife entertainment park - Aboard your vehicle, live a fabulous adventure with 150 wild species from the 5 continents.
Through 16 parks, get close to giraffes, elephants, bears, wolves, rhinoceros, hippopotamuses, lions, tigers, antelopes, etc.
Website:www.planetesauvage.com (English)
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Tourist Centre
Union Départementale des OTSI de Loire-Atlantique
11 rue du Château de l'Eraudière - CS 40698
44306 Nantes cedex 3
Tél. :02 51 72 95 33
Fax :02 40 20 44 54
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