Pays de la Loire

Air France has introduced a new route from London’s City Airport to Nantes at the mouth of the Loire, ideally situated to explore Brittany, the Loire Valley and the Vendée - see www.airfrance.co.uk

Meanwhile budget airline Easyjet starts flights from London Luton to Montpellier in southern France from 7 July 2009 - well-positioned for the mediterranean beaches and the other joys of Provence and the Languedoc. - see www.easyjet.com

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The city of Nantes (44 Loire-Atlantique. Val de Loire) holds its Floral Festival (Floralies) from 8 to 19 May 2009

For 10 days visitors can explorethe biggest ornamental flower show in France. This year’s theme “Pouvoir des fleurs” - or roughly translated as “Flower Power”! or to put it in the usual French  “flowery” phraseology:

“The power of plants in their own right and their contribution to our life on Earth”.

The Show takes place at the Parc des expositions, La Beaujoire in Nantes
Hours : from 9.30 am to 11 pm

For more info see www.comite-des-floralies.com

Situated on the borders of Normandy, Brittany  and the Loire Valley, there is a good B&B/Chambres d’Hote near St Hilaire du Harcouet :-

set in a quiet hamlet in the  beautiful Mayenne countryside, on the border with Normandy and Brittany.It  is only 20 minutes from the A84 autoroute, which links the Channel ports of Cherbourg and Caen with Brittany and the Loire Valley…has five bedrooms on the upper floor, including a family suite. On the ground floor, there is a large dining room and a comfortable lounge area for guests to relax in. The extensive landscaped gardens have a beautiful terrace for outdoor eating or relaxing, and a lake completes the idyllic countryside setting

This English-owned B&B has five tastefully decorated double or twin bedded rooms, including a family suite, suitable for families of up to 6 people and makes an ideal base for touring the many delights of the area or as a stop-over on the journey west or southwards.

Le Mont St Michel is 40 minutes by car. Other towns in the area are Fougeres, Rennes, Dinan, St Malo and many more.

The famous racing circuit of Le Mans is an hour and a half away, as are the beaches of the 1944 Normandy landings and the Bayeux Tapestry.

To find out more about the B&B use the enquiry form below:-

cforms contact form by delicious:days

For more info on the region see www.tourisme-mayenne.com

At Saumur there is a famous French National horse training school - Le Cadre Noir which holds regular open days for the general public to admire these magnificent animals and their skills.

For 2009 the dates are April 9, 16 and 21; May 2,9,14 and 28; June 4,11,18 and 25; July 2,23 and 30; August 27; September 3,10 and 24;October 1

As if there was not enough to see and do in the Loire Valley with Chateaux, wineries and great scenery!

For more info see www.cadrenoir.fr

Throughout 2009 the Chateau d’Angers (49 Maine-et-Loire) in the heart of the Loire Valley, celebrates the 600th Anniversary of King René, Duke of Anjou and “Knight of the Arts” who was born there on 16 January 1409.

Ten sites in the province of Anjou invite you to celebrate this 600th anniversary through a wide range of events recalling this multifaceted and remarkable character.
All through the year 2009, let you be driven to an unexpected tour: tournaments and exhibitions, concerts and falconry shows, conferences and outstanding visits.

The venues include the sites of Angers, Baugé, Chanzeaux, Launay,(Villebernier)les Ponts-de- Cé, Montriou( Feneu), Saumur.

For more info see www.monuments-nationaux.fr/

The town of Laval (53 Mayenne, Pays de la Loire) celebrates the festive season with a Christmas market in Square de Boston, so named to celebrate Laval’s twinning with Boston in Lincolnshire UK, and Boston is also the guest of honour for this year!
Held over 4 days (11-14 December 2008) from morning to night the market will be the focus for Christmas stalls, music and “animations”

Laval is also well-known for the extravagance of its Christmas lights which adds a festive atmosphere to the town centre from 29 Nov 08 to 5 Jan 2009

For more info see www.laval-tourisme.com