What does the Pays de la Loire border?

Pays de la Loire is bounded by the régions of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté to the northwest, Normandy to the north, Centre to the east, and Nouvelle-Aquitaine to the south. The Bay of Biscay in the Atlantic Ocean lies to the west. The capital is Nantes.

Why Pays de la Loire famous?

It is also known as the ‘valley of the kings’ due to its royal past and their legacy of châteaux, abbeys, romantic churches and manor houses which attract 2.3 million tourists each year. The landscape is dominated by the Loire valley and its tributaries, of which nine are navigable.

What food is Pays de la Loire known for?

The best-known specialties of the region are beurre blanc, rillettes du Mans, rillons, diableries, Loué poultry, muscatel sausages, rillauds d’Anjou, mogettes de Vendée, tourangelle soup. Desserts here are also delicious: macaroons, jams, dries apples and pears, shortbreads.

Where is the city of Angers in France?

Angers, city, capital of Maine-et-Loire département, Pays de la Loire région, western France. Angers is the former capital of Anjou and lies along the Maine River 5 miles (8 km) above the latter’s junction with the Loire River, northeast of Nantes. The old city is on the river’s left bank, with three bridges crossing to Doutre.

What is the population of Pays de la Loire?

It has a metropolitan population of about 400,000 and is the third biggest job provider in north-western France, just behind Nantes and Rennes. Le Mans is another city in Pays de la Loire. Situated in north-east Pays de la Loire, Le Mans is home to over 300,000 (metropolitan population).

What are the names of the communes in Angers?

These are, clockwise, Avrillé, Cantenay-Épinard, Écouflant, Saint-Barthélemy-d’Anjou, Trélazé, Les Ponts-de-Cé, Sainte-Gemmes-sur-Loire, Bouchemaine and Beaucouzé. 22 other communes situated farther form with them the Communauté urbaine Angers Loire Métropole. All these peripheral communes are situated within 17 km (11 mi) from Angers proper.

Where does the coat of arms of Angers come from?

The coat of arms of Angers bears the French royal fleur de lys of the dukes of Anjou (the first duke was the son of the king of France, Jean II ); the key evokes the stronghold position of the city close to the Breton border. An acrostic from the Middle Ages calls it Antique clef de France, which means “Ancient key to France”: