Western France

The regions of Brittany, Pays de la Loire and Centre-Val de Loire, combining châteaux, historic coastal towns and Celtic culture.

This region includes three regions: Brittany, Pays de la Loire (Nantes, Angers, Saumur) and Centre-Val de Loire (Tours, Blois, Orléans, Chartres, Bourges). Normandy and Mont-Saint-Michel to the north belong to Northern France, Poitou-Charentes and La Rochelle to the south belong to Southwestern France, and Paris and Île-de-France lies to the northeast. The Loire Valley (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) is the focus: the châteaux of Chambord, Chenonceau, Azay-le-Rideau, the gardens of Villandry, Amboise Castle and Clos Lucé, where Leonardo da Vinci spent his last years, plus Tours and the wine country around Saumur; Chartres Cathedral is famous for its stained glass. Brittany has the walled port of Saint-Malo, Dinan, the Pink Granite Coast, the Carnac standing stones, Quimper, Belle-Île and the old town of Rennes; in Nantes the Machines of the Isle and the giant elephant are also very popular. A classic plan is to spend 2–3 days visiting the châteaux by car or bike (on the 'Loire à Vélo' cycle route), based in Tours or Amboise, then head north to the Brittany coast for 3–5 days. TGV trains run from Paris to Tours, Rennes and Nantes in 1–2.5 hours, but public transport between the châteaux and the coastal towns is limited, so driving is more convenient. Brittany's weather is changeable and often rainy, and the sea is cool in summer. Combined tickets are available for the châteaux, and in peak season arrive early at popular sites such as Chambord.

Destinations

Itineraries

Loire à Vélo: Orléans to Nantes – Cycle from east to west along the Loire à Vélo trail, passing through the châteaux region and vineyards to Nantes.
Brittany Peninsula Coast Loop – A loop around the peninsula from Rennes to Nantes, taking in the Emerald Coast, Crozon cliffs, Pointe du Raz, and the C…
Normandy, Brittany & Loire Valley Grand Tour – Depart from Paris and loop through the Normandy Coast, the Emerald Coast, and the Loire Châteaux before returning to Pa…
Emerald Coast & Mont Saint-Michel – Based in Saint-Malo, drive to Dinan, Cap Fréhel, Cancale, and Mont Saint-Michel.
Classic Normandy – Drive west from Giverny, connecting Rouen, the Alabaster Coast, Honfleur, the D-Day Landing Beaches, and Mont Saint-Mic…
Paris, Normandy, Mont Saint-Michel & Loire Valley 10-Day Self-Drive Itinerary – A self-drive loop from Paris connecting Giverny, the Normandy coast, Mont Saint-Michel, and the Loire châteaux.
Car-Free Normandy 5-Day Rail Itinerary – Travel entirely by train and bus, visiting Rouen, Bayeux, the D-Day Landing Beaches, and Mont Saint-Michel before retur…
Car-Free Loire Valley Châteaux by Train & Bus – Skip the car and use trains and regional buses to connect Blois, Amboise, Tours, and five famous châteaux.
Saint-Malo & Channel Islands Island-Hopping Loop – Depart from Saint-Malo in Brittany, island-hop through Jersey, Guernsey, Herm, and Sark, and return to France