Holidays in Maine-et-Loire, Loire Valley, France

The department of Maine-et-Loire is located within the Loire Valley region of France, in the west of the country. The river itself runs through Maine-et-Loire and visitors can enjoy the many chateaux that have been built along its banks over time. The main town of Angers is home to a spectacular medieval fortress, while the nearby caves are also worth visiting. The natural beauty of the area makes it ideal for those who like to explore the great outdoors.



Angers



The medieval fortress in Angers was built in the 13th century and features 17 imposing towers; unlike many of the palatial country homes throughout the rest of the Loire region, the castle in Angers really feels like the fortress it was. Inside there are displays about weaponry and how residents of the castle would spend their days, as well as the 14th century Apocalypse Tapestry, the largest medieval wall hanging still in existence today. There are other museums in the town dedicated to the art of tapestry and other fine arts. The old town of Angers, on the hill above the castle, is filled with typical narrow medieval streets, half-timbered houses and churches at every turn. The most interesting of these older dwellings is Adam’s House, located in the square behind the Gothic cathedral, whose façade is decorated with carved wooden animals and religious images.



Troglodyte caves



Near the historic town of Saumur, there are a number of large caves that are open to visitors; though these are not prehistoric dwelling, but homes and wine cellars that were created by human hands over the last 1,000 years. In the village of Dénezé-sous-Doué you can visit the "Cave aux Sculptures" where a 16th century artisan not only created a living space, but filled it with 400 sculptures of animals, religious characters and even satirical representations of the royal family. There are many churches in these troglodyte caves, as their initial function was to provide a secret place for persecuted Protestants to worship. The dark and cool environment in these caves has made the region famous for its mushrooms, and there is even a museum dedicated to the vegetable nears St Hilaire-St Florent, which is much more interesting than it sounds.



If the kids are bored and tired of wandering round caves and castles, then they might prefer a day at the zoo in the town of Doue just south of Saumur. This is a great zoo, featuring over 70 different types of animals, which tries to recreate their natural environments and focuses very strongly on conservation. Some of the "cages" are actually troglodyte caves that have been converted and adapted for their new residents.







The Author writes for Holiday Home Rentals who have a selection of Gites in Pays de la Loire and Villas in France which can be rented direct from their owners.