You leave the hotel in Angers via the bridge over the Maine. The Maine and the Loire merge in Bouchemaine. From here you keep following the Loire to its mouth. Here and there you pass a small village in the middle of nature.
The Château de Varennes is located in the Val de Loire. The 7 hectares of the Château de Varennes vineyard are exclusively planted with Chenin blanc. The vineyards of Château de Varennes cling to the slate and sandstone slopes that descend to the north bank of the Loire. They benefit from exceptional sunshine.
La Possonnière was created in the middle of the 19th century with the industrial revolution. Its history has always been marked by fishing and marine, as well as the wine trade on the river. The city experienced a revival of commercial activity at the end of the nineteenth century. Always focused on the Loire, the city offers very beautiful natural facilities, as well as an interesting architectural and historical heritage that attests to a rich past.
The Abbey of Saint-Florent-le-Vieil is a Benedictine abbey located in the town of Mauges-sur-Loire built in the course of the fourteenth century. Listed as a historical monument, it suffered a lot of damage over the centuries, turning its church into a prison during the Vendee war. The building was partially renovated in the nineteenth century.

The restaurant La Pierre Percée in the heart of the village of Pierre Percée offers you a breathtaking view of the banks of the Loire from its panoramic dining room. The menu is inspired by products and recipes from the banks of the Loire and the vineyard. The essential Beurre Blanc Nantais, of course, but also zander, frog legs in parsley. You can also enjoy other local dishes topped with vegetables from our neighboring gardeners in the Loire Valley, which combine simplicity, friendliness and sweetness.
You cross the Loire via the double bridges of Bellevues. It is an important work of art that fits into the car traffic plan for the Nantes conurbation. The 1st Bellevue Bridge was built in 1968-1970. It is a box girder bridge with variable height. The second Bellevue bridge doubles the first. She was built from 1988 to 1990.

The castle of the Dukes of Brittany in Nantes is a strong symbol of the history of Brittany and the Breton State that has existed for almost 1,000 years. In fact, it was one of the most powerful in Europe at the time. The Dukes had chosen Nantes as their capital and then built a real city in the city. The contrast between the castle's robust, fortified exterior and the Renaissance interior is unique. The castle was the last residence of the dukes before Brittany was added to France. Anne de Bretagne was born and lived there before she became Queen of France twice. On the town side, the castle is an inexorable fortress, protected by a 500 meter walkway and seven towers linked by walls. The contrast is striking from the courtyard, where you can see the elegant Gothic architecture, designed in tuff, in which the first Renaissance influences can already be seen.

Nantes Cathedral was built from 1434. Construction of the portal and façade was completed before the end of the 15th century, but the towers would not be ready until 1508. The building of the nave and aisles would also be completed at the beginning of the 16th century. Work on the cathedral was not completed until the 17th century. During the French Revolution, the cathedral was used as a military lookout. In 1796, the building threatened to be demolished to make way for a road extension, but destruction was prevented. Since 1862, the cathedral has been classified as a historic monument in France. The cathedral contains the cenotaph of the Breton general De Lamoricière. On July 18, 2020, a major fire caused serious damage to the cathedral. The main organ was completely destroyed, as were the stained glass windows. The police assumed arson because the fire had started in three places. After a week, a suspect who had previously been released made a confession.
You leave Nantes via the 'île de Nantes', an island between two arms of the Loire, south of the historic heart of the city. The Loire and its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean have played an important role in the history and development of the city. The location, the area of the zone and the context offered the opportunity to develop a large-scale urban project on this former industrial site with new industries and economic activities, while at the same time restoring and protecting the ecosystem of the Loire estuary. The metropolis of Nantes has now developed a new vibrant city center according to sustainable design principles, to complement the existing historic city center.

Via the Marsh Jean-Jacques Audebon you gradually approach the end of the Loire Valley with its castles. The estuary of the Loire at Saint-Nazaire beckons. We cross this beautiful stream one last time. Even from afar, Saint-Nazaire is enchanting. The curved line of the cable bridge with its red and white pillars softens the horizon. Huge cranes and steel structures stand next to hulls that protrude above the roofs. Fortunately, the city with its extraordinary beauty remains warm and human!
Something completely different, but perhaps fun to visit is the submarine Espadon. The Espadon was built by the shipyards in Le Havre and put into service in 1960. The 78 m long submarine could stay underwater for 5 to 6 days. Thanks to its electric motors (it is not a nuclear submarine), the boat reached a maximum speed of 16 knots on the surface and 18 knots underwater, or approximately 29 and 32 km / h. During his 25 years of service, he spent a total of 2,561 days at sea, stayed underwater for 33,796 hours and covered 360,547 nautical miles, a distance equivalent to 17 times around the Earth. The Espadon was a witness to the Cold War, but was never used in armed conflicts: the impressive torpedo tubes (to be admired at the end of the course) only served during exercises. From the gangway to the listening station and the torpedo room, you will find yourself in the depths of the sea. The 65 crew members shared everything with each other: the limited living space, narrow berths, a single shower ... Get under the skin of the crew of a submarine - for the time of a viewing.

A real ending is perhaps the restaurant La Plage. Enjoy the terraces overlooking the sea and Place du Commando, relax in the trendy bistro atmosphere, venture a taste adventure with a view of the open sea. Fresh, local products are central to the bistronomie restaurant.
You spend the night in B&B Hôtel Saint-Nazaire La Baule. This hotel has a closed parking.