Things to Do in Western France

Travel Themes

• Interests (out of ★★★★): Nature ★★; Culture ★★; Relaxation-holidays ★★★

Nature-Adventure

Culture

Relaxation-Holidays

By Department

Level of "interest" for each department:

By Department

Highlights and special features of the region's departments.

Charente

Not the most touristy, despite the presence of two cities like Cognac and Angoulême, Charente is mainly a transit area between the Massif Central and the Atlantic or between Bordeaux and the Loire regions and beyond.

Charente-Maritime

A coastline with beautiful beaches and popular seaside resorts (Royan and others), renowned islands (Aix, Oléron, and especially Île de Ré), a prefecture (La Rochelle), and several sites (Fort Boyard, Rochefort...) rich in history, as well as pleasant towns (Meschers, Talmont...) along the Gironde Estuary, plus lovely coastal and inland landscapes (including the Marais Poitevin) make Charente-Maritime a full-fledged holiday destination. It’s no surprise, then, that it’s the top tourist department on the French Atlantic coast.

Loire-Atlantique

With Nantes, the historic city of Guérande, and several well-known seaside resorts (Pornic, La Baule, La Turballe, etc.), the department has plenty to attract visitors, though its tourism is indeed mostly focused on its coast.

Maine-et-Loire

Maine-et-Loire is a place primarily for history and culture lovers. You can discover beautiful castles from various eras, some of which are part of the famous "Châteaux de la Loire," a pleasant prefecture (Angers), and a few interesting towns like Baugé, Béhuard, or the troglodyte village of Rochemenier.

Mayenne

Not particularly touristy, with no mountains or coastal access, Mayenne is first and foremost synonymous with countryside and tranquility.

Sarthe

While Sarthe is known for the city of Le Mans (and its 24 Hours race), it also has other attractions like several historic sites, abbeys, or castles, rural natural landscapes, and an extensive network of hiking trails. That said, the department isn’t one of the most visited.

Deux-Sèvres

Not very touristy and mainly a transit area between different regions, the Deux-Sèvres department is home to part of the Poitevin Marshes and a few castles (Coudray-Salbart, Oiron) worth visiting if you’re in the area.

Vendée

With its 250-kilometer coastline, long beaches, and high sunshine levels, Vendée has become a benchmark for seaside tourism on the Atlantic coast. Add to that islands like Noirmoutier and Île d'Yeu, which draw large crowds in season, and especially Puy du Fou, now a global reference for theme parks.

Vienne

While Vendée has Puy du Fou, Vienne is home to Futuroscope, one of Europe’s most visited theme parks and the main tourist attraction in the region. Otherwise, the city of Poitiers, Saint-Savin Abbey, and Touffou Castle are also worth a visit.

Beaches and Seaside Resorts

Water Activities

Diving:

Water Sports:

Sailing:

Thalassotherapy and Wellness

Hiking

Hiking on Foot

Cycling

Horseback Riding

Outdoor and Adventure Sports

Golf

Paragliding and Aerial Sports

Cultural Life and Activities

Nightlife and Going Out