Photo : © S.Grossin

Do you dream of getting off the train, riding your bike along the ocean, then raising a glass of muscadet in front of a bird-filled marsh? Then you'll love Loire-Atlantique (44)! From the fisheries of the Côte de Jade to the vineyards of the Pays nantais, this department of the Pays de la Loire offers a year-round landscape as varied as it is easy to explore without a car.

Nature and responsible touring:

• By bike: five major itineraries (Loire à Vélo, Vélodyssée, Vélocéan, Régalante, Vélidéale) cross the 44, including the 120 km Loire à Vélo, which joins the Atlantic at Saint-Brevin-les-Pins, and nearly 180 Accueil Vélo-labeled addresses line these trails!
• Nature walks: you can glide through the Brière Regional Nature Park (50,000 ha of reed beds) on a barge, observe over 300 species of birds at the mysterious Lac de Grand-Lieu or follow the Canal de Nantes à Brest on foot, by bike, horseback or kayak.

When it comes to heritage and culture, Nantes rolls out its Ligne verte (20 km): Château des Ducs de Bretagne, Machines de l'Île, contemporary works at the Voyage à Nantes. And don't forget the Estuaire route to Saint-Nazaire. In the rest of the region, you can also discover the castles of Clisson and Châteaubriant, the stilt fisheries or the Escal'Atlantic liners.

As for taste buds and the art of living, you can sample Chantenay carrots, IGP Guérande salt, cockles from Le Croisic or eels from Lac de Grand-Lieu. And don't forget Muscadet (6 AOCs), which you can taste at the wineries or during a “Voyage en Muscadet” at Château de la Frémoire.

In short, whether you're traveling solo, as a duo or with your family, Loire-Atlantique offers you a “train + nature + culture” interlude, where cycle routes, marshes, vineyards and contemporary art can all be enjoyed in all four seasons.