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TYPICAL
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A prosperous land
The Maine-et-Loire is an inland department of western France. It is predominantly agricultural thanks to its rich and fertile land. Cereals and potatoes are the main exports, whilst fruit and vegetables from here are thought to be of the highest quality. Cider and sparkling wine are also produced here, particularly around Saumur and Angers.
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Angers: a river and a tapestry
Angers is the capital of the Maine-et-Loire. This historic town sits on a plateau above the River Maine, one of the River Loire's tributaries which runs through the department. The town’s château contains one of the region’s top treasures, a medieval tapestry covering a staggering 101 metres which portrays the end of time as told in the Bible.
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Read all about it
Angers grew as a commercial and academic centre in the 15th century. At around the same time, the town became the proud owner of the first printing press in the Loire Valley. Angers is renowned for its Catholic heritage, its university having been built by the Catholic Church in 1875. Today it is the 20th largest city in France.
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Home of horses
Saumur is an attractive town in the east of the department. It is best known for its sparkling wines, which are the most popular alternative to those of Champagne. The town is dominated by the impressive 13th century Château de Saumur, which has been turned into two museums, one for decorative arts and the other about horses. The École Nationale d’Équitation, which trains riders and coaches for the Olympics and professional competitions, is to be found on the outskirts of the town. Approximately 400 horses are kept at the school at any one time.
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Celebrating the past
Cholet is an interesting town in the south of the department. Make sure you take a tour of the Château de Barbe Bleue, where the tour guides will tell you the dark tale of its former resident, Gilles de Rais. There is also another castle in the town, the Puy du Fou, which has been turned into a lively tourist centre. During the summer, locals and professional actors put on a show telling the region’s history with the help of fireworks, lighting and water.
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A peaceful environment
Segré is a small town with a relaxing atmosphere. Fishing and canoeing are both popular activities on the river. There is also a fantastic archaeological museum that is well worth a visit.
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How to get there
There are regular flights from the UK and Ireland. Choose to fly to Rennes (flybe, Aer Lingus), Tours (Ryanair), Nantes (GB Airways, Ryanair, Aer Arann) or Angers (flybe). If you’d prefer to travel by land then you could catch the TGV train, which will take you to Le Mans, Angers or Nantes or take your car on a ferry. The nearest port is St-Malo, which can be reached from Portsmouth using Brittany Ferries or Poole or Weymouth using Condor Ferries.
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What about the property prices and availability?
An increase in accessibility has created a very buoyant property market in the Maine-et-Loire. Saumur is home to a number of gites, which benefit from the town’s strong rental market. Angers in particular has a very strong and healthy property market.
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AGENTS WITH PROPERTY FOR SALE IN MAINE-ET-LOIRE |
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