Originally, it was named Loire-Inférieure, but its name was changed in 1957 to Loire-Atlantique. The area is part of the historical Duchy of Brittany, and contains what many people still consider to be Brittany's capital, Nantes.

Where is Loire located?

Loire River, longest river in France, rising in the southern Massif Central and flowing north and west for 634 miles (1,020 km) to the Atlantic Ocean, which it enters south of the Bretagne (Brittany) peninsula.

Which part of France is Brittany?

Brittany region is the largest peninsula of France. It is situated in the northwest of France, alongside the Atlantic Ocean and bounded to the east by the Pays de la Loire and Normandy regions.

Where does the Loire start?

The source of the river lies in the eastern Massif Central, in springs to the south side of Mont Gerbier de Jonc at 44°50′38″N 4°13′12″E. This lies in the north-eastern part of the southern Cévennes highlands, in the Ardèche commune of Sainte-Eulalie of southeastern France.

Is the Loire navigable?

Navigable over 700 km until the eighteenth century, the Loire is today officially, only navigable between its mouth at Saint-Nazaire to Bouchemaine near Angers. It is this river, free in a way, that has shaped the enchanting scenery of the Loire Valley.

How Did France & Its Regions Get Their Names?

How many castles are in the Loire Valley?

The Loire isn't the only place in France with chateaux (castles) but it does have the densest collection. There are some 300 in the 175-mile stretch of the river known as the Loire Valley. Some of the earliest chateaux still impress, like the ruined Chateau de Lavardin, built at the start of the 11th century.

What two cities are Brittany?

• © Musat – iStockphoto. ...
• Quimper - Passerelle Max JacobQuimper - Passerelle Max Jacob© Alexandre Lamoureux. ...
• Lorient, a relatively new town founded in the 17th century, has fragments of world history intermingled with its heritage and landscapes. ...
• Saint-Nazaire.

Why is Brittany not a country?

It became an independent kingdom and then a duchy before being united with the Kingdom of France in 1532 as a province governed as a separate nation under the crown. Brittany has also been referred to as Little Britain (as opposed to Great Britain, with which it shares an etymology).

Is Normandy part of Brittany?

Brittany is a peninsular region bordered by the English Channel to the north and the Bay of Biscay to the south, and its neighboring regions are Normandy to the northeast and Pays de la Loire to the southeast.

Where is Brittany in England?

Brittany is bounded by the régions of Basse-Normandie to the northeast and Pays de la Loire to the east. It protrudes westward into the Atlantic Ocean as a peninsula; the Bay of Biscay lies to the southwest and the English Channel to the north. The capital is Rennes. Area 10,505 square miles (27,209 square km).

What language do they speak in Brittany?

Breton language, Breton Brezhoneg, one of the six extant Celtic languages (the others being Cornish, Welsh, Irish, Scottish Gaelic, and Manx). Breton is spoken in Brittany in northwestern France.

How deep is the Loire?

Information about the 138km navigable long river Loire

In many reaches the depth drops to no more than 25cm. During floods, the river rises rapidly, and the fast current makes navigation dangerous as soon as depths of about 2m have been reached.

Where is the Loire Valley in relation to Paris?

The Loire Valley is about 100 kilometers south of Paris. It takes about two hours to reach the Château de Chambord, about two hours and 15 minutes to reach the Château de Cheverny, and around 2.5 hours to arrive at the Château de Chenonceau or the Château Royal d'Amboise.

Is English spoken in Brittany?

The people of Brittany all speak French, and many speak English quite well. Only 5% of the population can speak the Breton regional language.

Why is Brittany Celtic?

After the Romans withdrew, Celts from Britain moved into the area to seek refuge from the Anglo-Saxon invaders of the 5th and 6th centuries. It is from this event that Brittany derives its name. Over the next 300 years the Celts were converted to Christianity by missionaries from the British Isles.

What does the name Brittany mean?

It is of Latin origin, and the meaning of Brittany is "from Brittany or Britain". Modern coinage from the name of an ancient duchy (Bretagne) in France. Celtic Bretons emigrated from France and became the Bretons of England; later the name "Britain" came to signify the country.

Which is the biggest castle in the Loire Valley?

With more than 700,000 visitors a year, the Château de Chambord is the biggest and most visited castle in the Loire Valley.

What castle did Leonardo da Vinci live?

Leonardo spends the last three years of his life at the Château of Clos Lucé and works on several projects for the king of France, surrounded by his students.

Why are so many French chateaux empty?

Many of the chateaus have been left to fall apart due to the owners having a lack of funds to repair the beautiful buildings.