56 Y
es, I live right on
the border of three
departments - the
Mayenne, Orne, and
Ille-et-Vilaine. Orne is
in Normandy, and Ille-et-Vilaine is in
Brittany, so we enjoy a real mix of
regional cultures. This article is about
the Pays de la Loire, so I will tell
you about Mayenne and the other
beautiful departments in the region.
You will find that property in the
Maine-et-Loire department offers
great value for money, with prices
varying quite a bit between locations
- it really does pay dividends to
work with an agent that has local
knowledge.
The Mayenne has a picturesque,
rolling, landscape and the people
are extremely warm and welcoming.
It has a traditional feel, with quiet
roads and a relaxing pace of life.
Amanda Fellows lives on the very Northern tip of the region, and she
particularly loves the mild climate and gorgeous landscape.
The region has a mild climate, and
I am glad that we settled here after
moving from the UK. It is over 15
years now, yet we still discover new
places to visit and things to do. The
Mayenne also has excellent transport
links, with easy access to airports
and ferry ports - this means that it
is a popular spot with second home
owners. The fact that property
prices are lower than surrounding
areas also helps, as buyers get an
awful lot of bang for their buck. You
can see from the table opposite
that Mayenne has the lowest
average property prices of all five
departments in the region. Please
take these prices with a pinch of
salt, as you will pay a premium near
popular towns such as Laval. The
castle there stands on a promontory
and guards the town. The cobbled
streets in the mediaeval centre have
PAYS DE LA LOIRE
some wonderful boutiques, bars, and
restaurants, so it is worth a visit.
The most famous department
in the region is probably Loire-
Atlantique, home to the bustling city
of Nantes, which is often quoted as
offering the highest quality of life in
France. The mediaeval core of the
city has narrow streets and halftimbered
houses; it has real energy
as this is where you will find tourists
mingling with some of the university
students. Nantes is also close to
the port of St. Nazaire, and so the
department has low unemployment
levels. Properties in and around both
areas come at a premium price as
they are popular with commuters.
I say that Loire-Atlantique is
the most famous department in
the region, but my colleagues in the
Vendée would undoubtedly disagree.
The Vendée Globe yacht race is
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