The Pays de la Loire region is so named because it lies to the sides of the lower reaches of the Loire river. However, it should not be confused with the Centre-Loire region where the majority of the Loire Valley castles and chateaux are sitiuated. The region lies to the south of Brittany and Normandy and to the west of Centre-Loire and Poitou-Charentes. Its western border is with the Atlantic Ocean. Pays de la Loire incorporates the departments of Loire Atlantique, Maine et Loire, Mayenne, Sarthe and Vendee. Its capital is the city of Nantes.

The region has no historical or geographical reason for being treated as a single entity and, in fact, includes parts of former Poitou and Brittany. It is therefore difficult to describe it as a whole and is often best looked at in terms of its individual departments. What this does mean, however, is that this is a highly diverse area, incorporating the seaside resorts of the Vendee, the long flat beaches of Loire Atlantique, the unspoilt countryside of Mayenne and Maine et Loire and the hills and vineyards of Sarthe. And, althouh this is not major chateau country, the Loire Valley here is still very beautiful with some imposing and historic towns such as Saumur and Angers on the river banks. Other major towns in the region include Le Mans and Chateaubriant.

As might be expected, places to rent here are varied and tend to follow a typical French pattern of villas with pools and studios or apartments at the seaside, and gites - also often with pools, pretty stone cottages, country houses and farmhouses in the more rural inland areas. Small chateaux and mansions or manoirs are also a possibility to let for family holidays or large groups.