The Pays-de-Loire region begins in the east with the last of the extravagant castles at Saumur and follows the Loire Valley through gentle rolling countryside to the Atlantic. Although the city of Nantes is the region’s capital it was a major city in the historic province of Brittany. Breton influences in the western part of the region are strong. The departments in Pays-de-Loire: Loire-Atlantique, Maine-et-Loire, Mayenne, Sarthe and Vendée.
Archaeology and History Festival And Events in the Pays de la Loire
Living History in the Vendée
Voted the world’s best park, and known for being a theme park without rides, Puy du Fou has four separate period villages that focus on living history of the period, but it is the shows for which it receives the highest accolades. With ten spectacular historical themed shows which range from American War of Independence, Vikings, Roman Circus, Knights of the Round Table and World War I, the shows are the focus of a visit to the park. Continue Reading >>
Map of Archaeology and History Sites and Museums in Pays de la Loire
Prehistoric sites (Palaeolithic, Mesolithic, Neolithic, Bronze Age and Iron Age) are marked with red pins on the map, Gallo-Roman with green pins, Middle Ages with light blue, Early Modern (the Ancien Régime) with pink, Modern (from the French Revolution to the Great War) with purple, 20th Century/Historic with yellow. Museums and theme parks are marked with dark blue pins.
As tumuli go this is one of the larger ones, with a diameter of 28 metres and a circumference of 120 metres. Within the earthen mound there are two passages, each of about 11 metres in length and each lead to inner burial chambers. At some point in prehistory the tumulus was refashioned, and a cairn was constructed over the burial chambers. These chambers face south east and it is said that at the winter solstice the winter sun’s rays shines down each of the passages to the chambers.
Gennes Roman Amphitheatre
This Gallo-Roman amphitheatre is thought to have been one of the largest in north-west France. The typically elliptical arena measures 44 by 39 metres, with a semi-circular cavea thought to have been able to seat around 5,000 spectators. The basic outline and shape of the amphitheatre, as well as a number of architectural features, is well preserved and easy to see, but they have been enhanced by extensive excavations. These include three rooms at the edge of the arena that would have been used for performers.
Madeleine Dolmen
An isolated dolmen in a private field on the outskirts of the town of Gennes, on the banks of the Loire River not that far from Saumur. There are a number of these megalithic sites in the area – but this one is one of the larger ones – measuring 14 metres in length and with an interior height of 2.7 metres. Like many of the more substantial dolmens it has been used by local farmers for centuries. This particular dolmen was used to house a large bread oven; the remains of which are still present in the chamber … go to Madeleine Dolmen.
The modern-day town of Jublains has its origins as the Gallic capital of the Diablintes tribe. By 65 AD, the town had taken on many distinctive Roman features. The public baths, the theatre, the temple, and the fort are strikingly well preserved and attest to the Roman town’s strategic significance positioned on an important route between the Loire Valley to the south and the channel to the north. A new museum has a good variety of some of the finest artefacts from the site on display … go to Jublains.
