MAINE-ET-LOIRE (49)

Population: 810,186
Prefecture: Angers
Sub-prefectures: Cholet, Saumur, Segré
Surface: 7,178 km²

Specialties: Anjou and Saumur vineyards (32 appellations), plum pâté, fouaces, sliced ​​apples, rillauds ...

Sports clubs: Angers SCO (football, league 1), Cholet Basket (Basketball, Pro A), Women's Union Angers Basket 49 (Women's League), Les Ducs d'Angers (Ice Hockey), La Vaillante Angers Table tennis (Pro A), La Romagne Table Tennis (Pro A), Angers Noyant Handball Club (Pro D2)

Competitions: Mondial du Lion (riding), Cholet Pays de Loire (cycling), Pro Stars Tournament (basketball), Saumur International 3-Star International Competition (horse riding), 2016 Elite French Athletics Championships (Angers).

Festivals: Anjou Festival (outdoor theater); Premiers Plans Festival of Angers; Jazz Festival Flavors in Segré; National days of books and wine in Saumur; Bike Festival in Anjou.

Economy: Tourism (Terra Botanica first European park dedicated to plants, Zoo Bioparc of Doué-la-Fontaine, Loire à Vélo); Agriculture, viticulture; Agribusiness Plastics-rubber; Automotive; Connected objects; Fashion

Remarkable sites: Abbey of Fontevraud, Lorie Valley listed as a World Heritage site by Unesco, Castle of Angers and tapestry of the apocalypse; Castle of Montsoreau; Cadre Noir of Saumur (equestrian school).

Websites / FB / Twitter: www.anjou-tourisme.com / www.maine-et-loire.fr / www.facebook.com/anjou.tourisme / twitter.com/Anjoutourisme / www.facebook.com/Departement49 / twitter.com/Maine_et_Loire

SAINT-ANDRÉ-DE-LA MARCHE (Pop: 2,830)

To see for its interesting shoemaking museum, opened in 1995 and which leads to look at one’s feet feet in a different light. Installed in a former factory, the museum displays functioning machines taking the visitors through every step of the making of a shoe. The permanent collection consists of hundreds of shoes classified by themes: trades, sports, countries or extravagant. Until October, a temporary exhibition, high in color and heels, is devoted to the 1970s.

LA ROMAGNE (Pop: 1,825)

La Romagne is particularly renowned for  its table tennis team, Stella Sports La Romagne, who have been playing in the France Pro A championship since 2005 and were French championship runner-ups in 2017 and quarter-finalists in the Champions League. The La Stella sports hall, home to the club, was inaugurated in 2013.

LA SÉGUINIÈRE (Pop: 4,000)

Its Notre-Dame de l’Assomption chruch, listed as a Historical Monument, was built on the site of an earlier 11th century church, a former dependency of the Abbey of St Michel-en-l'Herm. The parish is part of the diocese of Angers since 1802. The building was completely rebuilt for its older part during the Renaissance by Charles Du Plessis and Louise de Montfaucon-Saint-Mesmin. Their blason is to be found in many parts of the building. The church was enlarged and raised to the east between 1858 and 1860. Notable points in the church: the carved vaults of the south aisle, the central nave and contemporary stained glass windows representing the Wars of Vendée and the life of Father de Montfort who came to La Séguinière in 1713 and 1715.