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Pays de la Loire
The Pays de la Loire region is in the west of France. It borders the Atlantic Ocean.
Key points of the sheet
- It is close to Brittany (Bretagne), Centre-Val de Loire and Nouvelle-Aquitaine.
- The region has 5 départements. Its main cities are Nantes (prefecture), Angers, Le Mans, Laval and La Roche-sur-Yon.
- The region has about 3.9 million inhabitants. The population is growing fast, notably in Nantes, Angers and Le Mans.
- The key sectors are industry, agriculture, digital technology, renewable energy and tourism.
- The unemployment rate is below the national average. The economy is dynamic and the region is attractive.
Words to know
- départements
- Pays de la Loire has 5 départements: Loire-Atlantique, Maine-et-Loire, Mayenne, Sarthe and Vendée.
- prefecture (préfecture)
- Nantes is the prefecture of the Pays de la Loire region.
- Vendée coast (littoral vendéen)
- The Vendée coast is a tourist destination in the region, along with castles and cultural heritage.
- unemployment rate (taux de chômage)
- In Pays de la Loire, the unemployment rate is below the national average.
Test yourself: 3 questions
Where is the Pays de la Loire region located?
In French, the language of the exam: Où est située la région des Pays de la Loire ?
The sheet says that the Pays de la Loire region is located in the west of France.
How many départements does Pays de la Loire have?
In French, the language of the exam: Combien de départements comptent les Pays de la Loire ?
Pays de la Loire has 5 départements.
What is the unemployment rate like in Pays de la Loire?
In French, the language of the exam: Comment est le taux de chômage dans les Pays de la Loire ?
The sheet says that the unemployment rate is below the national average.
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More in this topic (The regions of France)
Source
Sheet “Pays de la Loire” of the French Ministry of the Interior: formation-civique.interieur.gouv.fr. Content published under the Etalab Open Licence 2.0. This page is a plain-language adaptation made by Hexaciv, which is not an official site: if in doubt, the ministry's text is the one that counts.
Ministry sheet read on 23 October 2026, still identical on 25 October 2026.