The Nantes vineyards

Between picturesque villages and fields of vines, the Nantes vineyards will never cease to surprise you! It stretches from Vertou to Mouzillon and from Vieillevigne to Divatte-sur-Loire. In the heart of the vineyards, there's no shortage of activities: wine outings on the banks of the Loire, meetings with Muscadet producers, a visit to Clisson, a town inspired by Italy, or thrilling canoeing along the Loire.

The cradle of Muscadet

The Muscadet is the largest single-crop vineyard in France. It is a white wine that was first produced in the Nantes vineyards in the 17th century, in 67 communes. It is found on farms around the Sèvre, Maine, Grand-Lieu lake and Goulaine marshes. There are around 400 Muscadet vineyards, spread over 7,000 hectares of vines. Muscadet boasts several appellations guaranteeing its quality and origin:

- Two regional designations of origin (Muscadet and Gros Plant du Pays Nantais)

- One sub-regional controlled designation of origin (Muscadet Sèvre Maine)

- Nine communal Appellations of Controlled Origin (Muscadet)

Muscadet is a wine that goes perfectly with shellfish and seafood. It is a light, fresh wine that can be kept for around 2 to 5 years.

To discover these wines, you can follow the "Panoramas de Loire" wine route or the tourist circuit of 118km by car from Nantes.

Finally, for three days in October, the Muscadétours invite you to discover the vineyards in a different way.

Italian-inspired gems

Clisson, a charming Italian-inspired town

Half an hour from Nantes, Clisson is known the world over for its Métal festival, Hellfest. However, the Italian-inspired medieval town centre is also well worth a visit. Be careful, it's a climb!

In the Middle Ages, Clisson built an imposing castle to guard the southern frontier of the Duchy of Brittany, as well as the oldest wooden covered market in France. In the 19th century, Clisson was largely destroyed as a result of the Vendée wars.

It was after falling in love with Clisson that François-Frédéric Lemot and the Cacault brothers turned it into a town inspired by Italy, and more specifically Tuscany. This influence can be seen in the tiled roofs, the bell tower of Notre-Dame church, the brickwork and the large houses inspired by Venetian villas.

The Domaine de la Garenne-Lémot

Following this, you absolutely must visit the Domaine de la Garenne-Lémot à Gétigné. This is a huge 13-hectare park housing a Tuscan-style gardener's house and a Néoclassical villa, the Villa Lemot. Sculptures of all kinds await you along the way. Visits to the park are free and unrestricted. Guided guided tours and exhibitions are offered in season.

A land of water

The Vignoble Nantais also has undeniable natural assets. It is bordered by rivers and the Loire.

To the south, the Sèvre Nantaise is a river running through the vineyards. In some villages, quays have been built to provide direct access to the river. You can see it in Boussay, Clisson and La Haye-Fouassi. In the past, the Sèvre Nantaise was used to transport wine and materials from the quarries. Today it is a source of hydraulic power for mills.

The Maine is another river in the vicinity of Saint-Fiacre. You can enjoy the Pont Caffino leisure centre in an exceptional natural setting of cliffs and granite. You can also go hiking on the 300 kilometres of footpaths along the Maine river.

Finally, the Loire is considered Europe's last wild river due to its rich flora and fauna. The river is also home to a large number of market gardens. You can take a boat trip on the Loire, or follow the river on foot or by bike.

Among our Gîtes de France classified accommodation near the Nantes vineyards, you will find:

- Le gîte La maison de Jeannette au Loroux-Bottereau

- The gîte The birds at Loroux-Bottereau

- Les chambres d'hôtes Bed of Roses à Clisson

- The gîte La Clissonnière à Clisson

- Le gîte Le Clos St Martin au Cellier

Check out our other accommodation in the heart of the vineyards.here.