Excellence Luxury Villas · Pays de la Loire
Luxury Villa Rentals in The Pays de la Loire
Chateaux and manor houses from the vineyards of Anjou to the Sarthe countryside and the Vendée coast
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Where the Loire runs out to the Atlantic
The Pays de la Loire is the western end of the Loire, where the river widens past Saumur and Angers and runs out to the sea beyond Nantes. Around it lie five departments with very different characters. Anjou has white tufa stone, vineyards and cave dwellings. The Sarthe is wooded and quiet around Le Mans, and the Vendée has the Atlantic beaches. It is also among the easiest parts of France to reach from Britain, by ferry, plane or train.
Our collection runs to 50+ properties, and most of them are chateaux. They range from turreted family houses and moated manors in the Layon valley to grand estates for very large gatherings, with a few smaller houses near Saumur, Nantes and the coast.
Here is how the region divides, and what to do once you are there.
The Pays de la Loire at a glance
- Chateaux
- 50+ chateaux, manors and houses, with up to 20 bedrooms
- Guide prices
- Typically £1,900 to £7,400 a week, from around £1,400
- Best areas
- Saumur and the Layon valley in Maine-et-Loire; the Sarthe around Le Mans; the Vendée near Puy du Fou
- Best time
- May to September; June for the Le Mans 24 Hours, September for the grape harvest
- Getting there
- Nantes airport, the Channel ports of Caen and St Malo, or the TGV from Paris, which reaches Le Mans in under an hour
Browse all 50+ villas in the Pays de la Loireor see them on the map
Villa numbers and guide prices are updated daily from our live collection.
Chateau Des Joyaux France14 bedrooms
Chateau Historique Le Mans – A Living Legacy of French Elegance & Heritage10 bedrooms
Chateau Vallee Du Loire8 bedrooms
Chateau des Marquis | 20-Bedroom Villa in Vernantes Courleon20 bedroomsWhere to stay in the Pays de la Loire
Maine-et-Loire for Saumur, the Layon vineyards and the most chateaux, the Sarthe for Le Mans and quiet countryside, the Vendée for Puy du Fou and the Atlantic, and Loire-Atlantique for Nantes.
White stone, cave houses and sweet wine
Maine-et-Loire is the heart of the collection, and much of it lies within the stretch of the Loire Valley listed by UNESCO. Saumur has a fairytale château above the river and is home to the Cadre Noir, France's elite riding school. The soft tufa limestone hereabouts was quarried for centuries, and the caves left behind became houses, wine cellars and mushroom farms, most memorably at Turquant.
Fontevraud Abbey, a short drive away, holds the tombs of Henry II, Eleanor of Aquitaine and Richard the Lionheart. To the south, around Les Ulmes and Concourson, the Layon valley produces Coteaux du Layon, a honeyed sweet wine from Chenin Blanc.
Browse chateaux in Maine-et-Loire
A medieval old town and a famous race
Le Mans is known to the world for its 24 Hours motor race, held each June, but the old town deserves more attention than it gets. The Cité Plantagenêt is a hill of half-timbered houses and cobbled lanes inside Gallo-Roman walls, crowned by the Cathedral of Saint-Julien.
Beyond the city the Sarthe is gentle farming country of forests, rivers and small market towns. Its chateaux are mostly private and unhurried. This is also where rillettes come from, the slow-cooked potted pork you will find on every lunch table in the department.
Browse chateaux in the Sarthe
A spectacle, a coastline and a mechanical elephant
In the bocage of the Vendée, around Menomblet and La Flocellière, our houses are close to Puy du Fou, the historical theme park whose evening shows draw visitors from all over France. An hour or so west lie the long Atlantic beaches, Les Sables-d'Olonne and, to the south, the canals of the Marais Poitevin.
Nantes, at the mouth of the Loire, is a lively university city. It has the Château des ducs de Bretagne, a strong restaurant scene and Les Machines de l'île, where a giant mechanical elephant carries passengers around the old shipyards.
Browse houses in the Vendée
Beurre blanc, Muscadet and a long summer
This is a region for eating well without ceremony. Try pike or sandre with beurre blanc, a sauce credited to the Nantes area, and Muscadet from the vineyards south of the city. In Anjou there are Saumur sparkling wines and the red Saumur-Champigny, and rillettes come up from the Sarthe.
May to September is the main season. In June the 24 Hours fills every bed around Le Mans, so book well ahead if you are going. September brings the grape harvest and quieter roads. Our concierge can arrange wine tastings, race tickets and hospitality, chefs for chateau dinners and transfers from Nantes or the ferry ports.
Ask our conciergeFeatured villas in the Pays de la Loire
Chateau Des Dynasties France9 bedrooms · sleeps 18From £10,260 a week
Rent Luxury Chateau Le Mans Loire Valley14 bedrooms · sleeps 28From £10,000 a week
Chateau Le Logis Du General France10 bedrooms · sleeps 20From £9,000 a week
Maison Foret Rose | 7-Bedroom Villa in LOURESSE ROCHEMEUNIER Les Ulmes7 bedrooms · sleeps 14From £8,689 a week
Chateau De La Manay | 7-Bedroom Chateau with Private Pool in Lombron7 bedrooms · sleeps 15From £7,309 a week
Manoir De Levesque | 7-Bedroom Villa in Les Verchers-sur-Layon Les Ulm7 bedrooms · sleeps 14From £6,995 a week
Chateau De Vigner Estate France13 bedrooms · sleeps 26From £6,396 a week
Chateau De La Chance | 17-Bedroom Chateau in Faye d’Anjou Bellevigne-e17 bedrooms · sleeps 40From £6,397 a weekSearch all 50+ villas in the Pays de la Loireor see them on the map
Why book your Pays de la Loire villa with Excellence Luxury Villas
The right house, not the nearest one
The region's chateaux are spread across five very different departments, and we know which are a short drive from Saumur's cellars, the circuit at Le Mans or the gates of Puy du Fou. With 50+ properties in the Pays de la Loire, we can usually find the house that suits you rather than the one that happens to be free. Search by size, pool, location and price, or tell us what you have in mind and we will put together a shortlist.
Book direct
You book with us directly, with no booking fees. Questions about access, parking, pool heating or how far it really is to the nearest beach go to people who can find out the answer.
A concierge who knows the territory
Wine tastings in Anjou and the Layon, Le Mans 24 Hours tickets and hospitality, Puy du Fou tickets, chefs for chateau dinners, car hire and transfers from Nantes airport or the Channel ports. Our concierge team arranges all of it, leaving you free to decide which terrace to sit on.
A house for every kind of party
Couples, families with small children, three generations together or a crowd of friends celebrating a birthday: we match the house to the group, down to the number of bathrooms and whether the pool is fenced.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the best area in the Pays de la Loire for a chateau holiday?
Maine-et-Loire, around Saumur and the Layon valley, has the greatest choice of chateaux and puts the Loire, its vineyards and Fontevraud Abbey within easy reach. The Sarthe suits those who want quiet countryside near Le Mans, and the Vendée suits families heading for Puy du Fou and the beaches.
When is the best time to visit the Pays de la Loire?
May to September brings the warmest weather and the longest days for eating outdoors. June is lively around Le Mans during the 24 Hours, and September is lovely for the grape harvest and quieter sightseeing.
When is the Le Mans 24 Hours?
The race is held each June at the Circuit de la Sarthe, just south of Le Mans. Chateaux within reach of the circuit are booked many months in advance for race week, so it pays to plan early. Our concierge can help with tickets and transfers.
Can you arrange a private chef at a villa in the Pays de la Loire?
Yes. Our concierge can arrange a private chef for a single dinner or your whole stay, along with cookery lessons, guided visits, transfers and restaurant reservations.
How much does a luxury villa in the Pays de la Loire cost?
Across our 50+ villas in the Pays de la Loire, weekly rates typically range from £1,900 to £7,400, with the most affordable from around £1,400 a week and the largest estates well above. Prices depend on the size of the property, its location and the season, with July and August the most expensive. These are guide prices based on current listings; each property page shows its own rates for your dates.
How do I get to the Pays de la Loire from the UK?
Nantes airport has flights from the UK. Many guests drive from the ferry ports at Caen or St Malo, which are a few hours away. By rail, the TGV from Paris Montparnasse reaches Le Mans in under an hour and Angers in around an hour and a half.
Are there villas in the Pays de la Loire for large groups?
Yes. Our Pays de la Loire collection includes properties with up to 20 bedrooms. Tell us the size of your party and the occasion, and we will send a shortlist that suits it.
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Find your villa in the Pays de la Loire
50+ chateaux and houses across the Pays de la Loire, booked direct with our concierge on hand