Maine-et-Loire

Maine-et-Loire
Missing image Blason_france_Maine-et-Loire_petit.jpg Coat of Arms du Maine-et-Loire Details
Information
Number	49
Region	Pays-de-la-Loire
Prefecture	Angers
Subprefecture	Cholet Saumur Segré
Population  - Total (1999)  - Density	Ranked 26th 732,942 XX /km²
Area	7,166 km²
Arrondissements	4
Cantons	41
Communes	363
President of the general council	XX
Location

Maine-et-Loire is a département in west-central France.

History

Mayenne-et-Loire was one of the original 83 depatments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790. The name was changed to Maine-et-Loire in 1791. It was created from part of the former provinc of Anjou.

Geography

Maine-et-Loire is part of the current region of Pays-de-la-Loire and is surrounded by the departments of Ille-et-Vilaine, Mayenne, Sarthe, Indre-et-Loire, Vienne, Deux-Sèvres, Vendée, and Loire-Atlantique.

It has a varied landscape, with forested ranges of hills in the south and north separated by the valley of the Loire. The highest point is Colline des Gardes (689 feet/210m).

The area has many navigable rivers such as the Loire, Sarthe, Mayenne, Loir, and Authion.

Demographics

The inhabitants of Maine-et-Loire are called Angevins, from the former province of Anjou.

Tourism

The hosemen of the Cadre Noir in Saumur, the chateaux of the Loire valley, and the royal abbey at Fontrevaud with its Plantagenet tombs are all major attractions.

External link

• Prefecture website (http://www.maine-et-loire.pref.gouv.fr/) (in French)
• Conseil Général website (http://www.cg49.fr/) (in French)
• http://www.anjou-tourisme.com/index.asp?lg=2 (in English)

de:Maine-et-Loire eo:Maine-et-Loire fr:Maine-et-Loire sv:Maine-et-Loire nl:Maine-et-Loire