Surrounded by ramparts, Guerande is a beautifully preserved medieval town in the Pays de la Loire region. It has been nicknamed the “Carcassonne of the West” and designated as one of France’s Towns and Lands of Art and History. Guerande is home to an immense tract of marshland and sprawling salt pans that have been harvested for hundreds of years.
Things to do in Guérande
Marvel at the 1,424-metre-long fortified walls of Guerande, which are among the best preserved in France. Now classified as a Monument Historique, the ramparts are marked by four gates, including the 15th-century Porte Saint-Michel. This impressive gate was once home to the city captain and houses temporary exhibitions detailing the rich history of Guerande.
Sprawling east of Guerande is Brière Regional Natural Park, which encompasses 40,000 hectares of wetlands and marshes. Previously known as a centre for peat digging and reed picking, it has become a popular recreational area for boating and birdwatching. Discover how the locals once lived in the well-preserved hamlet of Kerhinet or explore the park’s waterways on board a flat-bottomed chaland boat.
Forming part of Brière Regional Natural Park is the Réserve Ornithologique Pierre Constant, which is traversed by a walking trail with birdwatching hides and observatories. Learn about the migratory birdlife that visits the region at Maison de la Reserve or join a guided tour with one of the resident ornithologists to spot some of the 100+ species that have been recorded here.
Getting around Guérande
Guerande is around 20 minutes’ drive from Saint-Nazaire and one hour from Nantes Atlantique Airport, which has flights to destinations across Europe and North Africa. Buses travel to Guerande and the historic centre is compact enough to explore on foot.