Pays de la Loire, an extensive region of western France, comprises the departments of Loire-Atlantique (44), Maine-et-Loire (49), Mayenne (53), Sarthe (72) and Vendée (85). Pays de la Loire is somewhat more diverse, however, possessing a long coastline along the Atlantic Ocean, forming the northern part of the Bay of Biscay, within the area known as the Vendée. and is bordered by Brittany to the north and west, Lower Normandy to the north, Centre to the east, and Poitou-Charentes to the south.

It has an abundance of small farms, and the predominant agricultural pursuit is the raising of cattle and pigs and the making of dairy products. Its Atlantic coast is the site of a number of fishing and shipping ports, and ducks are also raised in this area. Iron and uranium are mined in Pays de la Loire, and its industries produce motor vehicles, ships, and textiles.

Pays de la Loire is made up of the following historical provinces:

* a part of Brittany, with its old capital Nantes contained within the Loire-Atlantique department. This is only 20% of Brittany. The other 80% of Brittany make up the region of Bretagne.
* Anjou: is largely contained within the Maine-et-Loire department. The whole of the former province of Anjou is contained inside Pays de la Loire.
* Maine: is now divided between the Mayenne and Sarthe departments. The whole of the former province of Maine is contained inside Pays de la Loire.
* a part of Poitou: is contained within the Vendée department. Most of the old province of Poitou is inside the Poitou-Charentes region.
* a part of Perche: is within the northeast of Sarthe department. The rest of Perche is inside the Basse-Normandie and Centre regions.
* a small part of Touraine: southeast of Maine-et-Loire department. Most of the former province of Tourraine is inside the Centre region.