Shops in La Loire — 4 of Our Favourites

Louis Pommeraye developed this covered shopping area in Nantes in 1840 between the streets of Rue Santeuil and Rue de la Fosse. Its flamboyant Renaissance style and sculptures have made this passageway a historic monument. It houses designer fashion stores, jewellery boutiques and homeware shops.

In the eighteenth century, the prosperity of the city of Nantes was symbolised, amongst other things, in terms of architecture, with bas-reliefs that decorated the various buildings and especially the pediment doors. They presented themselves in the form of masks with the name "Mascaron." This inspired Gilbert Debotté to create a specialty chocolate which he called the "Mascaron Nantais". Sample this and other delights at this chocolatier in Nantes.

This basket-weaving cooperative dates back to 1849. It produces a wide range of wicker goods from basket to furniture to garden features. It has a good shop selling many of its wicker objects.

This traditional charcuterie based in Vouvray sells regional specialities. Pâtés, hams, foie gras and saucisson as well as the traditional rillettes. They even use some of the local Vouvray wine in their production to make their products extra-special.