Technically the Northern region of France is the Hauts-de-France but I have chosen to describe it as including Normandy, Brittany, Mayenne, Pays de Loire and the Loire Valley and of course, the Ile-de-France where Paris lies.
Living in the Pays de Loire for several years I had the great task of exploring this region in depth from a small French village called Lassay les Chateaux. Sitting on the borders of Normandy, Brittany and the Mayenne I was immersed in history with hundreds of ruined castles and fortresses, and the incredible French countryside that many never see when they only come to France to visit Paris.
