Loire-Atlantique
Details
Information
Number	44
Region	Pays de la Loire
Prefecture	Nantes
Subprefecture	Ancenis Châteaubriant Saint-Nazaire
Population  - Total (1999)  - Density	Ranked 13th 1,134,266 166 /km²
Area	6,815 km²
Arrondissements	4
Cantons	59
Communes	221
President of the general council	XX
Location

Loire-Atlantique (formerly Loire-Inférieure) is a département on the west coast of France named after the Loire River and the Atlantic Ocean.

History

Loire-Inférieure was one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790. It was renamed in 1957. It was originally part of Brittany, and contains what many people consider to be Brittany's capital, Nantes. There is a popular campaign to have it reintegrated in Brittany.

Geography

Loire-Atlantique is part of the current region of Pays-de-la-Loire (return to Brittany is claimed by a part of the population) and is surrounded by the departments of Morbihan, Ille-et-Vilaine, Maine-et-Loire, and Vendée, with the Atlantic on the west.

Culture

The Breton language is an important issue, with many supporting bilingual education.

External links

• Prefecture website (in French)
• Conseil Général website (in French)
• Nantes City website (in French)