Pays de Retz

Pays de Retz is a historical region of France that currently forms part of the Loire-Atlantique department, but which previously formed part of the Duchy of Brittany.

The area lies between the southern shore of the Loire estuary and Marais breton (Breton marshes), bordered to the west by the Bay Bourgneuf and on the east by Lake Grand-Lieu and a network of small rivers. Its main towns are Rezé, Machecoul, Pornic and Paimbœuf.

History

and Erispoe, which gave "Ratense" or Pay de Retz to Brittany. [René Cintre, "Les Marches de Bretagne au Moyen Âge", éditions Jean Marie Pierre 1992]

In subsequent centuries there was conflict between Brittany and Anjou over the area. The notorious medieval serial killer Gilles de Retz was from the area, and murdered a large number of local peasant children.

During the War in the Vendée of 1793 the area was a Royalist stronghold. [Alain Gérard, "Les Vendéens des origines à nos jours", Centre vendéen des recherches historiques, La Roche-sur-Yon 2001 (Histoire du Pays de Retz et des Ambilâtres à la fin de l'Antiquité)]

References

Literature

*Dominique Biron, Elizabeth Brisson, Dominique et Joseph Péroyz, "Contes de la Voisine. Seize contes populaires en parler du Pays de Retz", Séquences, 1990
*"Le Patrimoine des communes de la Loire-Atlantique", éditions Flohic, 2001
*Gilles Perraudeau, "Contes populaires du Pays de Retz", éd. du Pays de Retz, 1982