The Tour de France passes through some picturesque Northern France territory today, starting at the shore town of Saint-Malo and ending in the prefecture Loire-Atlantique city of Nantes.

Here is the Tour de France description of Saint-Malo:

Have you ever taken a stroll along Sillon beach? Before you, across the emerald sea, lie Fort de la Conchée, Cézembre island, Fort National, the islands of Grand Bé and Petit Bé... all worthy sentinels of a bay stretching from cap Fréhel to Mont Saint-Michel. This landscape, subject to the biggest tides in Europe and to a turbulent history (the town proclaimed its independence from 1590 to 1594), has wrought a people of exceptional character, the likes of Jacques Cartier, who discovered Canada, corsairs René Duguay-Trouin and Robert Surcouf, writer François-René de Chateaubriand.

Saint-Malo is also famous for its cultural events: Etonnants Voyageurs book fair, Quai des Bulles (comic strips festival), Route du Rock... And for its sailing events: Route du Rhum, Course des Grands Voiliers, Quebec-Saint-Malo... More awaits in the corsair town!

Here is the Tour de France description of Nantes:

With the palace of the dukes of Brittany, the Lieu Unique Theatre & (in a former Lu cookie factory), the Folles Journées classical music festival (more than 100 concerts held over five days) and the Royal de Luxe street theater company, Nantes keeps proving its cultural vitality without ever forgetting its heritage. 80 different sports are practiced by some 370 clubs and their 60,000 members. Nantes Football Club has enjoyed much success, winning 8 league titles and 3 French cups. Writer Jules Verne, film director Jacques Demy and yachtsman Eric Tabarly were all born in Nantes.

With major companies the likes of Eurofins and Airbus, important research facilities and ongoing urban projects, Nantes is always on the move. Its wholesale market is second only to Rungis (in Paris), and Nantes-Saint-Nazaire is the fourth largest port in France (35 million tons of freight in 2006, 77% being hydrocarbons). Situated on Nantes Island, Wilson wharf can accommodate ocean liners since 2002.

Find out more about the Tour de France: Tour de France 2008

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_{Photos of Saint-Malo (top) and Nantes, copyright Tour de France.}