Maine-et-Loire is a subdivision in west-central France. Maine-et-Loire is one of the unusual 83 departments formed through the French Revolution on March 4, 1790. Maine-et-Loire is part of the current region of Pays-de-la-Loire and is surrounded by the departments of Ille-et-Vilaine, Mayenne, Sarthe, Indre-et-Loire, Vienne, Deux-Sèvres, Vendée, and Loire-Atlantique. The residents of Maine-et-Loire are named Angevins, from the former province of Anjou. It is chiefly agricultural because of its rich and fertile land. Cereals and potatoes are the major exports, while fruit and vegetables from here are considered to be of the maximum quality.

Maine-et-Loire is one of the five departments making up the Pays de la Loire region. It was the most important part of the earlier province of Anjou. The name of the department is derived from the River of Maine and River of Loire which pass throughout the area. Maine-et-Loire accounts for 776,659 residents. It is bordered to the north by Mayenne, Sarthe and Ille-et-Vilaine, to the west by Loire-Atlantique, to the east by Indre-et-Loire and to the south by Vendée, Deux-Sèvres and a small part of Vienne. The governmental heart of the department is Angers, the other main towns being Cholet, Saumur, Segré, Chemillé and Doué-la-Fontaine.