In 1800 the arrondissements of Nantes, Ancenis, Châteaubriant, Paimbœuf and Savenay were established. In 1868 Saint-Nazaire replaced Savenay as subprefecture. The arrondissements of Ancenis and Paimbœuf were disbanded in 1926, and Ancenis was restored in 1943.[3] The arrondissement of Châteaubriant-Ancenis was created in January 2017 from the former arrondissements of
Châteaubriant and
Ancenis and 4 communes from the arrondissement of Nantes.[4]