Welcome to the West! On the banks of the Loire, close to the Atlantic Ocean, the City of the Dukes of Brittany draws its life from every angle. An invitation to wander around, eyes to the sky and nose to the wind, as you discover the city's cultural heritage, both contemporary and historical, and the ever-present natural environment, on bike rides, walks or by the water. Take a bite out of a pure butter sablé, meet a giant elephant plucked straight out of the novels of Jules Verne, tour the vineyards and contemplate the monumental works of art on the banks of the Loire.
The must-sees during your stay in Nantes
With its rich and prestigious historical heritage, Nantes is constantly reinventing itself, offering visitors of all ages a playful, exciting and enchanting world. Allow yourself to be stunned by the contrasts of this beautiful city in the Loire Valley!
The atmosphere...
There's nothing like soaking up the ambience of Nantes to get to know the city. A stroll through the streets of Nantes seems the perfect way to do this, before getting down to the actual visits.
Visit Nantes' historic quarter, the Bouffay district
The historic heart of the city, this area of the city centre features pretty pedestrianised streets surrounding Saint-Pierre and Saint-Paul cathedral and the Château des Ducs de Bretagne. Here, you can enjoy the charm of the timber-framed facades of the medieval houses in the Old Town, which are still clearly visible, imagine the layout of the old walled city as you pass through the Porte Saint-Pierre, or admire the ashlar buildings in the Place du Maréchal-Foch, adorned with a statue of Louis XVI. But above all, this is the district where you can familiarise yourself with the Nantes way of life, because although the Bouffay is a tourist district, it is also one of the main living quarters for the inhabitants. A lively district by day, with its many shops, squares and restaurants, and by night, with its bars and party venues.
Many other districts in Nantes to discover to your heart's content
There's no shortage of neighbourhoods to choose from... A market says a lot about a city's art de vivre. If you're convinced, head for the Saint-Pasquier-Saint-Felix district, home to the most popular market in Nantes: the Talensac market.
If you prefer to keep up with the youth of Nantes, there are two neighbourhoods to keep your eye on:
The young and trendy Olivettes-Champ de Mars district, where art is everywhere.
The Ile de Nantes district, which is famous by day for its incredible machines, but by night attracts the young people of Nantes to the Quai des Antilles to party.
...history...
Once you've warmed up to the city, it's time to delve into the history of Nantes. Some of the historical landmarks you won't want to miss are
the Château des Ducs de Bretagne, a fortress and elegant Gothic residence of the Kings of France since Francis II, the castle is the landmark of Nantes. This monument is home to the incredible Musée d'Histoire de Nantes, which manages to captivate all audiences with its immersive scenography. You'll be fascinated by Nantes' role in the triangular trade, the fate of the people of Nantes during the two world wars, and the history of the region's important industries. It's a great way to get to grips with Nantes' identity.
the cathedral of Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul, impressive both for its height (its vaults rise to 37.5 metres, compared with 33 metres for Notre-Dame-de-Paris) and for the length of time it took to build, over 450 years (from 1434 to the very end of the 19th century). One of the last Gothic cathedrals in France, it houses a number of remarkable works, including the tomb of the last Duke of Brittany, François II, an impressive fresco of the Nativity, and two underground crypts.
the former LU factory, transformed in 2000 into a centre dedicated to art in its many forms. Visual arts, architecture, performing arts, culinary arts, literary arts and music are regular guests. But this protean space also houses a bookshop, a restaurant, a bar, and more surprisingly, a hammam and a community nursery.
The Passage Pommeraye. This magnificent nineteenth-century covered passageway (one of the most beautiful in Europe) is one of Nantes' must-see shopping spots. With its three-storey gallery, elegantly protected by a glass roof and enhanced by a superb staircase and statue-lined walkways, it's worth the diversions. What's more, the good news is that there's something to suit every purse, with shops offering an eclectic mix of brands and types of retailing (fashion, decoration, food, luxury, etc.). A must-see during the festive season.
The Memorial to the Abolition of Slavery. One of the world's largest memorials to the slave trade, this museum offers a fascinating insight into the dark history of the city of Nantes.
...and wonders
While Nantes has an extremely rich historical heritage, the town has nevertheless not forgotten its past. The bold capital of the Pays de la Loire region has put art, fantasy and nature in the limelight at a number of sites. Where to go and marvel?
On the Ile de Nantes, of course, with the famous Machines de l'Île, incredible creatures seemingly plucked right out of a Jules Verne novel or the imagination of Leonardo da Vinci. These prototypes of animated machines, squid, spider, ant, caterpillar, chameleon, hummingbird and butterfly, are on display in the heart of the former shipyards, now the Galerie des Machines, featuring a poetic mise-en-scène. The show is accompanied by talks and explanations from the machinists, an explanatory exhibition and the chance for visitors to take the controls for a while (depending on the machine). The highlight of the show is a meeting with the 12-metre-high Great Elephant, which you can meet on one of its walks around the island. You can either sit on it or gaze up at it and enjoy a refreshing shower.
In the Butte-Sainte-Anne district, the house where Jules Verne was born, turned into a museum, presents a fascinating glimpse into the world of Verne, with a rich collection of books, illustrations and artefacts that give a clearer picture of the writer's personality, his sources of inspiration and his working methods.
The island of Versailles, with its superb Japanese garden. Formerly a marshland, then an artificial island that was home to a number of firms, this artificial island offers an exotic park, a haven of peace and a place for leisure. Waterfalls, fountains, groves of bamboo and various species of Asian plants create an exotic universe that enables visitors to enjoy themselves on the Erdre in a light boat (pedalo, rowing boat, canoe).
Nantes, art in DNA
Since 2011, this city in the Loire-Atlantique region has been celebrating art throughout the year with ‘Le Voyage à Nantes’ collection, but even more so during the summer season. From the beginning of July to the beginning of September, numerous works of contemporary art and various events will be added to the permanent collection, which has already been installed in various public spaces around the city. You can find out more about the Voyage à Nantes summer programme by visiting Le Voyage à Nantes tourist office website.
However, whatever the date of your stay, you can discover Le Voyage à Nantes permanent collection, which includes around a hundred works.
Let yourself be guided by the green line on the floor, leading you to each of the works in the collection. Allow at least two days to explore the entire collection.
Art and culture are also present in numerous other places in Nantes, both the expected and the less common. The Musée d'Art de Nantes, for example, boasts a fine collection of works of art, from old master paintings to a vast collection of modern and contemporary art. A wide range of artistic fields are covered: painting, sculpture, decorative arts, design, etc.
Would you prefer a less conventional introduction to the world of art? Art can also be found on the walls of the city of Nantes, with Street-Art projects offering guided tours accompanied by a graffiti artist. In short, art keeps the heart of Nantes beating at 100 km/h!
Culinary specialities in Nantes
In Nantes, gastronomy is local and of the highest quality, thanks to the culinary delights on offer, so no need to travel far to find tasty produce that will delight chefs, Nantes residents and tourists alike. Local producers - market gardeners, livestock farmers, cheese-makers, wine-growers and even fishermen - provide first-rate raw materials.
The question is, what can you enjoy in Nantes and the surrounding area, and what are the specialities of Nantes?
On the savoury side, duck and pork take the limelight. One of the most popular dishes is Challans duck or ‘Nantes duck’ with a Muscadet sauce, served with apples. Pork, of course, is served with a Muscadet sauce, but it also comes in the form of a rack of ribs braised in the oven, served hot or cold with a salad of Nantes lamb's lettuce. However, fish and seafood are never far away.
Before moving on to dessert, enjoy a piece of Curé nantais, a tasty square cheese with a straw-yellow rind, accompanied by a Muscadet (AOC), a white wine from the Nantes vineyards.
Finally, for dessert, enjoy a soft Nantais cake, generously flavoured with rum.
But there's plenty to brighten up the day for those with a sweet tooth, whether it's the pretty, tangy Berlingots nantais or the incredible, crunchy, melt-in-the-mouth Rigolettes nantaises. And if you're feeling peckish, or just want to eat at four o'clock in the morning, we've got a few little butters... from Nantes, of course!
