From the Château des ducs de Bretagne to the Passage Pommeraye, from the Fine Arts Museum, to the Galerie des Machines, Nantes reveals the town’s historic, architectural and artistic heritage. Nantes both enchants and explodes with surprises: plant-life blends with urban planning, the works of art that make up Le Voyage à Nantes stimulate the imagination, trails for pedestrians and paths for cycling all lead to inviting public spaces.
The city centre has a medieval core (corresponding to the former walled town) and 18th-century extensions running west and east. And the journey continues out past the city limits with stunning vineyards that reveal a wealth of precious wines for you to discover. All this beauty is in a realitively small area. Every part of the city is easily accessible!
Once the largest port in France, Nantes sits on the Loire river at the confluence of two tributaries—the Erdre flows into the Loire from its north bank, and the Sèvre Nantaise flows into the Loire from its south bank. Nantes is 50 km (31 mi) from the Atlantic coast. Because the city is not far from the coast, it experiences a moderate maritime climate. During ISRS 2021, we can expect temperatures ranging from lows near 10° C (50° F) and highs near 21° C (70° F).
The Nantes region is renowned in France for market gardens and is a major producer of corn salad, leeks, radishes and carrots. Nantes has a wine-growing region, the Vignoble nantais, primarily south of the Loire. It is the largest producer of dry white wines in France, chiefly Muscadet and Gros Plant.
Plan to visit:
Le Château des Ducs de Bretagne
The Castle, located at the very heart of the city and opposite La Cité, will take you back in time, from the 15th to the 18th century, onto the curtain walls, in the courtyard, the garden and the moat.
Les Machines de l’île
You will be dazzled by the exceptional site situated on the former shipyards, at the crossroads of Jules Verne’s “invented worlds”, of the mechanical universe of Leonardo da Vinci, and of Nantes’ industrial and cultural history. Take a tour on the back of the Grand Elephant for an extraordinary visit of the “Ile de Nantes”. In 2014, Les Machines de l’île won the Thea Award for Outstanding Achievement given by the Themed Entertainment Association for the Marine Worlds Carousel.
Le Lieu Unique
A few steps away from La Cité, the former LU biscuit factory has been converted into a unique art centre where cultural effervescence and artistic exploration are the core concepts. A convivial place, Le Lieu Unique houses a friendly bar and a creative bookshop…
Musée Jules Verne
The French author with the world’s most translated books was born in Nantes. A beautiful museum overlooking the Loire is dedicated to Jules Verne.
Musée d’arts de Nantes
With its rich collection, the Musée d’arts de Nantes is one of the 5 largest museums in France, outside Paris.
For more information, browse https://lacite-nantes.com/informations/must-see.html