Summary
Nantes is historically recognized as the capital of Brittany, though it now lies in a different region. The Dukes of Brittany governed their territories from this city until the Duchy was united with France in the 16th century, with their former stronghold remaining one of Nantes’ most notable edifices.
The Loire River serves as the lifeblood of Nantes, facilitating trade and industry and inviting the world to the city’s doorstep. Utilize the city’s Navibus shuttles to explore the remarkable structures on Île de Nantes or relax by the riverside in the charming village of Trentemoult along the left bank.
Let us examine the most significant attractions in Nantes:
1. Château des Ducs de Bretagne
This historic fortress served as the residence of the Dukes of Brittany and is the final château along the Loire before it reaches the Atlantic Ocean.
Located in the eastern section of the old town, its imposing walls and towers are impossible to overlook, encompassing the elegant Grand Logis where the dukes resided.
Constructed in the 13th century, the château was occupied by the Dukes for 300 years before transitioning to a French royal residence in the 1500s.
Entrance to the courtyard and ramparts is complimentary, while a fee is required to visit the Nantes History exhibition, which chronicles the city’s development, including its involvement in the slave trade and its role as an industrial port.
The picturesque green space beside the deep moat, known as Douves du Château, is an ideal spot for a summer afternoon respite.
2. Les Machines de l’Île
The western portion of Île de Nantes is home to delightful animatronic creations inspired by the works of Jules Verne and Leonardo da Vinci, crafted by artist François Delarozière.
All these remarkable machines invite interaction; for instance, the Grand Éléphant stands at 12 meters tall and comfortably carries 52 passengers, allowing them to experience the sensation of its every step.
The Carrousel des Mondes Marins features a vast array of moving marine creatures, while the Arbre aux Hérons is a climbable sculpture designed as a massive tree with ramps and staircases.
The indoor Galerie des Machines showcases additional sculptures and illustrates the design and construction processes behind them.
3. Passage Pommeraye
Located between Rue de la Fosse and Rue Santeuil, this 1843 shopping arcade is not only a stylish venue for shopping but also an architectural marvel and a prime photo opportunity.
Designed on a pronounced slope, it ingeniously accommodates the nine-meter height difference with a clever intermediate floor connecting the two street levels.
Passage Pommeraye remains as splendid today as it was 160 years ago, featuring neo-renaissance sculptures and stonework, iron and glass roofs that allow natural light to illuminate the galleries, along with wrought iron lamps and handrails, all complemented by a refined selection of luxury boutiques.
4. Jardin des Plantes
Regarded as one of France’s “remarkable gardens,” the Jardin des Plantes encompasses 10,000 species across its seven-hectare expanse.
Located centrally within the city, it is only a 10-minute walk from the Château des Ducs de Bretagne.
This is no ordinary park; the Palm House is an extraordinary late-19th-century metal and glass structure that houses plants from tropical Americas, while the three accompanying greenhouses feature orchids from Africa and Asia.
As you stroll along its paths, observe mature trees, including a 220-year-old magnolia and two magnificent sequoias that were planted 150 years ago.
5. Île Feydeau
As you explore Île Feydeau, you might question why this district, located just south of the city center, is referred to as an island or why streets bear names like Quai Turenne, even without visible water.
Historically, this area was an island until the 1930s, when a branch of the Loire was sealed off.
Prior to the 18th century, Feydeau had been unliveable marshland, from which a land reclamation initiative transformed it into an esteemed neighborhood for the wealthy merchants of Nantes.
Their elegantly flat-fronted residences are adorned with iron balconies, mansard roofs, and intricate stone grotesques.
The underlying ground remains soft, imparting a charming tilt to some of these townhouses.
6. Muséum d’Histoire Naturelle
Nantes’ Natural History Museum resides in the former city mint, featuring galleries dedicated to various branches of natural science, including zoology, paleontology, mineralogy, and ethnography, among numerous other collections curated since the 1700s.
The standout specimen is a fin whale skeleton, exceeding 18 meters in length and suspended from the gallery’s ceiling.
The Vivarium, added in 1955 and recently renovated, showcases terrariums housing snakes and other exotic reptiles.
7. Nantes Cathedral
The construction of Nantes Cathedral commenced in 1434 and spanned over 400 years to completion.
Building progressed through the 1600s in a flamboyant gothic style, despite its being out of fashion at the time, as it aligned with earlier architectural designs.
Noteworthy is the fact that Nicolas Fouquet, the extravagant Superintendent of Finances in Louis XIV’s court, was apprehended in front of the cathedral by d’Artagnan in 1661, marking the beginning of his 20-year imprisonment.
Do take the time to observe the Tomb of Francis II, Duke of Brittany, regarded as a French renaissance masterpiece dating back to 1507, adorned with haunting sculptures carved from white Carrara marble.
8. Cours Cambronne
As part of a new urban district developed in the 18th century, Cours Cambronne presents a stunning square framed by two terraces of neoclassical mansions, each measuring 180 meters in length.
Stroll along the grand central avenue to view the statue of Pierre Cambronne, a military general born in Nantes who was injured during the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. Sixteen of the splendid pilastered mansions in this square are listed as part of France’s historic monument inventory.
Particularly noteworthy is Hôtel Scheult, situated near Rue Piron, which features a recently restored facade.
9. Mémorial de l’Abolition de l’Esclavage
It is crucial to remember that much of Nantes’ historical grandeur was underpinned by the slave trade.
Nantes was the first city in France to engage in the industrial-scale shipment of enslaved individuals, with the largest share of France’s slave vessels departing from this port during the 18th century.
Thus, the memorial dedicated to the abolition of slavery, positioned beside the Loire on Quai de la Fosse, carries profound significance.
In the late 20th century, the city began to confront this dark period in its history, unveiling a solemn and stark memorial in 2012.
An underground corridor offers insights into the numerous expeditions launched from Nantes, including the names of the ships involved.
10. Muséede l’Imprimerie
Nantes has a rich historical connection with the printing industry, publishing its inaugural title, Les Lunettes des Princes by the Breton poet Jean Meschinot, in 1493. Established in 1986 by master printer Sylvain Chiffoleau and typesetter Robert Colombeau, this museum houses an impressive array of manual and mechanical printing presses.
The collection includes intaglio plates, lithography plates, dyes, and historical typesetting molds.
If such topics seem intricate, guided tours are available to provide comprehensive insights into the printing industry in Nantes and demonstrate the use of this unique equipment.
11. Place du Bouffay
This square is situated in the heart of Bouffay, Nantes’ oldest district.
Historical place names such as “Place du Pilori” (pillory) and Rue de la Juiverie (Jewry) provide insight into the antiquity of this area.
As you walk through the pedestrian streets, you will encounter half-timbered houses dating back to the 1400s in close proximity to restaurants, crêperies, and some of the city’s most vibrant nightlife.
The square, as it stands today, reflects designs from the 1700s, although remnants of an earlier era persist; a gothic fireplace from the 15th century protrudes from the wall at the corner of Rue des Échevins.
12. Jules Verne Museum
Jules Verne, born in Nantes in 1828, spent most of his early life in the vicinity, although he did not hold the city in high regard after a romantic interest was matched by her parents with a wealthy landowner from Nantes.
The museum dedicated to Verne is housed in an impressive bourgeois mansion constructed in 1878. While it lacks direct ties to the author, its proximity to the location where his parents resided in Bas-Chantenay is notable.
The galleries showcase an engaging assortment of books, games, manuscripts, portraits, and documents pertaining to the writer, all generously donated to the museum by his heirs.
13. Trentemoult
Located on the left bank of the Loire, Trentemoult was once a fishing village attached to the town of Rezé.
The village is merely a short ferry ride from the center via the Navibus, where many artists, hipsters, and affluent families have settled.
You can explore the winding streets adorned with brightly painted cottages dating from the 18th and 19th centuries.
The unique architecture features three-story homes, with the basement level repurposed solely for storage due to the frequent flooding from the Loire.
The quayside offers trendy vintage shops and various restaurants and crêperies with riverfront terraces.
14. Tour Bretagne
At a height of 144 meters, Tour Bretagne ranks among France’s tallest structures outside of the capital.
It is positioned just north of Nantes’ Centre-Ville, with its bold rectangular silhouette being visible from nearly any location within the city.
This tower’s contemporary design often contrasts with the historical architecture of Nantes, although the panoramic views from its summit are exceptional.
Those holding the Nantes Pass can access the panoramic bar and outdoor observation deck without charge; for others, the admission is merely €1. Visitors can take a moment to identify various landmarks below.
The bar, named Le Nid (The Nest), surprises patrons with seating and table designs resembling eggs, alongside a captivating sculpture of a stork-heron hybrid weaving through the area.
15. Food and Drink
The culinary scene in Nantes is somewhat challenging to define, as it lies at the convergence of Brittany and the Loire Valley, combining inland cuisine with fresh offerings from the Atlantic Ocean.
However, seafood and fish undoubtedly deserve a central role in your culinary exploration: Mussels, lobster, crabs, king prawns, mullet, and seabass are all impeccably fresh.
The local oysters are exquisite, particularly when accompanied by a light Muscadet, produced in the surrounding countryside.
For dessert, Gâteau Nantais is a moist pound cake enriched with generous amounts of rum.
