| Activity | Description |
|---|---|
| Castle of the Dukes of Brittany | Explore the historic castle with a museum showcasing the city’s history. |
| Machines of Nantes at Les Machines de l’Île | Experience mechanical animals and interactive installations on the Isle of Nantes. |
| Musée d’Arts de Nantes | Visit the museum for fine art ranging from Renaissance to modern works. |
| Bain Creole Wetlands Natural Preserve | Discover wildlife and plants in this UNESCO-listed wetlands preserve. |
| Jardin des Plantes Gardens | Relax in themed gardens featuring diverse plant species. |
| Château des Ducs de Bretagne | Admire the 15th-century castle in the UNESCO-recognized creative district. |
| Passage Pommeraye | Wander through a picturesque shopping arcade with stunning architecture. |
| LU Petit Biscuiterie | Sample traditional French cookies and other sweet treats. |
| Le Lieu Unique | Attend various cultural events in a converted 19th-century biscuit factory. |
| Serres Jardin des Plantes Greenhouses | Explore greenhouses with a diverse range of plant species. |
| History at Château des Ducs de Bretagne | Learn about Nantes’ history through interactive exhibits in the castle. |
| Street Art in Beaulieu District | Enjoy vibrant street art in the Beaulieu neighborhood. |
| Far Breton | Indulge in a traditional dessert, a far Breton, in local cafés. |
| Conclusion | Nantes offers a blend of history, culture, and creativity, with attractions for all interests. |
Wander Through the Castle of the Dukes of Brittany
Name and Location: Château des Ducs de Bretagne, 4 Place Marc Elder, 44000 Nantes, France
History and Significance: The Castle of the Dukes of Brittany was built in the 9th century and served as home to the Dukes of Brittany until the 15th century. This imposing medieval fortress guarded Nantes and was the center of political power in the region. Today it is one of the largest castle keeps in France and houses the Nantes History Museum.
What to Expect: Visitors can explore the castle’s ramparts, towers, chapel, throne room, and dungeons. The museum inside features exhibits and artifacts from the Middle Ages to modern Nantes history. Guided tours, demonstrations, and special events bring the history to life. The castle towers offer panoramic views of the city.
Visitor Information: The Château des Ducs de Bretagne is located in central Nantes, just north of the cathedral. It’s open daily 10am-6pm, closed Mondays in winter. Admission is around €8-11. Visitors should allow 2-3 hours to fully experience the castle and museum.
This impressive castle with its moat and towering walls has stood guard over Nantes since the 13th century. Once home to the Dukes of Brittany, it now has a museum showcasing the city’s history from its beginnings to modern days. Don’t miss the granite interpreted keep and views across Nantes from the ramparts. The surrounding gardens provide a nice respite.
Play on the Machines of Nantes at Les Machines de I’île
Name and Location: Les Machines de l’île, Parc des Chantiers, Boulevard Léon Bureau, 44200 Nantes, France
History and Significance: Les Machines de l’île is an amusement park featuring the mechanical animals and machines of Nantes native Jules Verne’s imagination. Opened in 2007, it celebrates Nantes’ industrial shipbuilding history and Verne’s literary vision. The centerpiece is the Grand Elephant which walks through the city carrying passengers.
What to Expect: Visitors can ride the Grand Elephant for a tour along the river. Inside the gallery, experience exhibits with moving mechanical animals and sea creatures. Shows and street performers bring the machines to life. The Carrousel des Mondes Marins is a rotating aquarium carousel. Creative workshops are offered too.
Visitor Information: Les Machines de l’île is open daily. Admission is €8.50 for adults, €6 for children. It’s located on the Île de Nantes, accessible by tram or shuttle boat from downtown Nantes. Visitors should arrive early as queueing is common for the rides and shows. Online tickets help save time.
At this wildly creative hotspot on the Isle of Nantes, mechanical animals move and perform while visitors can ride inside extraordinary contraptions. See the Great Elephant taking passengers on a stomping journey. Or climb aboard the Marine Worlds Carousel between giant sea creatures like squids and crabs in a joyful fantasy of Jules Verne proportions.
Discover Art at Musée d’Arts de Nantes
Name and Location: Musée d’Arts de Nantes, 10 Rue Georges Clemenceau, 44000 Nantes, France
History and Significance: The Museum of Arts of Nantes opened in 1801 and is one of the oldest art museums in France. Its collection encompasses over 18,000 works ranging from Egyptian antiquities to contemporary masterpieces. Highlights include paintings by Monet, Kandinsky, Picasso and the Nantes School of painters.
What to Expect: The museum’s diverse permanent collection and temporary exhibitions are shown in a grand 18th century palace. Visitors enjoy paintings, sculptures, photographs, drawings, and objets d’art by renowned artists as well as emerging talents. Interactive displays enrich the experience. A cafe, library and shop are onsite.
Visitor Information: The museum is located in central Nantes near the cathedral. It is open Wednesday-Monday 10am-6pm, closed Tuesdays. General admission is €8, free on Sundays. Visitors should allow 2 hours minimum to browse the vast collections.
For fine art in Nantes, this museum houses an excellent collection ranging from Tintoretto paintings and Rubens drawings to modern works by Bonnard and local sculptor Jean-Julien Lemordant. The 18th century building is a work of art itself, with a soaring five-story spiral atrium and
; Sky Gardens green belt circled by tiers fitted with galleries. Savor the lovely landscaping while enjoying a drink at the museum café.
Soak in Bain Creole Wetlands Natural Preserve
Name and Location: Bains Douches Créoles, 21 Rue Léon Sécher, 44000 Nantes, France
History and Significance: The Bains Douches Créoles is a public bathhouse built in 1931 in the heart of Nantes’ diverse Creole district. For decades it served as important community gathering place where new immigrants and locals came together. The bathhouse was restored and reopened in 2015, celebrating Nantes’ multicultural heritage.
What to Expect: Visitors can now soak in the historic clawfoot bathtubs, steam room, and pool. A tea room offers organic snacks and drinks. Cultural events, exhibits and workshops also take place here. Guests gain insight into the bathhouse’s social history and revival. It’s a one-of-a-kind experience.
Visitor Information: The Bains Douches Créoles is located near Boulevard de Stalingrad. It is open Wednesday-Monday with set time slots for visits. Advance booking online is required. Admission ranges €20-40. Visitors should come prepared with bathing suits, towels etc. A perfect change of pace from museums!
At the UNESCO listed Bain Creole Wetlands preserve, wooden walkways link 20 small islands bordering a rebuilt 19th century farm within primeval marshland. Listen to birdsong while spotting local species like herons and butterflies. Appreciate how plants were cultivated here in harmonious balance with surrounding wildlife. Educational exhibits emphasize sustainable
Relax in the Jardin des Plantes Gardens
Name and Location: Jardin des Plantes de Nantes, Rue Stanislas Baudry, 44000 Nantes, France
History and Significance: The Jardin des Plantes is Nantes’ main public garden, originally created in 1779 for medicinal plant cultivation. Followings its destruction in World War II, the gardens were completely replanted and reopened in 1965. Today this green space encompasses botanical gardens, greenhouses, rose gardens, and tranquil paths.
What to Expect: Visitors enjoy getting back to nature right in the city. Tree-lined paths, lawns, fountains, and flowers create a serene setting. Tropical and desert biomes in the greenhouses transport you elsewhere. It’s a popular spot for strolling, people-watching, reading, and picnicking.
Visitor Information: The Jardin des Plantes is located near the Gare de Nantes station. It is open daily from 8am-8pm April-September, shorter hours the rest of the year. Admission is free. The gardens are easily reached by public transportation or bike and offer accessible pathways.
Created in the 19th century, Nantes’ lovely Jardin des Plantes encompasses seven themed gardens over 14 acres near the center of the city. Stroll through fragrant rose gardens, a Japanese garden with arched bridges, and over 4000 plant species in the British-inspired gardens. Greenhouses shelter tropical plants and a nursery supplies the city’s greenery. It’s an idyllic escape from Nantes’ bustle.
Take in the Château des Ducs de Bretagne
Name and Location: Passage Pommeraye, 4 Rue de la Fosse, 44000 Nantes, France
History and Significance: The Passage Pommeraye is a grand 19th century indoor shopping arcade in central Nantes. Built in 1843, it featured luxury shops and apartments and became a fixture of upper-class society. The beautifully restored passage today houses boutiques, cafés, and exhibits that evoke its glamorous past.
What to Expect: Visitors ascend the Passage Pommeraye’s ornate staircases to three levels overlooking a gorgeous central atrium. Period lighting, architectural details, and decorative touches transport you back in time. Boutiques offer everything from books to fashion. Stop at a cafe for a perfect view.
Visitor Information: The Passage Pommeraye is located downtown near Place Royale. It is open daily from 10am-7pm, often later. Admission is free. Visitors should allow at least an hour to wander and take in the ambiance. The passage connects to adjacent streets filled with shopping and dining.
Situated within the city’s UNESCO-recognized creative district on the Loire River resides the magnificent Château des Ducs de Bretagne. This breathtaking 15th century castle served as the stomping grounds of past Dukes of Brittany and now stands as a stunning Gothic symbol boasting intricate stonework and sprawling ramparts within its walls.
Peruse the Passage Pommeraye
Name and Location: LU Petit Biscuiterie, 16 Rue de la Fosse, 44000 Nantes, France
History and Significance: LU Petit Biscuiterie is Nantes’ iconic local biscuit shop, founded in 1851 by Louis Lefèvre-Utile using the LU abbreviation. Known for its creative butter cookies and elaborate packaging, LU Petit Biscuiterie is considered part of Nantes’ intangible cultural heritage. Visitors continue flocking for this sweet treat.
What to Expect: The shop offers tastings and sales of LU’s signature biscuits including the Petit Beurre, Petit Four and Boudoir. Packaging remains retro and artistic. Visitors can watch cookie production through factory windows. Shelves are filled with biscuits and fun merch like tea towels.
At the heart of medieval Nantes lies the elegant Passage Pommeraye lined with intricate marble, ironwork, and sculptures under an ornate glass-domed roof. Wander between boutiques, restaurants, and cafés frequented by locals that line this picturesque arcade connecting two bustling streets in Nantes’ old town. Stunning architecture combines with lively shops and bistros for a refined experience.
Sample Sweet Treats at LU Petit Biscuiterie
For a delicious taste of Nantes, pop by this charming little organic biscuiterie specializing in traditional French cookies, madeleines and chocolates. Try the signature Petit LU cookie invented here in 1886. The peppermint-chocolate melt-in-your-mouth fare fuels Nantes’ residents daily, along with locally-sourced jams, honeys and artisan ice cream in rotating flavors like violet and angelica. .
See a Show at Le Lieu Unique
Name and Location: Le Lieu Unique, Nantes, France
History and Significance: Le Lieu Unique is a contemporary arts and culture center located in the former LU biscuit factory in Nantes, France. Opened in 2000, it has become an iconic cultural institution in the city. The space mixes industrial architecture with modern design and hosts diverse exhibits, performances, and events.
What to Expect: Spread over 4 levels, Le Lieu Unique contains exhibit spaces, a theater, dance hall, library, artist workshops, cafe, and roof terrace. Visitors can browse cutting-edge contemporary art shows, catch a funky experimental dance performance, hear a poetry reading, or just relax at the cafe. The program focuses on the new, creative, and multidisciplinary.
Visitor Information: Le Lieu Unique is open Tuesday-Sunday 2pm-midnight, closed Mondays except for select events. Entry is free to browse, costs for events vary. The box office is open 2-7pm Tuesday-Saturday. Photography is usually permitted. Food and drinks are available at the cafe and rooftop bar.
This beloved cultural hub occupies a converted 19th century biscuit factory now hosting an eclectic lineup of music, contemporary dance, circus, theater and exhibits. Le Lieu Unique embodies the creative spirit Nantes is celebrated for on a national scale. Grab a pre-show drink at the site’s quirky Grand Café restaurant overlooking the Loire River through huge arched windows.
Visit Serres Jardin des Plantes Greenhouses
Name and Location: Serres Jardin des Plantes Greenhouses, Nantes, France
History and Significance: The Serres Jardin des Plantes are a series of historic greenhouses located within the Jardin des Plantes de Nantes botanical garden. Built between 1868 and 1913, the cast iron and glass greenhouses were an engineering marvel when constructed. They allow tropical and sensitive plants to be cultivated year-round in western France.
What to Expect: The greenhouses showcase plants from environments spanning the tropics, subtropics, Azores, Canary Islands, South Africa, and carnivorous species. Plants are well-labeled. It’s an immersive, almost transportive experience. Scale models show the greenhouse architecture and engineering. The nearby Orangerie has citrus trees.
Visitor Information: The greenhouses are open daily 10am-12:30pm and 2pm-5:30pm, closed Tuesdays. Entry is included with garden admission, which is free. For protection of plants, visitors should avoid touching them. Photography permitted without flash. Located within the main botanical garden.
Escape cold days within these 19th century greenhouses sheltering over 4000 plant species across three themed zones. The Palm House features a 16-meter-high dome for tropical varieties needing heat and humidity to flourish. Succulents and cacti fill the Arid House while the Temperate House nurtures fruit trees and flowering shrubs requiring cooler climes in intricate garden layouts.
Learn History at Château des Ducs de Bretagne
Tracing Nantes’ legacy from its 14th century origins to the current day, this castle occupying four massive wings details military events, famous citizens, and local art through the years. Climb the restored tower for aerial views of sites visited during your Nantes explorations. Exhibits portray the city’s decisive role in French history through artifacts, timelines and interactive displays
Take in Street Art Around Beaulieu District
Name and Location: Street Art Around Beaulieu District, Nantes, France
History and Significance: The Beaulieu district of Nantes is one of the city’s hotspots for street art. As part of urban revitalization efforts, local and international artists have covered building facades, tunnels, and overpasses with large-scale murals and graffiti. This outdoor gallery reflects creativity flourishing in Nantes.
What to Expect: Vibrantly colorful, visually stunning murals and graffiti tags transforming industrial areas into an outdoor art museum. A mix of graffiti, stenciling, calligraphy, and figurative painting. Imaginative styles range from surrealism to pop art. Thoughtful works sometimes nod to local history and culture. Ever-changing as new pieces appear.
Visitor Information: The art sprawls along the Beaulieu riverbank, best explored on foot. Guided street art walking tours available. Respect private property, don’t obstruct roads. While transient in nature, captures of its ephemeral beauty can make great photos. Area also has cafes, shops, and music venues to experience.
Nantes embraces street art allowing local talent to shine transforming everyday walls into vibrant canvases. The Beaulieu neighborhood hosts exceptional works by French artist Jinks Kunst drawing from pop culture icons and surrealist themes in fantastical pieces. Seek out the giant bird soaring across the Couleuvre shopping center and other surprises around the area.
Indulge in a Far Breton
Name and Location: Far Breton and Brittany Region, France
History and Significance: The Far Breton is a traditional flan-like dessert from the Brittany region of France. Originally a peasant dish, it developed into a specialty using local ingredients like salt butter, flour, eggs, milk, and prunes. Simple but flavorful, it’s considered a classic comfort food of Brittany and a signature experience of its cuisine.
What to Expect: A smoothly luxurious custard tart, Far Breton features a subtle sweetness paired with the tartness of plump, wrinkled prunes throughout. It’s served in slices, often with crème anglaise. Texture should be velvety and just set. Restrained sweetness allows the pure flavors to shine. It’s delicious with tea or coffee.
Visitor Information: Far Breton can be found in bakeries, creperies, cafes, and restaurants throughout Brittany. Locals may have opinionated takes on the best version! For the classic experience, sample it paired with a crisp cider. Versions with apples or raisins also exist. It’s the ideal snack for exploring Brittany’s charms.
The signature local dessert, a far Breton is a bit like a clafoutis, baked thick in a pan instead of custards—brimming with rum-soaked prunes, raisins or apples depending on recipes that range from family to family. Enjoy a generous slice in a salon de thé like La Cigale for the full sweet-tooth experience paired with other regional pastries and a hot drink on chilly days.
Conclusion
Nantes blossoms with creativity rooted in natural surroundings and inventive spark throughout its history of shipbuilding, naval power struggles and biscuit empire beginnings. In 2024 wander gardens perfumed by pretty blooms, watch machines that seem to possess life, uncover artistic and culinary treasures then embrace the spirit of this vibrant western France gem. From lush parks to imposing castles, Nantes surprises visitors around every corner.