Nantes was once an important port located 50 km up the Loire River. It grew rich on the triangular trade with Africa and the West Indies. Nantes is also famous for being the home of the science fiction writer Jules Verne. Rain is frequent, and beware if it's sunny because brief but fierce tempests have been known to appear unexpectedly
In 2003, the French weekly L'Express voted Nantes to be the "greenest city" in France, while in both 2003 and 2004 it was voted the "best place to live" by the weekly Le Point. In August 2004, Time designated Nantes as the "the most livable city in all of Europe. The ocean in 40 minutes by car, preserved green spaces, many rivers, Nantes is a metropolis' green and blue. Recognized in 2004 by Time Europe Magazine as "the most pleasant city in Europe", Nantes has attracted new residents by its dynamism, its culture and creativity.
PLACE TO VISIT
Château des ducs de Bretagne - located on the right bank of the Loire in the center of Nantes. He was the principal residence of the Dukes of Brittany of XIIIe to XVecentury. It is a fortress made up of seven towers linked by curtains. The entire walkway is open to the public since its reopening in February 2007 after 15 years of closure.
A museum of the history of the city of Nantes was installed in these walls since the reopening. It collects documents, cycles of paintings, writings, etc.. The museum has a modern multimedia device, which makes the visit easier and more rewarding, thanks to the photographic material, audio or video interactive works.
Cathédrale Saint Pierre - and its two crypts where the treasures and the history of the cathedral are displayed. Next to the Château des ducs de Bretagne.
Musée des Beaux-Arts - Rue Clémenceau. Very beautiful building with an excellent art collection and temporary exhibitions.
Notre-Dame de Bon-Port - The church is located at the Place du Sanitat, facing the Quai de la Fosse (Quay of the Pit). The dome which tops it is modelled on that of Les Invalides in Paris. At the top of the spire lies an archangel representing Saint Gabriel.
Place Maréchal-Foch - Contains one of the few exisitng statures of Louis XVI, the beheaded king, left in France
Le Passage Pommeraye - A shopping mall between la rue Crébillon and la rue de la Fosse built in the 19th century.
La Place Mellinet - Contains some of the restored architecture in Nantes and consists of eight perfectly symmetric houses built around an octagon. 200 meters from Port and from Maillé-Brézé.
Place du Bouffay - A pedestrian area between the Castle of the Dukes of Brittany, Saint Pierre Cathedral et la Place du Commerce; ancient medieval quarter of Nantesvieux known for its Breton culture and for the pubs and restaurants.
Ile Feydeau - magnificent architecture of the 18th century. Shipowners' houses in the sculptured mascarons and the balconies of wrought iron illustrate the wealth accumulated at the time of the triangular trade.
Le Maillé-Brézé - a warship (which never saw a battle) which has been moored in Nantes for many years which is open to visitors.
Jules Verne Museum - on the Butte Sainte Anne, which has just been completely restored. Has a very good collection of memorabilia and objects associated with Jules Verne. There is also a very nice view of the port of Nantes.
Machines de l'Ile - (Machines of the Isle of Nantes), an exhibition of fantastic mechanical animals including the Great Elephant on which you can take a ride. Take tramway line 1 to Chantiers Naval, then walk across the bridge. Price is around €6.
Musée Jules Verne - is a museum dedicated to the French writer Jules Verne. The museum is housed in a beautiful late nineteenth century building, which overlooks the Loire River. While Verne never lived in the building its surroundings reflect the atmosphere which influenced his work.
The Planetarium of Nantes - is located on the right bank of the Loire, near the Jules Verne Museum.
The Jardin des plantes de Nantes - Today the garden contains about 11,000 species planted within a web of ponds, waterways, and paths, with an artificial "mountain" and fine collection of statues, as well as pavilions, fountains. The garden's palm house and greenhouses (800 m²) are also notable. East and west wings contain an exceptional collection of epiphytes, including orchids of the African lowlands and Asian mountains respectively
HOW TO REACH
By plane - There is an international airport in the south of Nantes (Nantes-Atlantique). Regular connections to Paris, Lyon and other French cities. Ryan air and British Airways operate flights from London.
By train - Nantes is just over 2 hours (depending on the number of stops) by TGV from Paris passing through Le Mans and Angers. Trains run regularly throughout the day. There are also direct connections from Nantes to Charles de Gaulle airport and to Lille (stopping at Disneyland Resort Paris) which bypass Paris.
By car - Car hire is available on many websites if you are travelling to Nantes.
By bus - The TAN public transport system links Nantes to several nearby burgs, as does the Lila system of regional buses.
