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24 Unmissable Attractions and Cool Things to Do in Nantes

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Nantes is France’s third-largest industrial city, but don’t think for a minute it’s covered in an unattractive haze because of it – quite the opposite. It’s an innovative and vibrant city that seems to be only getting better. Here are the attractions you definitely shouldn’t miss during your trip.

Château des Ducs de Bretagne

Architectural Landmark, Historical Landmark

Château des ducs de bretagne, Nantes, France
Maria Przybyła / Unsplash

If you’re visiting Nantes, you must start off your trip with a visit to the Castle of the Dukes of Brittany. It’s a natural place to start, and is a great place for getting a feel for the city and for the history of the region. As the name suggests, this was the home of the Dukes of Brittany from the 13-16th centuries, later becoming the Breton residence of the French monarchy.

Les Machines de l’île

Architectural Landmark

Les Machines de lÎle, Boulevard Léon Bureau, Nantes, France
Pascal Bernardon / Unsplash
Machine Island is an artistic project where your inner child can come out and play, and is a genuinely unique Nantes attraction. Set in a former shipyard on the Isle of Nantes, in the middle of the Loire, this unique exhibition is conceptually described as “at the crossroads of the ‘invented worlds’ of Jules Verne, the mechanical universe of Leonardo da Vinci and the industrial history of Nantes”. Their most famous creation, Le Grand Éléphant, has become one of the most iconic symbols of modern Nantes.

Cathédrale Saint-Pierre

Architectural Landmark

Nantes Cathedral or the Cathedral of St. Peter
saiko3p / Shutterstock

The cathedral is stunning by day or night, especially the internal arches. The facade looks pretty resplendent, too, especially when viewed with a morning espresso on a sunny summer’s day. Your appreciation for the handiwork will only increase when you realise this building took a whopping 457 years to complete. Worth every day if you ask us.

Musée des Beaux-Arts de Nantes

Museum

Whichever French city you find yourself exploring, there’s bound to be at least one great art gallery. In Nantes your first port of call should be the Fine Arts Museum, with a vast collection, excellent in terms of both rotating exhibitions and steadfast classics.

French destroyer Maillé-Brézé

Historical Landmark

Old battleship in the Loire River, Nantes, France
Free Nomad / Unsplash

This imposing piece of work is docked up on the northern shores of the Loire. A historic monument and museum ship, the Maillé-Brézé is well worth a visit for its fascinating insight into French naval history.

Frac des Pays De La Loire

Museum

Found on the western end of the Isle of Nantes, this cutting-edge arts space is specially designed to showcase the newest creative movements from local artists and international creatives alike. Do note that the museum is only open from 1pm until 6pm (7pm on weekends) and is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.

Île Feydeau

Architectural Landmark

This pretty urban oasis used to be an island, hence the name, and is super-easy on the eye. Now an affluent neighbourhood and park, there is plenty to admire, from the opulence of ornate balconies to excellent local restaurants. It’s a real treat to amble around and explore for a few hours on a sunny morning or afternoon.

Jardin des plantes de Nantes

Botanical Garden

Botanical gardens in Nantes, France
Sasha Matveeva / Unsplash

The Jardin des plantes de Nantes is a must-visit. It’s free to enter (there may be a fee for some of the greenhouses) and is filled with a riot of delightful plant specimens. They’ve been cultivated their collection here for over 150 years, but in typical French style this is much more than just a garden. Since 2013 a series of artworks have been commissioned and are visible around the park, while there is also the lovely Café de l’Orangerie, open at lunchtime and throughout the afternoon.

Passage Pommeraye

Shopping Mall

Passage Pomeraye, Nantes, France
Dorian Le Sénéchal / Unsplash
Passage Pommeraye is a beautiful bijou shopping mall with an elaborate design. It was named after its developer, Louis Pommeraye, who clearly had grand designs. Even if you’re not too interested in doing any shopping in Nantes, this luxurious little nook is still well worth a visit.

Place du Bouffay

Architectural Landmark

Place du Bouffay is found right in the heart of the city’s oldest district. The maze of streets surrounding it date back to medieval times, but the architecture surrounding you has developed through the ages. See if you can spot the new from the old to the really old as you stroll across this pretty city square.

Trentemoult

Architectural Landmark

Trentemoult, Rezé, France
Alain Moreau / Unsplash

A visit to Trentemoult, on the western fringes of Nantes, feels like transporting to another place entirely, even if it only takes a gentle bike ride or shuttle boat to get there. Found on the southern shores of the Loire, this is one of the most trendy areas of Nantes. Formerly a haven for fisherman, now a favourite weekend destination among locals, lined with colourful houses, unique exhibitions and quirky cafes.

La Tour Lu

Architectural Landmark

tour lu, Nantes, France
Oudi 44 / Unsplash

You may be noticing a theme of industrial-spaces-turned-cool-art-spaces in Nantes, and La Tour Lu is doing nothing to disprove that notion. Set in the city’s old biscuit factories (Lu being the famous French confectionary empire), this space in the heart of the city was transformed at the turn of the century into a dynamic, experimental art space that blends mediums, genres and (hopefully) audiences to create one of the most interesting cultural centres in town. The complex features a theatre space, a reading area, a bar and restaurant, and also provides access to the Lu Tower, which offers great views across the city.

Église Sainte-Croix de Nantes

Church, Cathedral

Detail of the église Sainte-Croix at Nantes, France
Sandrine Petit Gagnon / Unsplash
This historic church sits prettily in the city centre, a short walk from Château des ducs de Bretagne. It’s a must-see, even if you’re not too fussed about visiting, simply to catch a glimpse of the spectacular bell tower. Singing high above the city streets, its unique design is what puts the Sainte-Croix church on our list. Although if you do fancy popping in, the beautiful gothic stained-glass windows aren’t too bad, either.

Muséum d’Histoire Naturelle

Museum

Nantes’ Natural History Museum is the perfect place to be when the weather isn’t playing ball, and features a beautiful facade with an easy-access walkway at the front. From zoology to earth and sciences and ethnology, there is a wide variety of collections and specimens to be explored here.

Notre-Dame de Bon-Port

Architectural Landmark

Just about on the northern side of the Loire, but very much visible from the south side of the river, this impressive Roman Catholic basilica is an icon of the Nantes skyline. Built in 1846, with a dome made in the image of Paris‘ Les Invalides, it was designed by architects Seheult and Joseph-Fleury Chenantais.

La Grue Titan

Architectural Landmark

La Grue Titan grise Acquise par le Port Autonome de Nantes-Saint-Nazaire en 1966
Pascal Bernardon / Unsplash

This city is proud of its industrial history. So much so that when these two ginormous cranes, on the western side of the Isle of Nantes, fell into disuse, the city decided not to take them down but instead to leave them as bold remnants of the city’s heritage. The yellow crane in particularly has taken on a strangely powerful sense of artistic statement, even if the reality is that they’re merely a relic of Nantes’ industrial maritime heritage.

Cours Cambronne

Architectural Landmark

Cours Cambronne, Nantes, France
Steven Roussel / Unsplash

This expansive, beautifully designed esplanade offers a classic sense of grand French city design. Overlooked by apartments and town houses you’ll will were yours, the open-plan space is filled with well-groomed trees and plenty of strolling space. A perfect spot for a picnic lunch on one of the well-placed benches.

HAB Galerie

Art Gallery

Another gem on the west end of the Isle of Nantes is HAB. This trendy art gallery is technically called Hangar 21, but was colloquially given the name Le Hangar à Bananes, or the banana hangar, due to its former use as a factory to process imported fruit and vegetables. The loving nickname sticked, albeit with an edgier initialisation, and now regularly features some of the coolest contemporary art exhibitions in this great art city.

Fountain at the Place Royale

Architectural Landmark

Place Royale, Nantes, France
Pascal Bernardon / Unsplash

This grand old square right in the heart of the city features the marvellous Fontaine de la Loire. The square was bombed heavily during WWII but thankfully restored, rather painstakingly, to represent the classic architecture on display pre-war. It was initially used as a roundabout but, thankfully, it has more recently been re-pedestrianised, making it a much more pleasant stop once again.

Château de Goulaine

Architectural Landmark

Head southeast out of Nantes, only around 30 minutes by car or an hour by public transport, and you’ll reach the beautiful grounds of Château de Goulaine. The castle itself is impressive, but it’s the wonderfully landscaped gardens that really steal the show here, especially on a bright day. Entry costs €10.50 (£9) for an adult, but it makes for a nice quick trip outside of the city.

Jardin Japonais

Park

This charming park is located alongside a canal in the pretty Nantes neighborhood of Quai Henri Barbusse. Small in size, the Jardin Japonais offers an idyllic piece of peace and relaxation in the center of the city. Several sparkling ponds can be found here, with the aim of imitating an oriental landscape, and a visit is highly recommended in spring when the colorful cherry trees are in full bloom. Explore rock gardens, waterfalls and exotic plants such as bamboo, bald cypress, rhododendrons and camellias, and enjoy a picnic on a warm Nantes day amongst the beauty of Japanese-inspired surroundings. Recommended by Nicola Simonetti.

Théatre Graslin

Theatre

Housing 822 people, the Theatre Graslin was built in the late 18th century by the renowned architect Mathurin Crucy. Inaugurated in 1788, it is the most popular opera house in Nantes alongside the Grand Theatre d’Angers.Destroyed by a devastating fire shortly after its opening, the theater was reconstructed in 1811 and restored a second time in 2003, and is designed largely in an Italian style, with a facade drawing on features of Roman and Greek architecture and boasting eight imperial columns. The statues overlooking each column represent eight of the nine muses, and were intricately sculpted by the artist Dominique Molknecht. Theatre Graslin is still a top spot to catch a range of operatic and theatrical performances; check out the full range of listings here. Recommended by Nicola Simonetti.

Jules Verne Museum

Museum

Open daily from 10am until 7pm, the Jules Verne Museum is dedicated to the famous writer who was born in the city of Nantes. Consecrated to Verne in 1978 on the 150th anniversary of his birth, the museum was renovated in 2005, and includes a plethora of captivating books, manuscripts, documents, illustrations and objects of the esteemed author. Several audiovisual devices here transport visitors into the heart of Verne’s writing process, and the museum regularly hosts exhibitions of other authors inspired by the work, passions and ideals of Verne. Recommended by Nicola Simonetti.

Musée de l’imprimerie

Museum

Built with the aim of illustrating the different methods of manual, mechanic and typographic printing processes, the Musée de l’imprimerie is a museum with the mission of enhancing, conserving, documenting and valuing the heritage of printed books and graphic arts. Experienced guides here can show visitors several kinds of machines, all of which are still working, and there are regular interesting exhibits showcasing how to make paper and displaying various prints and animations. Take a trip here to operate the machines and work with old tools which have been used to create text and images over centuries; an unmissable experience. Recommended by Nicola Simonetti.

Le Lieu Unique

Art Gallery

Le Lieu Unique is a center of contemporary arts in Nantes, and was opened in 2000 in a former biscuit factory. The name itself alludes to the uniqueness of the venue, and indeed it is unlike any other establishment in the city, showcasing everything to do with the arts, from theater and dance, to literature and architecture, even circus performances. Aiming to present Nantes as an artistic and experimental area, Le Lieu Unique perfectly achieves its goal, and presents an array of artistic forms in a renovated and enthralling fashion. Recommended by Nicola Simonetti.

Additional reporting by Gethin Morgan.

About the author

Holly is a freelance writer based in Béziers, South of France. From London to a life in the Languedoc, she has written for French Property News and Living France among other titles and covers travel, lifestyle and culture. She can be followed at: www.lostinthelanguedoc.com

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