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Things to Do

Top Free Things to Do in Nantes

Installation at the Place du Bouffay | © gωen / Flickr
Installation at the Place du Bouffay | © gωen / Flickr
Photo of Holly Howard
Holly Howard
11 January 2018

The vibrant French city of Nantes is the perfect place to explore if you are not blessed with a bulging wallet, so take a look at the top free things to do during your stay.

Visit the Château des Ducs de Bretagne

The Château of the Dukes of Brittany is Nantes’ main attraction and a quite incredible historical landmark. Happily, entrance to the courtyard, rampart walk, and moat gardens are free of charge. On the first Sunday of every month (except in July and August, and during major events) you can visit the museum and the temporary exhibitions for free, too. It is a must-see if you are in Nantes, so make it a priority on your agenda.

Château des Ducs de Bretagne, 4 Place Marc Elder, Nantes, France, +33 811464644

Check out the Place Royale

In most cities in France there is a must-see square, and in Nantes, this is the Place Royale in the heart of the historic center. In its middle is an attractive fountain that portrays the city itself in white marble, the Loire River, and other symbols of industry and trade.

Place Royale

Visit the Parc de Procé

If you’re visiting Nantes in the warmer months, you’re going to need some green spaces to cool off in between bouts of sightseeing. Parc de Procé is a lovely, vast park in the north section of Nantes, about half an hour’s walk from the historic center. There’s an attractive café in a manor house for refreshments, too.

Parc de Procé, 44 Rue des Dervallières, Nantes, France, +33 240419869

See the Cathedrale de Saint-Pierre et Saint-Paul

After the Château des Ducs de Bretagne, Nantes’ cathedral is the city landmark not to be missed. It towers majestically over the rest of the city and is equally as impressive on the outside as it is inside. Construction of the cathedral took over 450 years, and was completed in 1891. Inside, you’ll discover the renaissance-style tomb of the parents of Anne of Brittany, who was Duchess of Brittany and twice Queen of France.

Cathedrale de Saint-Pierre et Saint-Paul, 7 Impasse Saint-Laurent, Nantes, France, +33 240478464

Take a trip to Trentemoult

Trentemoult is an ancient fishing village on the banks of the Loire River, just a stone’s throw southwest of the city center. It is a maze of colorful, traditional houses and cool street art. It’s a desirable area and a popular part of the city for wealthy artists and families to settle in.

Trentemoult

Visit the Japanese Garden

To the north of the city center is this four-acre (1.7-hectare) artificial island, which was created in 1831 when the river was cleaned during the development of the canal from Nantes to Brest. It was turned into a Japanese-style garden in 1983 and is a real oasis and tranquil space in Nantes. Entrance is free.

Japanese Garden, Ile de Versailles, Quai de Versailles, Nantes, France, +33 240419009

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