The Beauty of Nantes' Architecture in 10 Buildings

This ornate church lies in the historic Bouffay district of Nantes and has been its parish church since 1138. In 1860, the beautiful bell tower, which can’t be helped to be noticed on first approaching the church, was added, with a circle of angels playing trumpets out over the city.

French architect Antonini Darmon is the man behind these bold social housing blocks, entitled 30 Social Housing Units. These mid-rise buildings rest upon timber-strutted plinths that contain the community spaces. Located on the Île de Nantes, these stark white, striking buildings can easily be seen when visiting Machine Island and look quite at home in Nantes’ ever-changing skyline.

Nantes Social Housing | © Kevin Talec/Flickr

Initiated by the Coupechoux design group, Manny is an incredible building of metal mesh, meant to illustrate two essential components of Nantes society: creativity and eco-responsibility. The light veil of metal used to drape around the building really looks striking any time of day. From its opening in 2009, the building plays house to various architecture and creative businesses. The two staircases snaking up from the lobby are pretty impressive, too.

Nantes architecture | © Guilhem Vellut/Flickr

Nantes’ 18th-century theatre and opera house sits proudly at the head of an attractive square—Place Graslin—in the city’s old town. It’s beautifully illuminated at night, so if you don’t get a chance to attend a performance here during your stay, definitely amble by the exterior after dark.

The elaborate Passage Pommeraye is a 1840s shopping mall in the heart of Nantes, classified as a historic monument since 1976. When it was built, Nantes was a booming industrial city, so the mall injected an elegance that was not so often seen. The beautiful statues represent agriculture, fine arts, maritime trade, and more.

La Fabrique is a hub for contemporary music and digital arts in the city. Constructed by the City of Nantes as part of its massive cultural and arts initiative, it is made up of two buildings, both housing studio spaces, broadcast rooms, and so on. The bar space of Trempolino is a trendy spot to have a drink and there is always a full calendar of events and performances at both venues.

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One of Nantes’ most iconic landmarks, the Cathédrale Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul, is as striking on the inside as it is externally, thanks in part to the colorful stained-glass windows (pictured below). Taking over 450 years to complete, the cathedral is a fine example of Gothic architecture and has been listed as a French historical landmark since 1862. Well worth the visit.

Nantes cathedral | © Public Domain/Flickr

Named after Nantes’ famous navigator Éric Tabarly, this road bridge was built entirely in a workshop in Belgium and installed in place in 2011. Head down to Île de Nantes for a great view of this impressive structure. Does it remind you of another bride in France? The famous Millau Viaduct had the same project management.