Surprising, teeming, astonishing Nantes… When you come to spend a vacation on the Atlantic coast, just a few kilometers fromone of France’s most beautiful metropolises, we suggest you spend at least one day in the city of the Dukes of Brittany. A proud estuarine port in the middle of the land, Nantes is a city of history, which has managed to show off its finery in a quirky way, without forgetting its heavy colonial past. From Jules Verne’s extraordinary journeys, which can be seen everywhere in the city, to the atypical cultural emergences, Nantes has everything to seduce. Your Les Rochelets campsite in Saint-Brévin-les-Pins has concocted a program to make sure you don’t forget a thing and spend a memorable day in Nantes. Let’s go!
1 – Visit the Château des Ducs de Bretagne
The Château des Ducs de Bretagne is the city’s oldest monument, along with the Cathedral. This Renaissance fortress, the work of François II, stands in the heart of Nantes. Originally intended as a military defense for the city, the ducal palace was embellished by his daughter, Anne de Bretagne, on the death of François II. Unique in France, she was twice Queen of France through her successive marriages to Charles VIII and Louis XII. The monument, listed in 1862, is open to visitors every day (except Mondays). And don’t miss the big slide at the side of the château!
2 – Recharge your batteries at Nantes’ Saint-Pierre et Saint-Paul cathedral
Listed as one of Nantes ‘ most beautiful monuments, the cathedral is home to many treasures, including the famous tomb of François II and Marguerite de Foix, his second wife and parents ofAnne de Bretagne.
Built in 1434 by Duke Jean V of Brittany, the first place of worship on this site dates back to the 6th century. Built in the flamboyant Gothic style, with a neo-Gothic choir, it took over 400 years to complete! Today, it houses the largest choir organ in France, with 32 stops and 2,400 pipes. It accompanied the majestic Grand Orgue on the upper floor, which unfortunately caught fire in the summer of 2020. It is due to be rebuilt in the coming years.
3 – Explore the superb Jardin des Plantes
As big as twenty soccer pitches (7 hectares) in the heart of downtown Nantes, with over 10,000 living species, 50,000 flowers planted each year and 800 square metres of greenhouses, the Jardin des Plantes has been awarded the Jardin remarquable label and is one of France’ s four great botanical gardens. Numerous artists, such as Claude Ponti, exhibit their ephemeral or permanent works here.
4 – Marvel at the island’s machines
Can you imagine coming face to face with a 12-metre-high elephant on theIle de Nantes? You just might. The current Hangar à Bananes houses the incredible renovation of the Nantes shipyards .
Here, curious machines have come to populate the island. Somewhere between the “Invented Worlds” of Jules Verne, the mechanical universe of Leonardo da Vinci and the industrial history of Nantes, these machines are born in the hands of Compagnie La Machine, and come to life in those of Machines de l’île.
The Galerie, the Grand Eléphant, the Atelier and the Carrousel des Mondes Marins offer children and parents alike an extraordinary adventure… A few steps away, the Jardin Extraordinaire will be home to the Arbre aux Hérons (Heron Tree). The latest addition to the Machines de l’île project.
5 – Stroll through the Passage Pommeraye
Designed in an elegant Renaissance style, the Passage Pommeraye is a covered shopping street. Listed as a historic monument, it is particularly famous for its splendid marble staircase, statues and glass roof. It houses 25 stores on three floors.
6 – Finishing in style at the Nest
Perched on the 32nd floor of the Tour de Bretagne, the Nest is home to an immense bird, half stork, half heron. It’s a permanent work of art designed by artist Jean Jullien for the Voyage à Nantes. From here, you can enjoy an extraordinary panoramic view of the city.
photo@Ueli/Pixabay