Experience the exciting cultural transformation of Nantes!

Creative, innovative, versatile, dynamic, young, modern… this beautiful city on the Loire Delta, just 60 km from the Atlantic Ocean, surprises in many ways.

In fact, the future of Nantes did not look good at all with the decline of the shipyard industry in the 80’s and the resulting regional economic crisis and high unemployment rate. But Nantes managed the cultural change and today many students, creatives and artists from all over the world call Nantes their home. No wonder that Nantes and Bordeaux are the two cities where young French people want to be.

Best way to discover a city is always by walking through the lively streets with small restaurants, cafes, boutiques and bars. Start your day with a typical French breakfast – croissants, pain au chocolat and coffee – at the traditional brasserie and restaurant “La Cigale“. This elegant 1895 Art Nouveau brasserie, with beautiful wood and ceramic artwork covering the walls and ceilings, is a landmark of the city and a place that everyone should visit. Nearby is the Pommeraye-Passage shopping mall, a 19th century architectural masterpiece with beautifully decorated galleries on three floors – one of the finest shopping malls in Europe.

Don’t miss to visit the Bouffay district and the imposing 15th and 18th century Chateau des Ducs de Bretagne. The historical museum gives a good impression of the city’s beginnings to today’s metropolis and it’s uncomfortable past around slavery, the engine of economic wealth in the 18th century.

Enjoy a stroll through the beautiful park “Jardin des Plantes“, very close to the castle and one of the 4 largest botanical gardens in France. With 10,000 exotic and native plants and many little surprises like giggling mushrooms in a flower bed or an oversized park bench, this city park is a small gem and a must see for all visitors.

A short visit to the former biscuit factory LU “Le Lieu Unique“, which today offers plenty of space for the creative, art exhibitions and shows, a bookstore, bar and restaurant and even an oriental hammam. Absolute highlight: after nightfall, projectors show the image of a young woman – “Nymph” or “Sirene” – on the surface of the water in the adjacent canals… purely ingenious, fascinating and somehow magical.

Ensure you have enough time to spend a day in the “Ile de Nantes”, the old port and industrial area of Nantes, which has become a dynamic, cultural and creative center of the city. A number of bars, cafes and exhibition areas have been established along the quayside. A large recreational area has been created for young and old to spend their day, and the large old cranes are a reminder of the shipbuilding days. You can also explore the rather large area with bicycles, which can be rented at automated stations in many places throughout the city. A real highlight is the encounter with a giant mechanical elephant that slowly walks around the area, accompanied by an enthusiastic audience at its side. Many other mechanical wood and metal sculptures, inspired by the novels of Jules Verne, can be seen at the “Machines de L’Ile” museum, and the fascinating “Carrousel des Mondes Marins” is well worth a visit. You can actually ride or fly on some of the machines, including the elephant.

Check out the following blogs for more local tips about Nantes :

• https://www.voyagetips.com/en/things-to-do-in-nantes/
• https://loirelovers.fr/en/visit-nantes-2-days/
• https://www.cremedecitron.com/blog/visiting-france-a-few-days-in-nantes

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