Top 10 Things To Do In Nantes

Top 10 Things To Do In Nantes

Nantes was the capital of Brittany where the Dukes of Brittany ruled their lands from until the 16^th Century when the Duchy was uniting with France. During the 17^th Century, Nantes gradually became the largest port in France and was responsible for nearly half of the 18^th century French Atlantic slave trade. Today the city has started to confront its past and the memorial commemorating the abolition of slavery next to the Loire is a proof of this.

The city is vibrant with university students and a large number of artists. Here are additional top of your list places to visit while at Nantes;

Castle Of The Dukes Of Brittany.

Château Des Ducs De Bretagne – Wikipedia

Castle of the Dukes of Brittany translates to Château Des Ducs De Bretagne in French. It was the residence of the Dukes of Brittany from the 13^th to the 16^th century. After Brittany officially became part of France in 1532 the Castle became the residence of the kings of France when they visited the region.

Since 1862 the French Ministry of Culture listed the castle as a historical monument. This is because over the thousands of years the castle has witnessed the epic struggles that shaped the history of the Breton march, the Duchy of Brittany and the Kingdom of France.

Be part of this history by walking the histrionic bridged moat. Be fascinated by Middle Ages stone-brick architecture. Stroll the halls of the castle that house the Nantes History Museum. Enjoy a picnic on the well-manicured lawns.

Nantes Cathedral

Nantes Cathedral – Wikipedia

The Nantes Cathedral took an impressive 457 years to be constructed. Construction began in 1434 and it got inaugurated in 1891. Why did it take so long to finish? The cathedral was a large-scale architectural project that was divided into five phases. It also faced major setbacks such as the bombing of 15^th June 1944 bombs and the roof fire of 1972. Since 1862 the French Ministry of Culture listed the cathedral as a historical monument.

Today the cathedral’s radiant beauty is illuminated by an exterior architecture of late Gothic Romanesque that is dominated by two iconic towers measuring 63m. Its interior is future brightened by 500m² stained glass, beautiful tomb sculptors of François II, Duke of Brittany and his wife Marguerite de Fox and the cenotaph of General de Lamoricière.

Passage Pommeraye

Passage Pommeraye – Pixabay

The Passage Pommeraye is a small uphill shopping mall connecting two streets, the rue Santeuil and rue de la Fosse, with one 9.40m higher than the other. The passage started construction in 1843 and was completed on 4^th July 1843. It was named after the property developer Louis Pommeraye. Since 1976 the French Ministry of Culture listed Passage Pommeraye as a historical monument.

It is a shopper’s paradise with its three store-shops to choose from. A serene atmosphere where every step you take feels accelerating with its glass ceiling and its metal and wooden staircase, whose steps are decorated with mice, fluted columns, open-worked balustrades and cherubs with touches.

Jardin Des Plantes De Nantes

Jardin Des Plantes Nantes – Wikipedia

It is a modern botanical garden used for both scientific research and pleasure that initially started as a medical garden in 1688. The garden features a collection of plant species that date back more than 200 years like the Magnolia grandifora which is 219 years. In 2000 the garden was Certified Botanical Garden of Europe. In 2009 it was awarded Park of Distinction by the Ministry of Culture.

The garden covers an impressive area of 73,280m². It has a greenhouse that covers 800 m², more than 10,000 living spies and more than 50,000 species of flowers. It is covered with stunning plant sculptures, scenic foundations and water features and amazing statues.

The garden also has an adorable mini goat petty zoo and a kid’s playground that makes it overall a great destination for the little ones.

Brittany Tower

Tour Bretagna – Wikipedia

Brittany tower translates to Tour Bretagne in French. It is the tallest building in Nantes. It is a 37-story building measuring 144m high. The building started construction in the 1960s by architect Claude Devorsine and was completed in 1970s. Tour Bretagne has a bitter history but a promising future.

After its completion, the building was an economic failure as it was viewed as a symbol of inhuman urbanism focused on profit that distorted the traditional cityscape. It was also a place of frequent suicides before the observation deck was closed. As a result, it remained unoccupied for many years.

By the end of the 20^th century, we can see the acknowledgement of the building exemplified by the observation deck being opened on 15^th June 2012. The famous Le Nid restaurant at the top of the tour, with its gigantic eggshells and enormous white bird – half stork, half-heron interior decoration, gives a beautiful 360 degrees view of Nantes.

Machine Of The Isle Of Nantes

Machine of the isle – Pixabay

If you have a great interest in science, engineering, mechanics or new creative concepts then this is the place for you. On the former shipyard take a ride on The Great Elephant; which is an exact replica of the Sultan’s elephant from Royal de Luxe. Pirate The Marine Worlds Carousel with its 35 moving underwater creatures on three levels. Fly The Heron Tree over the hanging garden tree. Visit Machine gallery where displays of sketches, models and films illustrate the background story of the machines. The Workshop where you can observe ongoing projects.

Great Machine of the isle of Nantes is a creation of two artists, François Delarozière and Pierre Orefice. Their inspiration is to create a metropolis of dreams and fantasy. The machine-world was opened to the public on 1^st July 2009.

Île Feydeau

Ile Feydeau – Wikimedia

Île Feydeau, the slave trade quarter, was originally an island in the 18^th Century. It was the biggest port in France and one of the most import ports in the whole of Europe. However between 1926 and 1938 some of the stretches of the Loire River that surrounded the island were filled. It was joined to the town and Île Gloriette.

Today Île Feydeau gives an idea of the city’s trading heritage exemplified by the elegant architecture of the wealthy merchants, engaged in shipping and slave trade, flat-front homes. These residents build on the sandy soil sometimes seems to defy the laws of balance as they lean considerably.

Le Lieu Unique

Le Lieu Unique – Wikipedia

Le Lieu unique translates to “unique place” in English. Initially a biscuit factory it was transformed to a Center for contemporary culture founded by Jean Blaise. It officially opened its doors to the public on 30^th December 1999.

What makes the place unique? It is a space for artistic exploration in the different fields of art: visual art, theater, dance, circus, music, literature, philosophy, archaeology, architecture and digital culture.

Natural History Museum Of Nantes

Natural History Museum Of Nantes – Wikipedia

History Museum of Nantes is a relatively small museum compared to the other museums in France with a vast collection of natural history: zoological collections, regional fauna, osteology, palaeontology, Prehistory earth science, ethnography, conchology, mineralogy and a reptile house containing regional and exotic reptiles’ collection.

The highlight of the museum is the impressive whale skeleton suspended from the ceiling, as well as that of a basilosaurus isis that existed between 45 and 36 million years BCE.

Village De Trentemoult

Village De Trentemoult – Wikipedia

Trentemoult is a former fishing and Cape Horner village. Navigate your way across the maze of scurrying streets with brightly painted cottages from the 18^th and 19^th centuries. Get a brief insight into the architectural designs of the 18^th and 19^th Century Nantes, France.

The houses have an ingenious architectural design that is greatly influenced by the frequent bursting of the Loire River. The houses are set over three floors, with the lowest used only for storage, the second used as the reception room and the top was an attic. Often the neighbouring attics linked together, allowing villagers to meet without having to use boats when the river banks busted.