Holiday in the city of Nantes

Nantes, France’s sixth-largest city, lies on the Loire estuary in the west of France, some 50 kilometres from the Atlantic coast. A former commercial and maritime centre of Brittany, the city boats a strong historical and cultural heritage. Nantes was the capital of the independent Duchy of Brittany back in the Middle Ages and came to be a key trading port in the 18th century, thanks to its strategic position at the Loire, Erdre and Sevre rivers.

Today, the city remains a prosperous and popular part of Western France. Its impressive Chateau, the cobbled streets and the charming half-timbered houses in the medieval Bouffay quarter still remind visitors of Nantes’ glamorous past. But the city has more to offer than just history. It boasts a lively art scene, a strong culinary background as well as a thriving and young nightlife - thanks not least to its nearly 50,000-strong student population.

What to do and see while on holiday in Nantes

Cathedrale Saint Pierre Saint Paul in Nantes
This impressive cathedral is home to the tombs of Francois II, the last Duke of Brittany, and his second wife Marguerite de Foix. Construction of the Gothic building started in 1434 and lasted for four centuries.

Tour Lu in Nantes
This picturesque tower of the old LU biscuit factory offers a uniquely panoramic view of Nantes. The contemporary arts centre based inside the building regularly hosts top cultural events.

Quartier Bouffay in Nantes
West of the Cathedral lies the historic medieval quarter of Bouffay, which has retained much of its old charm. A stroll alongside the cobblestone streets and half-timbered houses, some dating back to the 15th century, feels like a jump in time back to the Middle Ages.

Theatre Graslin in Nantes
An impressive building with an entrance boasting eight Corinthian columns and marble, gold and royal blue velvet inside. It is home to the Opera of Nantes and marks the focal point of the Place Graslin. Guided tours can be booked with the Tourist Office.

Musée des Beaux Arts in Nantes
The 19th-century museum building houses one of the finest art collections in France, ranging from Italian Primitives to contemporary artists. Its contemporary gallery includes works from Picasso, Chagall and Dubuffet.

Musee Jules Verne in Nantes
The museum inside this great bourgeois mansion depicts the life and works of writer Jules Verne, one of Nantes’ most famous citizens.

Jardin Des Plantes in Nantes
Nantes boasts 1,000 hectares of green areas open to the public, with some 1 million plants produced every year. Visit the Jardin des Plantes botanical garden to see a priceless collection of exotic plants from America, Asia and Africa.

Guided Tours in Nantes
The Nantes Tourism Office organises a variety of general and themed tours of the city. If you’re in Nantes for only a day, the "one day,one town" shows you the city’s top attractions and comprises a cruise on the Erdre river, a traditional lunch and refreshments at the famous La Cigale restaurant.

Airports in Nantes
The Aeroport Nantes Atlantique lies just south of Nantes and is the leading airport in the west of France.

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