Former capital of Brittany, Nantes is located on the shores of the Loire in an urban agglomeration of over 500 000 inhabitants. The heart of the city has been safeguarded and protected since 1972 as outstanding architectural heritage.

Art is everywhere in this city, in all its forms, from the bold architecture of the law courts based on an idea by Jean Nouvel to the Jules Verne museum, where some of the treasures of literature are on show, not forgetting the festivals held all year round.

Nantes is a dynamic city; its shopping streets with the famous Pommeraye passage, its lively nightlife, many museums, parks and gardens draw more and more visitors every year. Quality of life, the environment and renowned gastronomy all add to making Nantes so distinctive.

Nantes is an important industrial and university centre. With a modern bias, it has become a reference in the field of new technologies and has strengthened its position in the field of port activities. It has some of the best sports training centres in France and was the first city in the country to revive a modernized tram system.

So many reasons, historical, economic, cultural, sports... that make Nantes a metropolis of the Atlantic coast.

Nantes and its surroundings offer a multitude of things to see and do to easily fill a weekend or a longer stay, with the attraction of famous sea resorts like La Baule nearby.

Site and monuments

• The Castle of the Dukes of Brittany.
• Place Graslin and the theatre.
• The Royal Palace and fountain.
• The Palais de la Bourse.
• The Maison des Compagnons du Devoir.
• Feydeau Isle (Temple du Goût, Cour Ovale etc.).
• Saint-Pierre Cathedral.
• The Church of St. Nicolas.
• Sainte-Croix Church.
• St. Therese Church.

Museums

• History Museum of Nantes (Castle of the Dukes of Brittany).
• The Jules Verne Museum.
• The Musée Dobrée.
• The Printing Museum.
• The Naval Museum Maillé Brézé.

Parks

• The Jardin des Plantes botanical gardens.
• The Japanese Garden on the Isle of Versailles.
• Procé Park.
• Beaujoire floral park.
• Garden of the 5 senses.
• Little Amazon.

• February: Folle Journée, a festival of classical music.
• April: Just for Laughs Festival, Nantes Carnival.
• April - June: Arts Festival.
• August: Rendez-vous de l'Erdre, festival of river navigation.
• September: Scopitone, festival of digital arts and electronic music.
• October: Eidos Film Festival on the environment and sustainable development; Celtomania.
• November: Utopiales, the international festival of science fiction; Festival of 3 Continents, a film festival on Africa, Latin America and Asia.
• December : Tissé Métisse Festival.

• Have a drink at Le Nid:  At 122 metres above ground, Le Nid is a welcoming bar in the Tour Bretagne where you can enjoy a 360° view of the city of Nantes. Look out for the giant heron and its eggs which serve as seats...
• Stroll around the Hangar à Bananes: After World War I, the banana trade took off in Nantes, one of the main French ports, which is how this warehouse got its name! This large seaport of Nantes-Saint-Nazaire has been renovated into restaurants, bars, café-concerts, even a discotheque and an exhibition space, making it an unusual and authentic spot.

• Nantes Duck: Duck from the Nantes marshes, served in a muscadet and apple sauce.
• Nantes Chops: Ham chop in jelly with liver and pork roast pieces             
• The Chateaubriant: piece of tender beef from the north of the Loire Atlantique.
• Nantes Gateau: Rum and almond sponge cake
• The Nantes parish priest: cheese with an ochre rind, made with herbs, muscadet or seaweed
• Le Petit Mouzillon: crispy gateau, salt and fat free
• Nantes Gateau: a cake made of almond paste and sponge coated in apricot jelly.
• La Paille d’Or: Raspberry jelly waffle.
• La Rigolette Nantaise: Soft

• Nantes Tourist Office
• Nantes Airport
• Loire-Atlantic Tourism