Things to See in Nantes
The perfect guide to discovering the city’s unique features
I will be your guide to help you discover Nantes, the historic capital of Brittany, renowned for its rich historical and cultural heritage.
Must-see attractions
All year round, the must-see stops along the famous Green Line allow you to see:
- Over 120 works of art from the Voyage à Nantes
- The Castle of the Dukes of Brittany and its Nantes History Museum…
- The Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul (15th–19th centuries)
- The Botanical Garden, the Museum of Fine Arts
- Feydeau Island (18th century)
- Place Royale, the Graslin district, the Passage Pommeraye…
- The new Dobrée Museum and its collections spanning 500,000 years of history and 5 continents.
- On the Île de Nantes: the Parc des Chantiers (former shipyards) with the Machines de l’Île, the Hangar à Bananes…
- The Bas Chantenay district with the Extraordinary Garden, the Kawamata Belvedere, the Jules Verne Museum…
- And much more….
Nantes, the city of surrealists and writers—Jules Verne was born here, and for good reason, as everything here lends itself to adventure.
We’ll visit its many attractions: the Machines de l’Île and its now-famous giant elephant, the Castle of the Dukes of Brittany, the Cathedral, the Botanical Garden, the Passage Pommeray, the Memorial Against Slavery, and the mansions from its seafaring past…
Bring your camera, and I’ll take you to all the must-see spots in Nantes. You can pay your respects to Anne of Brittany at her castle, see mansions swaying in the breeze, go shopping in a historic monument, and ride an elephant before grabbing a drink in a factory. Don’t believe me? See you in the amazing city of Nantes!
Anne of Brittany welcomes you at the entrance to her castle. As soon as you cross the drawbridge, the imposing ramparts contrast with the Renaissance residences. Rebuilt in the 15th century on the foundations of an earlier fortress, the Dukes’ castle gained refinement with the Grand Logis and the Grand Gouvernement. Today it houses the Nantes History Museum. Around the moat, venture into the narrow streets of Bouffay. This cobblestone labyrinth conceals the 15th-century Maison du Change, 16th-century mansions on Rue de la Juiverie, and 18th-century residences…
The spirit of the shipyards comes alive once more on the Île de Nantes. In the converted hangars, a fabulous animated menagerie transports you to a world worthy of Jules Verne, who was born in Nantes in 1828. Fascinating in their ingenuity, the Machines de l’île amaze young and old alike. Wonder transports you as you step into the gears of the 12-meter-tall Grand Éléphant, and as you visit the Galerie des Machines and the Carrousel des Mondes marins!
We can discuss what you’d most like to do and tailor our itinerary to your preferences. There’s plenty to do and see during these months, and I’ll show you places you wouldn’t find on your own. I truly want to be an ambassador for my region and show it to you in all its splendor.
