Nantes - Do & See
The metropole is one of the major cultural, artistic and creative pole in France but you haven’t seen anything yet…Château des ducs de Bretagne, lieu unique, Nantes-Angers Opera house, the Hangar à bananes exhibition place, The Machines de l’île, the Memorial museum dedicated to the Abolition of slavery, the open-air museum of Estuaire, La Fabrique, the festivals, the heritage… Come to Nantes to discover this scattered monument that makes of Nantes a sought-after destination, as a city of art and culture.
Château des ducs de Bretagne
Château des ducs de Bretagne (Castle of the Dukes of Brittany) was renovated and re-opened since the beginning of 2007, after a complete closure. The castle now houses the Nantes History Museum, displaying more than 850 historic objects. The former Ducal Palace also holds temporary exhibitions and cultural events all year round. A free-access rampart offers many viewpoints of the fortress and of the city.
Machines de l’ile
The Machines de l’ile is an artistic, tourist and cultural project in Nantes since 2007. Three major artworks, the Great Elephant (2007), the merry go round of the Marine worlds (next opening July 2012) and the huge Heron Tree (project) symbolise doors to the world of dreams and magical journeys. A mixture between the invented worlds of Jules Verne and the mechanical universe of Leonardo da Vinci.
Estuaire Nantes <> Saint-Nazaire
Starting from Nantes to Saint Nazaire this is an open air collection of artworks: each creation, signed by an internationally renowned artist leads you to an atypical place or to a remarkable site of the estuary of the Loire river. Since 2007, 16 artworks have now been the stones of a monument scattered along 60 km. This artistic trail will make you discover a fascinating territory, its heritage and its natural resources.
Cathedrale Saint Pierre Saint Paul
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.
Isle of Nantes
On the Isle of Nantes, a perpetually changing area, contemporary architecture has the leading role. On both sides of this territory perched on the Loire river are standing resolutely original and innovative buildings built by the greatest international architects. Formerly occupied by the shipyards (closed in 1987) and by industries, this area is in complete rehabilitation and finds some harmony between the conservation of industrial heritage and the development of a new modern space.
Memorial to the abolition of slavery
Nantes was the capital of the slave trade in France: it organised 43% of the French slave trade shipments in the XVIII century. The City wants to assume its past and give shape to the memory via a powerful political gesture. The Memorial to the Abolition of Slavery in Nantes will be the biggest in Europe. Located on the Quai de la Fosse, a symbolic place in the city that has seen many slave ships to Africa, the Memorial will open to the public in March 2012. Following an international competition, the city of Nantes has entrusted the design of the Memorial to Krzysztof Wodiczko, a Polish artist and Julian Bonder, an Argentinian architect.
Musée des Beaux Arts
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.
The museum is closed in 2012 and 2013. Temporary exhibition are in the Chapel de l’Oratoire nearby.
Musee Jules Verne
The museum inside this great bourgeois mansion depicts the life and works of writer Jules Verne, one of Nantes’ most famous citizens.
Planetarium
Embark on a voyage through space as the planetarium brings our universe to life. Located near the Jules Verne museum.
Jardin Des Plantes
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.
Tour Lu
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
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
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
The Nantes Tourism Office called “A journey To Nantes” organises a variety of general and themed tours of the city.
