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Nantes

France

Nantes

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Our travel guides are free to read and explore online. If you want to get your own copy, the full travel guide for this destination is available to you offline* to bring along anywhere or print for your trip.

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Playful, vibrant, and brimming with creativity, Nantes is a city turned upside down by art. Located in southern Brittany near the Atlantic, it blends history and imagination—explore the Castle of the Dukes of Brittany, follow in the footsteps of Jules Verne, and ride the whimsical Grand Elephant at Les Machines de l’île. Then, lose yourself in the charm of the medieval quarter and be surprised by bold contemporary art along the Loire estuary.

Do & See

Follow the green line painted on the ground—literally. It winds through the centre of Nantes, connecting the city's best cultural spots, historic landmarks, and must-see sites. Every year, the route is refreshed with new contemporary art installations, quirky street furniture to relax with friends, and unexpected shop signs that add a playful touch to your stroll.
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Les Machines de l'Île

Les Machines de l'Île

Located on the former shipyard site, Les Machines de l'Île is one of Nantes' most unique attractions. It’s an entire world where art, engineering, and imagination collide. The star of the show is the Great Elephant, a massive mechanical creature you can ride, but there’s also the fantastical Merry-Go-Round of the Marine Worlds, with sea creatures instead of horses, and the ever-evolving Heron Tree. Drawing on Nantes' industrial history, the dreams of Jules Verne, and the mechanical genius of Leonardo da Vinci, it’s a place where creativity takes on a life of its own.

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Musée d'arts de Nantes

Musée d'arts de Nantes

After a major renovation in 2017, this former fine arts museum reopened with a new name and a much bigger footprint. The updated Musée d’arts de Nantes now covers 17,000 m² and includes a striking contemporary extension, a glass-roofed atrium, and even an auditorium. It’s one of the few museums in France, outside of Paris, that covers such a wide span of art, from the 13th century to today. Expect a bit of everything: classical paintings, modern works, and contemporary installations. The collection includes big names like Delacroix, Ingres, Courbet, Chagall, Kandinsky, and Picasso, along with changing exhibitions that bring in newer voices.

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Château des ducs de Bretagne

Château des ducs de Bretagne

Right in the city centre, this 15th-century fortress was once the seat of the Dukes of Brittany—and now it’s home to the Nantes History Museum. The museum itself is well put together, with interactive exhibits that cover everything from the city’s maritime past to its industrial era. There are also temporary shows and events throughout the year. Even if you skip the museum, the castle’s ramparts are free to access and worth the walk for views over the moat, courtyard, and rooftops of Nantes.

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Cathedral of St Peter and St Paul

Cathedral of St Peter and St Paul

Nantes Cathedral, or the Cathedral of St Peter and St Paul of Nantes, is currently closed following a fire in July 2020. The blaze destroyed the 17th-century grand organ and damaged stained glass windows and parts of the interior. Restoration efforts are ongoing, with the cathedral expected to reopen to the public in September 2025. Construction of the Gothic cathedral began in 1434 and spanned over four centuries. It houses the tombs of François II, the last Duke of Brittany, and his second wife, Marguerite de Foix.

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Memorial to the Abolition of Slavery

Memorial to the Abolition of Slavery

Nantes was once the main French port in the transatlantic slave trade—around 43% of the country’s slave ships sailed from here in the 18th century. In an effort to confront its past, the city has undertaken a significant political initiative to keep alive the memory of this dark chapter. The Memorial to the Abolition of Slavery, the largest of its kind in Europe, is part of that effort. It opened in 2012 on the Quai de la Fosse, the same riverbank where many of those ships once set sail. The memorial stretches along the Loire and leads underground into a quiet, contemplative space, marked with names of slave ships, key dates, and quotes from around the world. It’s a poignant reminder of the human cost behind the city’s former wealth—and a place to pause and reflect.

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