Nantes Tourism
Nantes Tourism – Nantes is one of the most attractive and spectacular cities in France and offers colorful and diverse attractions for tourists. For the best experience in the city, follow this guide to the end. The city of Nantes, with a population of over 300,000, is a large and crowded French city. Here are art areas with many attractions. Due to its location along the Loire River, Nantes is famous for its magnificent scenery and numerous galleries, museums, and castles. Considering that the city was once the former home of the Duke of Brittany, the influences of the aristocrats who are seen in it, prepare a luxurious and sublime atmosphere for the exploration and enjoyment of the visitors. From colorful and creative exhibitions to magnificent cathedrals, you will find fascinating things in our list of top 10 attractions.
1.The Machines de l’Ile – Nantes Tourism
Les Machines de l’Ile is the result of an unprecedented art project that incorporates large, innovative structures scattered throughout the grounds. Structures that want to show the image of the city as a dream and fantasy metropolis. The big elephant was Nantes’ first car, and now many more cars, including the Manta Ray and the Sea Snake, have been added. Two artists, François Delarozière and Pierre Orefice, built these structures at Nantes’s former shipyards. These designs, which have an obvious mechanism, have enlivened Jules Verne’s “Invented Worlds” and Da Vinci’s mechanical world.
2. Botanical Garden
The Botanical Garden is open daily from 12:30 pm to 6:00 pm and is the largest and most beautiful botanical garden in Nantes. It was founded here in the 18th century, and over the years it has become richer and more complete, thanks to the seeds that sailors bring from their foreign voyages. The garden covers an area of more than 7,000 hectares and includes more than 500 species of flowers including beautiful magnolias and colorful camellias. Quiet sightseeing here is the best way to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Recently, one of the garden’s magnolia trees celebrated its 300th anniversary.
3. Palace of the British Dukes
Built in 1207, the British Ducal Palace is a large castle in central Nantes that was used as the seat of British rulers until 1941. For three hundred years the British dukes used this as their residence. In 1862, the castle was inscribed on the National Historic Landmark, and today houses the Nantes Museum of History, which contains more than 850 handicrafts that reflect the region’s rich and diverse heritage. Here is a beautiful example of French architecture in the heart of a busy city and watching it at night is not without its charms because of the exciting lighting that doubles the complexity of its architecture and design.
4. St. Pierre and St Paul Cathedral
St. Pierre and St Paul’s Cathedral, also known as Nantes Cathedral, was built in the 15th century and is a Roman Catholic church located in the heart of the city. The construction of this building was finally completed in 1891 and took a total of about 357 years. Its style is Gothic and it was built on the grounds of an old Romanesque church. The church was severely damaged during World War II, and in the 1970s devastating wildfires ensued. Along with all these bitter historical events, you can enjoy the tranquility, charm, and beauty of this historic site in the city center.
5. Japanese garden – Nantes Tourism
This charming park is located next to the canal and doubles the beauty of the Henri Barbusse neighborhood. It may not be very big, but it gives you indescribable peace in the crowded city center. There are many brilliant ponds in the Japanese garden that are built to simulate the oriental landscape. The best season to visit the park is spring because the colorful cherry blossoms open and create a stunning view. You should walk in the rock gardens, waterfalls, and plants such as bamboo, cypress, camellia, and peony and enjoy the hot days of Nantes on a picnic in the beautiful Japanese garden.
6. Gralen Theater
The Graslin Theater was built in the late 18th century and has a capacity of 822 people. It was designed by a famous architect named “Mathurin Crucify”. Construction of the hall was completed in 1788 and was destroyed by fire shortly after its opening. The building was rebuilt in 1811 and slightly renovated in 2003. The style used in it is Italian and the entrance with 8 columns of the empire reflects elements of Roman and Greek architecture. The statue on top of each pillar is a symbol of Greek mythology and has been carved with a special skill. If you are looking for a good opera or theater performance, be sure to include this hall in your list.
7. Le Nid
Le Nid is located on the 32nd floor of the Bretagne Tower, a tall skyscraper in downtown Nantes. The meaning of the name here is “nest” and you can see the panoramic and stunning views of the city. The building is home to a huge bird, half of which is said to be a stork and the other half a heron and is slowly monitoring the city. The interior design of this restaurant attracts your attention because the body of this bird acts as a part of the load and the neck and the eggs that are laid have the role of a chair. Visiting this restaurant will be a great experience whether you are looking to quench your thirst or you want to watch the beautiful scenery.
8. Jules Verne Museum
The Jules Verne Museum is open daily from 10 am to 7 pm and, as its name suggests, is dedicated to the famous French writer born in Nantes. The museum was dedicated to Verne in 1978, the 150th anniversary of his birth, and was rebuilt in 2005. It includes a large number of fascinating books, manuscripts, documents, illustrations, and objects belonging to the author. Numerous audio-visual guides take visitors to the heart of Verne’s work.
9. Printing Museum
The museum was opened to depict various manual, mechanical, and typographic printing methods, and to preserve the rich heritage of printed books and graphic art. Experienced guides guide visitors and show them different machines that are still working. Exhibitions on how to make paper and printing and animation are often held regularly. Visiting here is a unique experience.
10. Lu Liu Onik
Le Lieu Unique in Nantes Center for Contemporary Art opened in 2000 at a former biscuit factory. The name here says that it is unique and in fact, you do not see any similarities between it and other buildings in the city. Everything from theater to dance, from literature to architecture is shown here, and even circus performances are held there. This collection aims to show the city of Nantes as an artistic and experimental area and has been successful in this work.
