Location: Nantes
Top Things to do in Nantes
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10 Sights & Landmarks in Nantes That You Shouldn't Miss
French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.
Restaurants in Nantes
1. Cathedrale de Saint-Pierre et Saint-Paul
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,547 reviews
This Gothic cathedral features a high nave and many tombs, including that of François II.
Reviewed By johnmN5785EK - Lyon, France
The construction of Nantes Cathedral, officially called La Cathédrale Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul (or simply Cathédrale Saint-Pierre in the vicinity) took more than 400 years to complete. Begun in 1434, it took 457 years to finish, finally reaching completion in 1891. Since 1862 it has been listed as a historic monument in France. The striking white stone is especially impressive and the rich colors of the stained-glass windows make for a striking contrast. The architecture in this classic Gothic cathedral, with the imposing main nave and aisles, great organ and the immense inner column all combine to create a Gothic atmosphere inside the cathedral and make it even more memorable than others, such as Note Dame and Quimper. The beautiful Tomb of Francis II, the Duke of Brittany, and his second wife, Marguerite de Foix the parents of local heroine Anne of Bretagne, with its haunting sculptures of white Carrara marble is considered to be a French renaissance masterpiece. Also noteworthy is the tomb of Gen. Juchault de Lamoricière, a Nantes native and a great African campaigner; sculptor Paul Dubois completed the tomb in 1879. The cathedral's crypt, dating from the 11th century, shelters a museum of religions. The Cathedral was bombed heavily on June 15th, 1944; this necessitated a prolonged restoration which was almost completed in January 1972 when a disgruntled labourer started a massive conflagration with a blow torch. The restoration is nearing complete; an attempt was made to reconstruct the decor of the west façade to the state it was originally in the fifteenth century. This restoration proceeds on the other facades. The cathedral's crypt, dating from the 11th century, shelters a museum of religions. All in all well worth a visit.
2. Chateau des Ducs de Bretagne
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3,592 reviews
The Castle of the Dukes of Brittany houses the Nantes History Museum, displaying more than 850 historic objects with multimedia installations in a contemporary layout. The former ducal palace also holds temporary exhibitions and cultural events all year round. Besides, the rampart walk offers a number of viewpoints of the fortress. The night-time illuminations further reveal the architectural complexity of the site. A restaurant and a gift shop are as well at your service.
Reviewed By KEinSF - San Francisco, United States
Take a few hours to learn the history of Nantes from the medieval to WWII - the castle interior tour takes you through all the important events in the history of this fascinating city. There are guides in different languages in the entrance and in every room there are information boards written in multiple languages. Learn about the role of Nantes in the slave trade and about the Lu biscuit factory. Sadly you cannot buy the biscuits in nantes anymore ! Although there is a small elevator to all exhibition floors, there are many steps and narrow doorways. The walk around the ramparts is a must, with great views of the cathedral and the tower that marked the entrance to the Lu biscuit factory. The chateau is the best attraction in Nantes!
3. Belem
4. Basilique Saint Nicolas
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 160 reviews
Reviewed By ngocanht826
We visited Basilique Saint Nicolas at weekend afternoon. There are not so many people here. I remember the magnificent moment when the natural light of sunset lights up the whole church.
5. Eglise Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Port
6. Village de Trentemoult
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 759 reviews
Reviewed By HanaCarrera - Isleworth, United Kingdom
From the city centre of Nantes, Trentemoult can be accessed from Gare Maritime (a black box building located near the tram station of the same name) via the Navibus which comes free when you have the Nantes Pass-- just show it to the crew before boarding (it's 25 Euros for 24 hours and 35 for 48 hours). The Navibus leaves to Trentemoult every 20, 40, and 00 of the hour every weekday. It's a 10-minute cruise from Gare Maritime to the fishing village. I enjoyed the cruise very much, as the Loire River was calm even though it was drizzling a bit. Trentemoult has a lot of riverside cafes and restaurants. At first, I was disappointed because I thought the riverside shops and restaurants were all there was to see there, but when I started to go through the little alleyways, that's when I saw all the colorful, rustic, old-architecture houses that made them look like they were frozen in time. There were lots of flora, and some of the houses there were quirky and funny. I enjoyed my two hours strolling around in Trentemoult because it made me feel more relaxed and unrushed. There was no hustle and bustle-- just peace and silence with nary another soul in sight for stretches of time. It was just me, peacefully taking a casual stroll with my umbrella and camera in hand. Highly-recommended!
7. Place Graslin
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 140 reviews
8. Eglise Sainte Therese
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 12 reviews
