12 Essentials: what to see and do in Nantes in 1 day

Nantes It is one of those cities that are not very well known from a tourist point of view, but when you discover its attractions, you conclude that it is well worth a getaway.

Located at western France, Nantes has a long history linked to Brittany, although currently it is the capital of the region of the Pays de la Loire and has become one of the cities that has grown the most in recent decades.

Nantes, by population, is currently the sixth city of France, with almost 300 inhabitants, but above all it is a city that has had an important process of urban recovery.

This led her to be declared the European Green Capital in 2013, and much of its tourist attraction is currently found in artistic exhibitions and cultural festivals.

Tips for traveling to Nantes

At the outset I will tell you that you can visit Nantes in one day and that it is a good example of the typical french town which we all like so much. to which it is also easy to get away from Spain thanks to the flights low cost.

The historical Center almost all pedestrian, with very well-kept buildings, very easy to visit, with very nice and attractive shops and a good gastronomy, and between tourist attractions of Nantes There are no shortage of interesting ones either. historical monuments.

But the main characteristic of Nantes today is its commitment to contemporary art.

On the one hand, with the aforementioned urban remodeling, the best example of which is found in the neighborhood of La Nantes Island.

It is one created in the course of Loire river, where buildings of daring architecture are being built, highlighting the courthouse from the architect Jean Nouvel.

And on the other hand the artistic installations that in recent years have been implemented in public spaces of the city, within the framework of the Voyage to Nantes festival, which have remained.

Curiosities of the history of Nantes

Precisely from the historical point of view, there are several factors that have determined the future of Nantes.

Indeed, in the 11th century and as a result of a marriage, Nantes became the capital of Duchy of Brittany, until in the 16th century, upon joining the kingdom of france, this position was moved to the city of Rennes.

From that time the Gothic cathedral and castle of the Dukes of Brittany.

In the 18th century it had a dark period, with a great boom as one of the European ports where the most developed slave trade.

Although Nantes It is located about 60 kilometers from Atlantic, the mighty Loire estuary It facilitated navigation to the city, so that it even had great activity with naval shipyards, until its definitive closure in 1986.

After the ports of Liverpool, London and Bristol, in order of importance, in that century the port of Nantes facilitated the transfer of more than 600.000 slaves captured in Africa to America.

At the dock where at that time the slave ships now you can visit the Memorial to the Abolition of Slavery.

It is a place where special tribute is paid to those who fought against slavery in the mid-19th century.

Throughout the city you can see up to 11 information panels remembering places linked to the aforementioned slave trade.

Nantes, birthplace of Jules Verne

Another determining fact of the history of Nantes was birth of Julio Verne in 1818. so if you are passionate about its literature, now you can visit a museum dedicated to the illustrious French writer.

But without a doubt the best current exponent of the linking of Julio Verne his hometown is the project known as The Island Machines, clearly inspired by his imaginative literary work.

How to get to Nantes

For travel to Nantes from Spain you have several alternatives flights from Madrid and Barcelona.

In the case of my recent getaway to Nantes I flew with Iberia Express, which stands out among the companies low cost for their punctuality, of which at least in my case I can attest.

This companyow cost Iberia also distinguishes itself by offering services typical of flagship companies.

Without a doubt, the Club Express Onboard, a digital in-flight entertainment system that, through Wireless internal offers a large number of multimedia services, from music and digital magazines, to series and TV programs.

Also worth noting is that the menu offers special products, such as whole foods or beers. premium.

From the airport you can get to the center of Nantes by bus in just 20 minutes.

What to see and do when visiting Nantes in one day

In the face of your possible visit in one day, and to have the transportation already paid for, you can consider purchasing at the airport itself. Pass Nantes card, which includes the aforementioned transportation and tickets to the main visits to the city.

El day pass It costs 27 euros, and to see if it's worth it, here you can check What does the Pass Nantes card include?.

As I have already mentioned, you visit of Nantes It will focus on a walk through the historic center of the city.

Nantes Gothic Cathedral

Having as its main axis the Royal Square, you should go to visit its gothic cathedral which began to be built in the mid-16th century and was not completed until the end of the 19th century.

To highlight inside the tomb of Francis II of Brittany.

You will surely notice the green line that leaves the cathedral building and that runs along the road through different parts of the city.

Travel the Green Line of Nantes

The function of the Nantes Green Line is to take a tourist tour of the city, linking its main monuments and the aforementioned artistic installations that in recent years have been occupying corners of the city.

The result is that the aforementioned line forms a route of about 12 kilometers in length.

Continuing with the visit, in the Marshal Foch Square Located behind the cathedral you can see a column with a statue of Louis XVI; As a curiosity, it is one of the few remaining images of the emperor with his head.

Castle of the Dukes of Brittany in Nantes

On the way to the castle of the Dukes of Brittany you will pass in front of the façade of the church of the holy cross, which you will recognize by its baroque style.

The quoted 15th century castle shows on the outside a very robust fortress surrounded by a moat where a pleasant park now extends.

But when you enter the central patio you will see that it is actually a palace; or rather, several palaces with buildings from different periods, from the flamboyant gothic style until Renaissance.

The narrow streets that surround these monuments are a corner of tourist atmosphere with a succession of terraces of bars and restaurants serving international cuisine.

Half-timbered houses in Nantes

You can also see some houses with half-timbered facades, although in Nantes There are barely five buildings of these characteristics preserved, compared to what happens, for example, in Breton cities such as Rennes o Quimper.

Feydeau Island

On the other hand, in the neighborhood of the old Feydeau Island, one of which the variable course of the Loire river created in the city ​​of Nantes, you can see an apple of stone houses with central patios built in the 18th century during a remodeling of the city.

These buildings show the strength that the slave trade brought to the merchants of Nantes at that time.

What they are and how to see the Island Machines in Nantes

And, of course, in your getaway to Nantes You must have as one of the first objectives the visit of The Island Machines.

This very curious tourist attraction has become an icon of this French city.

With a clear inspiration in the imagination of Julio Verne, this project has come to occupy the space that the shipyards closed at the end of the last century.

It was in 2007 when the first of these machines, the Big Elephant, began to walk through the old shipyards.

The Great Elephant of Nantes

It was in 2012 when the impressive Carousel of the Sea Worlds, and now also highlights the Butterfly Cloud, Being the Heron Tree the main project underway, a monumental installation 35 meters high and 50 meters in diameter.

Tu visit of Nantes It will be incomplete if you do not ride on the back of the Big Elephant, or at least you don't take a turn in the carousel of the aforementioned carousel.

Shopping in Pommeraye Passage

More recommendations in the city of Nantes.

On the one hand, don't stop entering the Pommeraye Passagea commercial galery from 1843, recently restored, the only three-story in Europe, which you find in the center, near the Royal Square.

Climb the Tower of Brittany in Nantes

If you want to have a spectacular panoramic view of Nantes, you must go up to the terrace of the modern skyscraper Brittany Tower which rises like an island in the center of the city.

Likewise, eating (or dining) in the La Cigale restaurant, In the graslin square, a classic among those who visit Nantes, where you will enjoy its typical gastronomy in a beautiful decorated environment art nouveau.

Nantes Art Museum

From a cultural point of view, it is important to highlight the Nantes Art Museum, which was reopened for visitors in the summer of 2017.

Occupying a mansion from the late 900th century, in this remodeled museum you can see a collection of art, especially from the XNUMXth and XNUMXst centuries, with more than XNUMX objects on display.

And take note that during the summer in this city the Le Voyage a Nantes festival.

In this cultural event during which prominent artists occupy public spaces in the city with their works and creations, the result of which is that art takes to the streets in search of residents and tourists.

What to see and visit around Nantes

Finally, if for your getaway you have several days, take note of these two options to make a excursion from Nantes.

You may not know that this French city is surrounded by vineyards, the result of whose production is the rich Muscadet wine.

Visit Clisson, a pretty town near Nantes

From Nantes you can do a day of wine tourism or, highly recommended, go to visit Clisson, nice village and main town of the Nantes vineyards.

In your walk through ClissonIn addition to enjoying local wines, you will be able to see charming corners with a curious architectural influence from the Italian Tuscany.

Take a Cruise along the Loire to Saint Nazaire

On the other hand, from Nantes you can make a Loire Estuary cruise to the maritime city of Saint-Nazaire, during which you can see curious artistic installations that are exhibited in various corners of the river.

Visit Saint Nazaire

when you get to Saint-Nazaire, where the shipyard activity that in its time had Nantes, you will see that the most impressive ones are built there cruise ships that currently cross the oceans.

You can also visit the impressive reinforced concrete structure of the old submarine base that the Germans installed in the Second World War.