Nantes guide

About Nantes

The Venice of the West, Nantes is a magnificent medieval city on the coast of Pays de Loire, nicknamed because of its various rivers and canals.

Now a vibrant artistic metropolis, Nantes has a tumultuous past as the centre of France's slave trade in the 18th century and was the subject of a Nazi occupation, and subsequent bombing by the British, during World War Two. At the incredible, recently restored, The Castle of the Dukes of Brittany, the Nantes History Museum paints an engrossing portrait of the past, present and future of this spectacular city. The looming St Pierre and St Paul Cathedral of Nantes is a stunning example of flamboyant gothic architecture whilst the Passage Pommeraye, a beautiful 19th century, three tier shopping arcade delights shoppers with its huge selection of clothes shops and designer labels.

Walking through Nantes grand streets you'll find many chocolateries filled with decadent chocolates and restaurants and bars selling the local specialities of oysters and Muscadet wine. Paris is only 2 hours away on the bullet train and the seaside resorts of La Baule and Pornichet are close by for fantastic sandy beaches.