10 Entertaining Spots to Visit in Nantes
We discovered an abundance of entertaining spots to visit in Nantes and I’m sure we will return to discover more! Visiting in early April meant some attractions on my list were not yet open for the season. Disappointing, but a very good reason to come back and increase our list beyond 10 Entertaining Spots to Visit in Nantes!
Les Machines de l’Ile – exploring Jules Vernes and Da Vinci’s creations
We could have spent all our time in Nantes exploring the world of Jules Vernes, this being his city of birth (28 February 1898 Nantes – 24 March 1905 Amiens) . However, his “invented worlds” and Da Vinci’s mechanical universe are only a fraction of what makes Nantes and entertaining spot to visit.
The Little (or Big) Details
On l’Ile des Machines, we found the four story high mechanical elephant that is fascinating! Whether you take a ride or just watch from ground level, this pachyderm is pretty incredible. Arrive before the ticket sales begin or you will likely just watch from the ground as we did. I’m not sure it would have been any more fun up top – we had a blast!
According to their website, this elephant stands 39.4 ft high, 26.25 ft wide and 68.9 ft long moves at 1 – 3km per hour, has an indoor lounge and a terrace accessed via a stairway.
No matter the details, this elephant was amazing to watch as you can see in the video! We first discovered Nantes and its marvels via Véro, who describes herself as “a creative multitasker [and] an experienced adult educator, tour guide, and travel blogger”.
She fills each and every virtual tour with historical information and beautiful sites. As a member of her Patreon group I benefit from even more of her expertise in private virtual tours.
This mechanical elephant isn’t the only glimpse we got into the world of Jules Verne! There is also a Galerie of Machines where we learned the history of the machines and saw them in motion.
The Galerie of Machines included this heron with an 8 meter wing-span plus a giant ant, giant spider and other amazing creatures that selected tour members/families were allowed to set into motion.
Giant Mechanical Heron
“Les Machines de l’île is a totally unprecedented project. A product of François Delaroziere and Pierre Orefice’s collective imagination, it is the only place where you’ll find Jules Verne’s “Invented Worlds,” the mechanical universe of Leonardo da Vinci, and Nantes’ industrial history, all on the exceptional site of the city’s former shipyards.”
N’oubliez pas à visiter le musée de Jules Verne!
Don’t forget to visit the Jules Verne Museum! It is a small museum that gives you a look into his life. And, if you are ever in Amiens, be sure to visit the Jules Vernes museum there! Take the time to walk along Quai Marquis d’Aiguillon to view the Jardin Extraordinare after leaving the museum.
This botanical garden with its steep cliffs will one day include a monumental man-made tree, the Arbre aux Hérons, that will be home to all the mechanical wildlife you can see “in motion” in the shipyard building from which the mechanical elephant emerges. This steel tree will be 164 feet in diameter and 115 feet high. Can you imagine! This definitely earns a place on my future list of entertaining spots to visit in Nantes.
Passage Pomeraye is one of 10 Entertaining Spots to Visit in Nantes
This lovely neo-classical shopping arcade dates from 1843. With three levels and a fantastic ceiling of glass, it is hard to decide where to look first. I think the style can best be described as busy with an abundance of ornamentation!
Multi-level Passager Pomeraye
There are a plethora of shops but we explored the Passage on a Sunday to have unobstructed views of the architecture. Just look at the iron work between each of the steps!
Château des Ducs de Bretagne is Another of the 10 Entertaining Spots to Visit in Nantes
You don’t want to miss this entertaining spot in Nantes. It is walking distance from the train station so if you are just making a connecting train you might even have the time to take in the Château!
Anne of Brittany and her father François II built this 15th century château. It now functions as a history museum that is filled with an amazing quantity of objects on display.
The reflecting pool in front of the château yields a beautifully clear reflection on calm days. However, the frequent and intense winds repeatedly foiled my attempts at a photo. Patience won out and I captured this reflection at a semi-calm moment.
La Tour Lu
We viewed this tower from our hotel every time we opened the drapes. It is such a lovely historic monument. This is the remaining of two 38 meter high towers for the biscuit factory established by Jean Romain Lefèvre and Pauline-Isabelle Utile, hence the biscuit name of LU. You know the biscuit, I am sure: little rectangle buttery cookies coated in chocolate on the top side. I love them with a cup of tea!
Although difficult to see from the angle of my photo, there is also an angel with a trumpet in his hand above the dome.
Nantes Cathedral
The Cathédral de Saint-Pierre et Saint-Paul de Nantes can’t be ignored even if we cannot explore inside at this point. In July 2020 a fire broke out in three different parts of the Cathedral and as of 2022 restoration continues. A volunteer church assistant was charged with arson according to the Guardian.
Cathédral de Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul
La Porte Saint-Pierre au 16e siècle
On the north side of the Cathédrale you will find the Saint Peter Gate. It was one of the first gates of the city, serving as an entrance to Nantes (3rd century) from the road which arrived from Angers.
This gate was rebuilt in both the 13th and the 15th centuries. Due to temporary structures involving the restoration of the cathedral, I was unable to get a clear view for a photo of the gate. What was impressive though and in full view is the remainder of the tower from the 15th century that is just meters away.
At the base of this Tour l’Eveché (Bishop’s Tower) which was part of the city wall are the three doors at the bottom that sheltered the cannons. I love this time of the year when magnolia blossoms cover the walkways.
Jardin des Plantes, another of the 10 Entertaining Spots to Visit in Nantes
Another entertaining spot in Nantes is the Jardin des Plantes. Like the Château, it is not far from the train station. The gardens are lovely to behold and contain several whimsical displays such as this giant bench. An adult can easily walk under this bench without bumping their head.
Botanical Gardens, Nantes
This botanical garden is one of four large gardens of this type in France. It was created by Louis XIV in 1687 and it was Louis XV who charged the ship captains with bringing back seeds and plants from around the world. Botanical research is still carried out here today.
Fresques Nantaise
We discovered the Fresques Nantaise, frescoes/art, on rue Port au Vin. The street was narrow, making it difficult even with a wide-angle lens to capture but this fresco includes all of what makes me love Nantes!
Fresques Nantaise
Fresques Nantaise
When you arrive at the fresques, you will be just around the corner from the Brûlerie Debotté which has a great selection of coffee (beans or ground) as well as Dammann Frères Thès. Several types of coffee came back with us as gifts and received rave reviews from the recipients. As for the tea, it is, in my opinion the best tea around and I order regularly from them.
Architectural Details and Novelties at Every Turn
I loved searching out all the fascinating architectural details when traveling. I will share a few with you and then leave you to discover the rest when you visit! For me, these architectural details provide entertaining spots to visit in Nantes or any new place I visit.
Funny Mascaron
I spotted this mascaron above a door near the Cathédral. These human/animal grotesques carved in stone never fail to fascinate me.
2 rue de Verdun, Nantes
Fountain on Place Royale
This fountain on Place Royale has incredible imagery. Built in 1865, the white marble statue at the top is an allegorical representation of Nantes. At its feet are representations of the Loire and its tributaries, the Cher, Erdre, Loiret and Sèvre). Not only does it make the list of entertaining spots to visit in Nantes, this pedestrian only plaza was a great place to take a short break from all the walking we were doing.
Église Saint-Croix
The bell and clock tower of the Église Saint-Croix dates from the 18th century. The morning sun reflecting off the trumpeting angels was magical. Just look up as you walk and you will easily spot this tower.
Église Saint-Croix clock and bell tower
Carvings and Glass Ceilings – architectural features always make my lists of 10 Entertaining Spots to Visit in Nantes
I couldn’t resist another look at Passage Pommeraye and the magnificent detailed carvings.
Passage Pommeraye roof supports and window carving details.
Beillevaire Fromagers
Beillevaire Fromagers are one of my favorite cheese mongers. Always eager to explain about the differences between various cheeses and what goes best with your main dish, they are very proud of the cheeses they produce. They have multiple locations here in Nantes, in Paris and around France. I was delighted to see the old façade above their shop!
Fromagerie façade above Beillevere Fromagerie 8 rue Contrescarpe
Reader to the Canaries
Dating from 1919, Librairie Coiffard is an independent bookstore. According to their Twitter post, they have 65000 books! This human-scale sculpture is the creation of the artist Stéphane Phelippot.
Look closely and you will see little golden canaries about his head and shoulders, and a broken chain in his hand. Beautiful and powerful imagery: knowledge gained through the written word has the power to free men.
8 rue de la Fosse
There is such powerful imagery in this statue and thus the perfect place to end. I hope you enjoy this taste of Nantes and get to visit!
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