Nantes Travel Guide

Les Machines de l'île occupies the old shipyards on the banks of the Loire in Nantes and is a singular park where machinery, art and fantasy meet. Drawing on Jules Verne's imaginary worlds and Leonardo da Vinci's mechanical sketches, its makers built moving giant mechanical creatures in wood and steel, most famously a walking elephant that carries passengers and a rotating 'marine world' carousel. Visitors can also enter the Machine Gallery to see how the birds, reptiles and other mechanisms work. Set among old workshops and dry docks, where industrial relics meet fantastical machines, it is one of Nantes' most recognisable contemporary cultural landmarks.

The Château des ducs de Bretagne stands in the heart of Nantes' old town and is one of the most important castles of the lower Loire, a witness to the history of the Duchy of Brittany. Built in the Middle Ages and extensively remodelled under the dukes in the 15th and 16th centuries, it contrasts white stone walls with granite towers, and its moat survives to this day. Once the residence of the Dukes of Brittany and later a royal and military stronghold, it was gradually turned to museum use in the 20th century. Today the Nantes History Museum inside tells the story of the city's links to the Loire and Atlantic trade, while the courtyard and ramparts are free to walk — the best starting point for exploring old Nantes.

The Jardin des Plantes sits in central Nantes and is one of the oldest city botanical gardens in France, with origins in the late 18th century. The grounds are extensive, combining formal French layout with the winding paths of an English landscape garden, and the glasshouses are a highlight, holding a large collection of temperate and tropical plants. Sculptures and themed beds are scattered through the garden, which has something to offer in every season — spring bulbs and autumn foliage are particular local favourites. It lies next to Nantes station and the old town, easy to reach, good for a quiet walk while exploring the city and a regular spot for residents.

The Musée d'arts de Nantes is one of France's important regional art museums, with collections spanning several centuries, from Italian and French old masters to 19th- and 20th-century modern art. An extension created a mix of old and new spaces, keeping the exhibition atmosphere of the historic building while adding modern galleries suited to large works. French painting forms a substantial part of the collection, alongside sculpture and decorative arts, and temporary exhibitions run through the year. It sits in central Nantes, not far from the botanical garden and the old town, fitting neatly into a walking tour — art lovers can easily spend a long time here.