La Ligne Verte

Need a city map? You don’t thanks to ‘La Ligne Verte’. Just follow the green line painted on the ground. This line will take you along the most beautiful places and sights of the city, so you don’t miss out on anything. We have selected our three favourite must-sees:

• Château des ducs de Bretagne

You cannot go the River Loire without visiting a castle! Château des ducs de Bretagne is an authentic castle with towers, ramparts and of course a moat. In the museum, you will learn everything you want to know about Nantes throughout the centuries.

• Jardin des Plantes

Flowers, plants, birds, greenhouses… Jardin des Plantes is a green spot in the city where it is lovely to wander. Make sure you look for the green topiaries, little gems!

• Machines de l’Île

Machines de l’Île takes you to another world. The merry-go-round with three levels features marine animals which can be operated by the ‘passengers' and is truly amazing. In the gallery you can view mechanical animals, including a heron, an ant and a caterpillar, which might take you for a ride! However, the main symbol of Nantes is the mechanical elephant that walks through the city carrying 50 people on its back.

On your bike

Flights to Nantes take you to a bicycle-friendly city. First of all, Nantes is situated at the junction of two long-distance cycle routes which extend for many kilometres. However, you can also cycle along the River Loire, or follow a route through the city centre which features good cycle lanes. The orange bikes of Bicloo are very handy and cheap to rent. You pick them up and drop them off at one of the many stations throughout the city.

To the beach

Nantes is not situated by the sea, but after a flight to Nantes you are only a one-hour drive away from the coast. Thalasso therapy in Pornic, the port of Saint-Nazaire, the markets of Saint-Brevin… each coastal town has its charm. Whether you opt for a long, open beach or a small beach between rocks, in any case you will be able to enjoy the sand, sea and sun.