Nantes 2019

Meandering around Nantes, you will notice a painted pea-green line snaking along the pavement, zipping up unexpected staircases, sneaking along backstreet alleys and prancing with purpose across cafe pavement terraces. This, ingeniously, is Le Voyage à Nantes(www.levoyageanantes.fr), an urban art trail that leads curious visitors to dozens of works of art – sculptures, contemporary art installations, stunning viewpoints, architectural works – all over the city. Many – such as sky-rise bar Le Nid or the slide built into the 15th-century ramparts of Château des Ducs de Bretagne – are amusingly playful and interactive. The trail is 12km long, but can be traced in sections too. Pick up a city map, marked with the trail, at the tourist office or simply follow the green line and see where it takes you.

The city of Nantes is only 50km from the Atlantic Ocean, making a coastal day trip a must.

1. Pack your bucket and spade for the classic seaside town of Le Croisic (population 4036), a pretty, half-timbered fishing harbour where shrimps, lobsters, crabs, scallops and sea bass are sailed into shore and unloaded. Talking of fish, the town’s aquarium is well worth visiting. Trains head to Le Croisic (€16.80, 1½ hours) from Nantes.
2. Along the way, it’s worth stopping at St-Nazaire (population 68,513; €12.30, 45 minutes), where cruise ships – including the Queen Mary II – are built.
3. Also along this stretch of coast is the glamorous belle époque resort of La Baule (population 15,456; €15, one hour), boasting an enormous beach. Gare de Nantes TGV8917 “Le Croisic” 47 Min. to Gare de Pornichet.

---

Les 23 petits voyages

Online booklet in French https://fr.calameo.com/read/0001068665425523fa703

e.g. Lac de Grand-Lieu is a lake located 15 km to the south-west of Nantes

http://www.grandlieu-tourisme.fr/en

---

CHÂTEAUX

Cycle along the Loire? to CHÂTEAU MÉDIÉVAL D’OUDON

https://www.pays-ancenis-tourisme.com/accueil/

http://www.chateau-serrant.net

http://www.chateau-angers.fr/en/

Saumur by train, change in Anger

---

Clisson

Clisson is really easy to get to (30 minutes by train) and is a lovely little town. https://www.tripadvisor.de/Attractions-g1842343-Activities-Clisson_Loire_Atlantique_Pays_de_la_Loire.html

---

Directly from Nantes, you also have diferent cruises on the Loire or the Erdre River : en.nantes-tourisme.com/cruises-3813.html

Nantes is a very good railway hub and there are trains going to interesting and attractive towns in almost every point of the compass. Eastwards up the Loire alley you could visit either Angers or Saumur. That chateau at Saumur is one of the most picturesque and was, indirectly the model for Sleeping Beauty’s castle. Southeast of Nantes you could visit Clisson or continue southwards to La Rochelle. There is a regular service southwestwards to the pretty little port of Pornic. Another line heads westwards along the northern side of the Loire estuary goes to Le Croissic, another picturesque fishing port, and passes through the traditional seaside resort of La Baule. Going northwest you can get to Vannes, an attractie town from where you an take a boat trip on the Gulf of Morbihan. To get there you may hae to change at Redon which is worth spending an hour or two, particularly if you have any interest in canals. To the north there is Rennes, a city often seen as no more than a stage on the way to Mont St Michel but it is a city with a rich history. Finally, to complete the circle, you can get to Chateaybriand on the new tram train service. You may find you need a couple more weeks!