Things to Do in Nantes

With its dramatic bridged moat, looming stone-brick watchtowers and gleaming white tufa, the Chateau des Ducs de Bretagne (Castle of the Dukes of Brittany) is a glorious amalgamation of a grand ducal palace and medieval military fortress, set at the crest of Nantes’ Old Town. This is Nantes’ most impressive historic site, originally built in the 15th-century by François II, the last Duke of Brittany, and it’s an impeccably restored Gothic-Renaissance residence, surrounded by 500-meter-long curtain walls and atmospherically illuminated at night.

Today, visitors can follow the sentry walkway around the castle’s 7 towers, affording impressive views over the city and the manicured lawns and moat below, then find a picnic spot below the walls or dine at the central courtyard restaurant. The extensively restored castle interiors now also house the Nantes History Museum, where a series of exhibitions explore the castle’s former importance, Nantes’ merchant history and colonial years, and the future of the modern city. 

Known as the longest river in France, the Loire winds past epic medieval castles, breathtaking French countryside and vast vineyards famous for their sparkling whites and bold reds. Travelers who float down this scenic stretch (which was officially recognized by UNESCO in 2000) will find diverse wildlife, temperate climates and a wide variety of plant and tree species along the idyllic shores. 

The river loops through 12 departments of France and streams past quiet towns and lively cities, making it an ideal route for visitors looking to explore the Loire Valley. History lovers architectural buffs will find more than 1,000 chateaux sprinkled along the river’s edge and nature enthusiasts can comb through the Foret d’Orleans, largest forest in France, which sits at the center of the Loire region. 

Inaugurated in 1900 and currently undergoing a thorough renovation and extension by the Stanton Williams architect group, the Musee des Beaux-Arts de Nantes (Nantes Museum of Fine Arts) is Nantes’ flagship art museum, celebrated for its large and varied collection of works, dating from the 12th to the 20th centuries.

Highlights of the vast permanent collection include works by Delacroix, Rousseau, Tintoretto, Perugino, Renoir, and Gauguin, among many others, with key pieces including Rubens’ The Triumph of Judas Maccabaeus, Delaunay’s David Triumphant and Chagall’s Le Cheval Rouge. A well-established series of temporary exhibits complement the main displays, with a greater focus on contemporary art, while late openings on Thursday evenings include music, dance and literature inspired events. 

It may not be as famed a wine region as the rest of the Loire Valley, but the vineyards around Nantes still produce some of France’s finest Muscadet wines, and the unique Musee du Vignoble Nantais (Vineyard Museum) is the perfect introduction to the little-known wine region. 

Tucked away in Le Pallet at the heart of the Nantes vineyard region, the museum’s varied collection of artifacts include grape-picking baskets, corking machines, a Dujardin-Salleron ebulliometer, antique barrels and wine presses, and exhibits cover the history of the region’s wine production, the Muscadet grape and French wine culture. As well as learning all about the local terroir, visitors can climb onboard an original straddle tractor, stroll the surrounding vineyards or enjoy wine tasting.

Devoted to the life and works of surrealist writer Jules Verne, who was born in Nantes in 1828, the Musée Jules Verne opened its doors on the 150th anniversary of his birth, and offers a fascinating insight into one of France’s most unique and imaginative literary figures. Housed in a 19th-century waterfront residence frequented by the author, the museum’s striking white façade today stands opposite the spectacular Marine Worlds Carousel, part of Nantes’ ambitious Verne-inspired Îles des Machines.

Inside the museum, an eclectic collection of Verne’s personal effects, hand-edited manuscripts and a recreation of the writer's drawing room offer a glimpse into the mind of the literary innovator, while interactive and multimedia displays, and replicas of his inventions serve to bring masterpieces like Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea and Around the World in Eighty Days to life.