Nantes

Nantes, the administrative centre of Loire-Atlantique in the Pays de la Loire region, sits along the river of the same name, roughly an hour from the Atlantic coast. The city is shaped by its historical heritage, notably the Château des Ducs de Bretagne and the Gothic Cathedral of Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul. Île de Nantes, a former industrial district now redeveloped, houses Les Machines de l'île, home to the Grand Éléphant, an emblematic attraction inspired by the world of Jules Verne, the writer born in the city. The historic centre, around the Bouffay quarter and the Passage Pommeraye, offers shops, bars and restaurants set within nineteenth-century architecture. Nantes benefits from an extensive tram network that makes getting around straightforward, along with a nearby international airport. The Muscadet vineyards stretch just outside the city, while the village of Trentemoult, across the Loire, is known for its colourful fishing-village atmosphere. Its proximity to the Atlantic coast, including resorts such as Pornic and La Baule, makes Nantes a convenient base for combining city exploration with a seaside stay.