How to Spend a Perfect Day in Nantes with Itinerary Map

Landscape in Nantes

Nantes

Check Point
・The luxurious castle where the “Edict of Nantes” was issued

・Passage designated as an important cultural property

・Theme park where mechanical animals move around

【City description】

It’s a city on the banks of the Loire river and it was the biggest port city in France before. We can find elegant buildings because it was the principal city of the Duchy of Bretagne. We can find animal machines like elephants at an attraction park named Les Machines de l’île.

【Overall rating】

 ★★★★★

【Time required】

 8 h 30

【Budget】

 29.30 euros

【Fatigue】

 ★★★★★



Itinerary Map

Navigation

【Start】
①Nantes Station

★Exit the station and enter the park in front of it.

②Plants Garden

★Leave the garden and go to Georges Clemenceau St.

③Art Museum

★Continue to walk on the street.

④Saint-Pierre and Saint-Paul Cathedral

★Go to Mathelin Rodier St in front of the cathedral for 5 minutes.

⑤Castle of Duc of Bretagne

★When you exit the castle and turn left, you will see the tourist information center on your right.

⑥Tourist Information Center

★Go to Château St to enter the center street for 15 minutes. When you arrive at an avenue of the tramway rail, turn right and go up a slope. You’ll find a high building on the right hand.

⑦Saint-Nicolas Basilic

★Go to Royale Square. Then, go to Fosse St. It takes 15 minutes.

⑧Pommeraye Passage

★Continue to walk on the street as far as the river and turn right. When you arrive at a bridge, passe it. It takes 20 minutes.

⑨Machines Island

★Pass the bridge again and turn left. Take a tramway at a stop Chantier Navals to return to the station. It takes 15 minutes and the ticket is 1.80 euros.

【Goal】
Nantes Station


【If you have more time…】
⑩The LU Tower


Click the square mark on the top left of the map to see a list of tourist spots. If you open the enlarge button on the top right corner on your smartphone, this model course will be displayed on Google Maps along with its location information. You can also quickly return to this map from the table of contents in the sidebar (if using a smartphone, select “Go to table of contents” from the menu at the bottom of the screen).



【Start】

①Nantes Station

Gare de Nantes

★Exit the station and enter the park in front of it.


②Plants Garden

Jardin des Plantes

Time required: 20 min

Admission fee: 0 euro

A large park in front of the station has large monuments on display depending on the season. You will pass through here on your way to your next destination.


★Leave the garden and go to Georges Clemenceau St.


③Art Museum

Musée d’arts de Nantes

Time required: 90 min

Admission fee: 9 euros

Opening hour: 11 am – 7 pm
(until 9 pm on Thursday)

Close: Tuesday, 1/1, 5/1, 11/1, 12/25

This museum completed renovation work in 2017. It has a long history, dating back to the 19th century, during the era of Napoleon. You can see a sculpture of Napoleon on a horse. A wide range of works are on display, with a focus on paintings from the 13th century onwards, as well as sculptures with unique poses and huge models of cities.


★Continue to walk on the street.


④Saint-Pierre and Saint-Paul Cathedral

Saint-Pierre and Saint-Paul Cathedral

Cathédrale Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul

Time required: 20 min

Admission fee: 0 euro

Opening hour: 9 am – 7 pm
(until 6 pm in winter)

Close: No

It is a Gothic style church with a finely decorated main gate that took nearly 450 years to complete. The Renaissance-style tomb is also a highlight, with its characteristic stained glass that looks like it interweaves a variety of colors. Due to a fire in 2020, it is currently not open for tours due to renovation work.


★Go to Mathelin Rodier St in front of the cathedral for 5 minutes.


⑤Castle of Duc of Bretagne

Castle of Duc of Bretagne

Château des Ducs de Bretagne

Time required: 90 min

Admission fee: 9 euros

Opening hour: 10 am – 6 pm

Close: Monday except July and August

This castle was built during the heyday of the Duchy of Brittany. It was here that Henry IV issued the Edict of Nantes, which granted freedom of religious belief. Like other castles in the Loire region, it has a blue roof and white walls. Currently, it is used as a museum that introduces various aspects of Nantes’ history and culture.


★When you exit the castle and turn left, you will see the tourist information center on your right.


⑥Tourist Information Center

Time required: 5 min

Admission fee: 0 euro

Get maps and other information here.


★Go to Château St to enter the center street for 15 minutes. When you arrive at an avenue of the tramway rail, turn right and go up a slope. You’ll find a high building on the right hand.


⑦Saint-Nicolas Basilic

Basilique Saint-Nicolas

Time required: 15 min

Admission fee: 0 euro

Opening hour: 9 am – 7 pm

Close: No

A church in the old town. The interior is simple with no stained glass or decorations, but the pattern on the floor is distinctive.


★Go to Royale Square. Then, go to Fosse St. It takes 15 minutes.


⑧Pommeraye Passage

Pommeraye Passage

Passage Pommeraye

Time required: 20 min

Admission fee: 0 euro

The three-story arcade structure located in the downtown area is unique and cannot be seen in other cities. Because of its rarity, it has been registered as a national important cultural property.


★Continue to walk on the street as far as the river and turn right. When you arrive at a bridge, passe it. It takes 20 minutes.


⑨Machines Island

Machines Island

Les Machines de l’île

Time required: 2 h

Admission fee: 9.50 euros par average for each attraction

Opening hour: Please check the website below as it varies every month
https://www.lesmachines-nantes.fr/pratique/horaires/

Close: Monday except the summer vacation

You can see giant mechanical animals and insects at the mechanical theme park housed in the garage. The entire island is a park, so if you have time, you can take a walk and see various huge pieces of art.


★Pass the bridge again and turn left. Take a tramway at a stop Chantier Navals to return to the station. It takes 15 minutes and the ticket is 1.80 euros.



【Goal】

Nantes Station



【If you have more time…】

⑩The LU Tower

La Tour Lu

Time required: 5 min

Admission fee: 0 euro

This is the former factory of Lu, a famous biscuit manufacturer in France. Currently, it is used as a cultural facility, so there is nothing related to Lu. If you have time, you can take the tram back to the station and get off at Duchesse Anne – Château des Ducs de Bretagne (it’s a 10-minute walk from here to the station).



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