Streets squares and districts to visit Loire-Atlantique

After more than three years of work, the new Nantes train station is out of the ground and up in the air! And what a look! Since the end of November 2020, travelers have been able to use the majestic white lace-clad footbridge, which is reminiscent of the Mucem in Marseille... and for good reason. The architect Rudy Ricciotti was responsible for this modern concrete and glass building, 160 meters long and 25 meters wide, covering 4,000 m². And just as at the airport we like to see the planes take off or land, here we take pleasure in admiring the 360° panorama as if in cinemascope revealed by these immense bay windows which, on one side, offer us the beautiful city of Nantes, from the Lu Tower to the cathedral, passing by its castle, and on the other, the rails which are spinning towards the horizon... We are already on our way to an elsewhere which begins with our imagination. This mezzanine, which flies over the tracks, allows you to reach, to the north, the esplanade leading to the haven of peace that is the Jardin des plantes, and to access, to the south, the new European business center, Euronantes Gare. Before or after your train journey, you can now do your shopping in the 1,500 square meters dedicated to shops or relax on one of the 220 seats offered by the connected spaces among the forest of white trees. This luminous work of art represents a real springboard to other means of transportation: tramway, busway, cabs, car and bicycle parking. A beautiful invitation to travel!

Pleasant with its shopping streets and shops. The Pouliguen preserves on the quay and on the adjacent streets some examples of ancient mansions of the th and th centuries. Beautiful shipowners'houses, traders or captains, they remember a time when the salt trade was flourishing. The majority of these beautiful villas are now protected. In the centre, there are still more modest homes of fishermen or artisans. The Promenade on the harbor makes it possible to evoke several centuries of history. Guided tours of the city in season. Information from the Tourist Office (tel.) 02 40 42 31 05.

Take for half an hour walking in the streets of the old Croisic on a 1,5 km journey through the streets of the city. The th and th centuries are periods of full prosperity for the port of Croisic. Taking advantage of the trade in salt, cod fishing and shipbuilding, shipowners and traders are getting richer. You must stroll through the narrow streets of this shipowners'town to discover the traces. The streets of the Church, Saint-Christophe and Saint-Yves houses wooden houses of the th and th centuries. The house Guillaume André is one of the finest specimens of this architecture of the th century. The beautiful waterfront residences, the former city hotel occupied by the Duke of Brittany, the th century governor of Brittany, make Croisic a very attractive destination. The sites remind us that she was loved by the poets: Musset, José Maria de Hérédia (Corner rue Haute-des-Bains and Rue Porte and 15, Port-Ciguet quay). At the foot of the Boom, the superb bronze statue of Hervé Ministerial, works by sculptor René Paris. You can also remove a «circuits» guide from the Tourist Office free of charge on four proposed thematic circuits at Croisic.

Some th century buildings have recently been restored and some of the facades pushed back in accordance with an alignment plan dating back to the th century. Rue du Tricot. Very beautiful mansion (late th, early xviii) with its classic façade with perfect symmetry. Place du Pilloried and Carrefour de la. Corbel, the surface surface was less important and less taxes were paid! We arrive at Saint-Aubin College.

There was the former Saint John hospital, originally built by the Hospitals. (La Madeleine, where the lepers were welcomed, corresponds to the present village of La Madeleine north of Guérande). The chapel Saint-Jean (th-century) houses the museum of the Doll. With more than 300 dolls, staged in amazing fashion, which make the big ones like the little ones. A unique place for its beauty, presentation and the richness of its collections.

Former village of nantais shipowners with beautiful residences. The th century hold is to be seen. If you are on foot or by bike, you can borrow the Loire ferry free of charge.

At night, the port of Saint-Nazaire lights up to offer a shadow, light and colour choreography, imagined by Yann Kersalé. After sunset, the port, marked with red and green, shines out of all its lights: bridges, submarine base, silos, cranes… Movement of locks, ships and bridges, ballet of cranes and trucks around boats, went and came from men on the port… The Docks Night is orchestrated by the life of the wharves and the basins. A whole range of activities recorded and analyzed by the day allows to compose different light paintings returned during the night, over the seasons. A very beautiful show.

Park the streets of Nantes at your pace, with the only directive to follow the Green Line that connects many works of art. From the Unique Place to the tip of the island of Nantes, go to the meeting of a rich cultural and architectural heritage, which combines contemporary art. The castle of the Duke of Brittany, the Cathedral Saint Peter, the Bouffay district, the Nid, the Pomeraye Pass, the Machines of the island, the Carrousel des Mondes Marins, a stopover at La Cantine or the Rings of Buren: The works will surprise you. The city becomes an open-air museum and your ride takes a completely different direction. This Green Line is 12 kilometers long and has no departure or arrival. We'll follow her as he sees fit. At some sites, mediators are present to accompany you in the discovery of works. A paper guide is also available in Nantes Tourism (the Tourist Office). Most sites are free access.

Tariff: free.

Distance: about thirty steps (choice).

Difficulty: easy.