Things to see and do Nantes

The tourist office faces the Château des ducs de Bretagne. A luminous space with a thousand brochures, souvenirs, and other precious advice. A city of art and history, Nantes offers some nice escapades: along the green line of the Voyage à Nantes, in a little train or on a cruise. From traditional guided tours to gourmet tours, or even the history of street art, let yourself be surprised. And above all, think about your Nantes Pass: a package that offers you transportation, free admission and discounts for 24, 48, 72 hours or 7 days, alone or with your family!

They are 18 rings lined up on the quay of the Antilles, along the Loire. Established in 2007 as part of the Biennale d'Art Contemporain Estuaire, they are now part of the cultural heritage of Nantes and are one of the stops on the green line of the Voyage à Nantes itinerary. Designed by the famous French visual artist Daniel Buren, to whom we owe "Les deux plateaux" in the courtyard of the Palais Royal in Paris, with the help of Patrick Bouchain, they offer perspectives and cut-outs on the river landscape. Call to the sea in one direction, views of Nantes, its towers and bell towers on the other. At night, these large steel rings, 4 metres in diameter, light up in red, green and blue, offering even more perceptions. The Rings were created to give way to visitor interpretation, but they also echo the city's history, evoking the rings of slaves during the triangular trade of which Nantes was the hub in the 18th century. They also evoke the union of the river, the sea and the land.

To enjoy the Planetarium, no need to wait for the night: sit comfortably in an armchair, observe the screen and discover the secrets of the universe. Depending on your age and your level of knowledge, different sessions are available. For children, " L'astronomie des petits " (Astronomy for the little ones), for 3 to 4 year olds who want to prepare themselves for the special atmosphere of the planetarium. Polaris, for 4-8 year olds invited to follow the adventures of James the penguin and Vladimir the polar bear. Junior Planet and Junior Starry Sky. Teenagers and adults are also invited to attend. Also noteworthy, during the school vacations, specific workshops for 7-12 year olds with fun experiments, amazing manipulations to understand a little bit of astronomy in one hour. Don't forget to book in advance via the online sales service. You should also plan to be there 15 minutes before the beginning of the session. Astro-themed evenings are organized every month for teenagers and adults.

Perhaps you have passed by this building many times without ever noticing it? And yet... At the initiative of the diocese of Nantes, the Passage Sainte-Croix opened its doors at the end of 2010. It is the link between the Place Sainte-Croix and the Rue de la Bâclerie, in the heart of the Bouffay district. It is now through a very nice medieval garden that one can access this cultural center open to all, which aims to be a place of dialogue, education, reflection and culture. It offers many activities for the general public: heritage and contemporary art exhibitions, live performances, meetings and debates (Midis de Sainte-Croix, Samedis du Passage, conferences, round tables, film debates). But also guided tours and workshops for adults, activities for young people and an educational offer for schools. In just a few years, the Passage Sainte-Croix has become a full-fledged player in the cultural life of Nantes, partner of the Voyage à Nantes, the Folle Journée, the Photographic Fortnight... Note that the rooms of the Passage Sainte-Croix can be privatized: the patio (116^m2), the priory (70^m2), the workshop (67^m2).

A swamp zone in the heart of Nantes! A former Loire flood meadow, the Malakoff marshes cover an area of 16 hectares classified Natura 2000, implying that the riches of its flora and fauna are protected. We cannot enter freely. In agreement with the City of Nantes, the Bird Protection League (LPO), however, allows you to visit this marsh, which was nicknamed Little Amazonia because of its luxuriance. The diversity of landscapes to see can only fascinate those who love wild nature: roseless, water bodies, alluvial forest, meadow, mares… Also presence of Highland cows (rustic Scottish race) which naturally maintain the grassland and pasture 10 months of the year. Since 2012, the Plague Sauvage, carried out as part of the centenary of the LPO and the Estuaire 2012 Contemporary Art Biennial, offers a privileged view of the site and its birds.

Located in the heart of the island of Versailles, La Maison de l'Erdre is a building that looks like a Japanese tea pavilion, a change of scenery guaranteed for this piece of Asia in the heart of the city! It houses permanent exhibitions that allow you to discover the ecosystems of the Erdre. The aquariums presenting the local fish species have disappeared. Transition obliges, there are no more animals in captivity, the place turns towards the ecology of the river via panels. The Maison de l'Erdre also hosts temporary exhibitions on the environment and numerous photo exhibitions. Panels teach visitors about the history of this island and its activities in the past, a nice introduction before a cruise on board Bateaux Nantais!

New: a large-scale game for children aged 4 to 10. Soon water games and various facilities for the comfort of all.

Tram No. 1, Bouffay stop. A beautiful garden ideal for children, with its fountain where the water springs out of figurines hanging in the air. It is a little neglected by families because a little difficult access for strollers.

In a wandering, curious, bucolic or epicurean mood? Whether you prefer vineyards, culture, the seaside, the Nantes-Brest canal, Nantes and its surroundings, alone or with your family, the Loire Atlantique Tourism website is a real playground. Depending on the weather, you can opt for walks, bike rides, seaside activities, cultural visits, or even the discovery of local know-how... The interactive tourist map is very easy to use and offers an overview of the Loire-Atlantique department, its wide choice of outings, points of interest such as discovering the natural area of the Grand-Lieu lake and other local experiences... You can get around in one click. Note also that there is also a "box" to offer, the "Loire-Atlantique Box", to offer all your desires!

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.

Built in 1902, renovated and enlarged in 2002, its greenhouses are superb, bordered by small red brick walls. These greenhouses cover an area of 500 m² and house century-old exotic plants. They are divided into two large areas: one dry and the other wet. The first one shelters species that need a rest period: jojoba, baobab, kapok... The second one allows to observe spice plants, fruit trees, precious woods, textile plants...

«Growing our curiosities» is the watchword of Regards. To this end, the Nantes cultural association has been organizing conferences in Nantes for 10 years and guided tours in Nantes and Paris. The program varies from volunteers to various profiles (architect, lawyer, art historian, public writer, graphologue…). Objective: better understanding our society. The 2016-217 season offers seven conferences in partnership with today's Knowledge and Life. Among other things, "The man who works: life experience» with journalist Bernard de la Villardière; " Let us do it! We have already started» with the writer Alexandre Jardin, founder of the citizen movement «Blue, White, Zebra». Side tours (guided by professional guides), three themes to explore: the sampled neighbourhoods; the gardens - three centuries of botanical tradition in Nantes; art professions. Each theme includes six guided tours. In addition to this, there is a trio of escapades in Paris (musée d'Orsay, Musée du quai Branly, Montmartre…).

Parc de la Chantrerie, Parc de Procé, Parc des Oblates, Parc des Chantiers, Arboretum of the Landscape Cemetery, Jardin des Fonderies, Île de Versailles... The list of the multiple parks and gardens of Nantes is long. So much so that Nantes has become the "City of a hundred and one gardens". The maintenance of these spaces is managed by the Nature and Gardens Department. It proposes a set of actions to preserve the environment and develop urban biodiversity with the objective of putting the city in a garden. It also accompanies garden projects in the neighborhoods in partnership with local associations and works with many cultural partners, through various themes and with artistic works integrated into the parks and gardens. Finally, the 5 green corridors link the urban parks to the large natural spaces of the Nantes metropolis, forming a star that is ideal for walks.

From the rue de la Marne to the rue de la Juiverie, a very small passage that this passage Bouchaud. It is between its walls that the Nantes artist Evor expresses himself. Passionate about plants, he does not draw or sculpt them: he plants them. His work was created for the Voyage à Nantes 2018, it has since become permanent and stands as a green bubble in the hyper-center. A real indoor luxuriant jungle, pampered every day, that we come to admire, breathe, contemplate by taking height on the exotic plants from the small staircase provided for this purpose.

Richou Voyages is a travel agency based in Nantes. The agency offers a wide range of organized and tailor-made trips to suit all budgets and tastes. Whether you're looking for a stay, a tour, a cruise or an exceptional trip, Richou Voyages will meet your expectations. The agency's consultants are travel experts and will be delighted to help you realize your project.