NANTES CRANES
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The Titan cranes are a must-see when visiting the Ile de Nantes
In Nantes, of course, there's a roaring elephant, the Loire River, a splendid cathedral and many other remarkable sites. Perhaps less well known but nonetheless a must-see, there are two of them and, like lookouts, they've been scanning the Loire for a few years now: they're the Titan cranes: one is grey and the other yellow, a must-see! Remnants of the industrial era, you'll find them both on the Ile de Nantes. The yellow crane has been in the city of the Dukes since 1954, and was used to lift ship blocks onto the slipway for the Dubigeon shipyards. It weighs 400 tonnes, measures 43 metres and has a lifting capacity of around 80 tonnes. As for the grey crane, it was used to unload ships and was saved from the scrap heap in extremis. Smaller than its predecessor, it still measures 42 metres, and has a lifting capacity of 60 tonnes... Like "urban totems", they are visible from afar and blend perfectly with their urban environment. The Titan cranes are not open to the public, but are nevertheless a must-see on any visit to the Ile de Nantes. On the horizon, in Chantenay, you'll see a3rd crane: the black one. It's not a Titan crane, but like them, it's a reminder of Nantes' former port and naval activities. Nicknamed the hammerhead crane because of its asymmetrical gantry, it dates from 1943 and has a lifting capacity of 13 tons. The city acquired it in 2013 with a view to its restoration and preservation. The restoration of the black crane is finally complete, and it will be inaugurated in September 2023!
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Prendre le Navi bus (1 Euros) pour découvrir, pendant une dizaine de minutes
la Loire et le l’ancien port de Nantes.
Belle vision sur le village typique de Trentmoult.
On peut apercevoir deux énormes grues jaune et grise servant, à l’époque des chantiers navales (acb) , à manutentionner les pièces mécaniques des bateaux.
Cet ancien lieu portuaire est aujourd’hui en plein renouveau avec des projets futuristes.