Nantes Travel Guide — Things to Do, Food & Hotels
city in Loire-Atlantique, Pays de la Loire, France
About Nantes
The River Loire is navigable by shallow-draught boats for 140 km upstream. Nantes 50 km upstream is at the confluence with the small River Erdre, which has dumped its silt to form river islands and break the Loire into a leash of channels. TheNamneteswere a Gaulish tribe; their name likely meant "river" or "stream". The Romans took control in the 1st century BC and stayed until the 5th century AD. In medieval times the town belonged to Brittany, whose dukes built up the castle and resisted the growing power of France, until a dynastic marriage of 1491 united the realms. In 1598 the town gave its name to the Edict of Nantes, which granted tolerance of Protestants or Huguenots; this ended religious wars in France but displeased many and horrified the pope. It was revoked in 1685, leading to
Top Attractions in Nantes
Explore the best things to see and do in Nantes:
- ★Cathédrale Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul
- ★Château des ducs de Bretagne
- ★Le Maillé-Brézé D627
- ★Les Machines de l'Île
- ★Musée des Beaux-Arts
- ★Musée Jules Verne
- ★Muséum d'Histoire Naturelle
Where to Eat in Nantes
Must-try local food and restaurants:
- 🍴Au Bureau Nantes
- 🍴Au Petit Raphaël
- 🍴Café du Passage
- 🍴Fresh Burritos
- 🍴La Cigale
- 🍴La Ripaille Burger
Where to Stay in Nantes
- 🏨Ibis Centre Gare Sud
- 🏨Ibis Centre Tour de Bretagne
- 🏨ibis Styles Nantes Centre Gare
- 🏨Mercure Nantes Centre Gare
- 🏨Mercure Nantes Centre Passage Pommeraye
- 🏨Nantes Camping
Nantes Travel Guide Sections
Our comprehensive guide covers 15 sections including: