Nantes Local History

The Namnates settled along the north shore of the Loire river at the beginning of the first millennium, and gave their name to the city of Nantes. Nordic invaders attacked the city in 843 and killed the bishop in his cathedral. The Normands stayed for a century until Alain Barbe Torte came back from England and got rid of them. The Duke Francois II encouraged trade, and the city became the country's first port on the Atlantic coast during the Middle Ages. The Edict of Nantes signed by Henri IV, guaranteed civil rights and freedom of religion to French Protestants.

In the 18th century, Nantes' port economy reached its peak thanks to trading activity with India. Then it became the most important center for the slave trade. It is at this time that the Dubigeon naval shipyards developed and remained a major factor in the economy of the city for the next two centuries.

Greatly modified by an urban renewal plan that was adopted in 1920, Nantes was further altered and extended after having been partly destroyed in World War II. Nantes has been made a major economic development centre. In the late 20th century, road, air, and rail communications were being extended, and vast industrial zones were being built.

Nantes Attractions

Nantes Parks & Gardens

Parc De Proce - Found by Boulevard Clovis Constant and Boulevard des Anglais. This is a great place to kick back, relax and enjoy nature. There is a children's garden and paddling pool, and along the Chezine through banks of rhododendrons, there is a merry-go-round and tearoom.

Ile De Versailles - Located in the centre of the city, on the banks of the river Erdre, this is a Japanese-style garden with rockeries and waterfalls. It contains the Maison de l'Erdre which displays the fauna and flora of the river.

Parc Floral De La Beaujoire - Located near the Parc des Expositions de la Beaujoire, route de Saint-Joseph de Porterie, along the Erdre, the park has a number of different areas: the iris garden, the heather garden, the perennials rockery and a magnificent rose garden. There is also a children's playground.

Nantes Restaurants and Bars

Nantes Restaurants

La Cigale - Located at 4 place Graslin, this famous late nineteenth-century brasserie offers fine meals in quiet surroundings, with seating either at terrace tables or in a formal indoor dining room. Fish is a speciality, with seafood platters from $35 up to $97. The $18.40 and $28.90 menus are served until midnight.

Au Soleil Levant - 12 rue de la Juiverie. This is one of several Asian restaurants along a little pedestrian street, with seating indoors and outdoors. This Japanese restaurant serves good-quality sushi, sashimi, maki rolls and noodles in all sorts of combinations, with full dinners $18.25–24, and lunch menus as cheap as $10.95.

La Ciboulette - 9 rue St-Pierre. This is a simple neighbourhood restaurant, tucked away on a side street very close to the cathedral. It serves imaginative dinner menus at $18.25 and $26.75, plus bargain lunch specials, at $9.70 for a four-course meal.

Nantes Bars & Clubs

Le Graslin - If you like beer and you like Brittany, then this is the place to go. Its a small bar in the city centre, with a friendly Brittany atmosphere. They play Brittany music and serve over 200 different kinds of beer. It is a great place to chill and have a few drinks.

The Jazz Club - Located in the centre of the city, this is a great place to go for some jazz music and excellent cocktails. It is very popular with locals and tourists alike, and is the place to go if you want to dance the night away.

Le Loft - This is one of the most popular nightclubs in the city centre. They play mostly dance music, and the atmosphere is amazing. The peach beer is one of the most popular drinks at the club. Le Loft is the the place to go if you're looking to party all night long.

Nantes Weekend Breaks

Top 10 things to do in Nantes for a weekend.

• Cathedrale St-Pierre
• Musee des Beaux-Arts de Nantes
• Hotel de France
• Mercure Ile-de-Nantes
• L’Atlantide

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