The home of author Jules Verne was the city of Nantes on the famous Loire river. This once important port is today a diverting and innovative place with cultural events all year round such as theatre and jazz festivals. It also serves as an excellent portal to northwest France.
The central Place du Commerce is home to the historic square of La Place Royale, the wild nightlife of le Quai de la Fosse, and the designer boutiques of La Rue Crébillon, each with their own appeal for travellers getting cheap flights to Nantes. Down the road you’ll find the Passage Pommeraye, a small beautiful 19th-century shopping mall filled with statues and covered in a skylight that will delight shoppers and photographers alike.
The old dockyards that were based on the Isle of Nantes in the middle of the Loire river have been modernised to become a leisure destination containing the unmissable Machines of the Isle of Nantes. This artistic and fantastical workshop inspired by Jules Verne features a monumental mechanical elephant which roams around carrying up to 49 passengers.
Visitors taking flights to Nantes should also ensure they see the Castle of the Dukes of Brittany. This splendid restored 13th-century fortress is surrounded by a moat and impressive ramparts. Inside its walls you’ll find numerous attractions including the Nantes History Museum, La Harnachement, Le Palais Ducal and Le Petit Government. At night, the castle becomes an even more enchanting sight as it is lit up for all to see.