How to stop in Nantes without making a detour by the island of Nantes and more particularly the machines? It's a good thing, this place opens again on February 4th!
It is the place not to be missed in Nantes these last years: between poetry and metal machines, the machines of the island propose a unique journey within a permanent exhibition where your imagination will be put to the test. Around an interactive visit, you will participate in the elaboration of machines from the plant or animal world.
Some strange machines came to populate the Île de Nantes. After the Grand éléphant, this is now the turn of a Manta Ray, a Sea Snake and of all kinds of incredible boats to take possession of the banks of the Loire River in the Carrousel des Mondes Marins. These uncommon machines were born from the hands of the constructors of the company La Machine and came to life in between those of Les Machines de l’île before the public’s eyes. Their backwards and forwards between the building workshop and the Galerie des Machines give impetus to the movement at the heart of the former Dubigeon warehouses. They convey a mysterious reality to this island just like the time when vessels were launched there for all the trips of the world.
Being on the back of the Great Elephant is like being on the 4th floor of a mobile home, with a breathtaking view of the old shipyards. The first ecological mechanical pachyderm in the world! The operation of the Grand Elephant is subject to weather conditions.
Located on the banks of the Loire, opposite the Jules Verne Museum, the Carrousel des Mondes Marins seems to have been born in the belly of the Île de Nantes, the most maritime place in the city. This giant carousel, nearly 25 m high and 22 m in diameter, is a reinvention of fairground art.
Grand Éléphant ride : 6€90 for students
Galerie des machines : 6€90 for students
Carrousel des mondes marins : 6€90 for students
Les Machines de Nantes
Parc des Chantiers
Bd Léon Bureau
44200 Nantes
Streetcar 1 stop Chantiers navals
You want to discover new films and a magical and mysterious place? Go to the Katorza! This cinema is exclusively dedicated to auteur cinema, in all its diversity, for all audiences and resolutely in the heart of Nantes.
Presenting more than 450 films per year, the Katorza is committed to the diversity of its cinema, with an emphasis on the Original Version with subtitles, on cinema from all countries and especially from Europe.
It's the perfect place to expand your cinematographic culture and to discover a different kind of cinema, in a place full of history!
The price of the sessions for students and young people under 26 is 6€50.
Katorza
3 rue Corneille
44000 Nantes
Streetcar 1 stop Commerce, Médiathèque
Bus n°11 stop Graslin
Bus n°54 stop Saint-Nicolas
Place of relaxation and leisure since its development, the island of Versailles was originally a marsh. In the 90s, architects begin to work on the development of the garden, on the Japanese theme. It was inaugurated in September 1987.
The heart of the island houses a Japanese-inspired tea garden. It reveals to the walker’s landscape paintings which are renewed step by step and with the passing of the seasons. You will discover along your walk exotic plants such as bamboos, bald cypresses, rhododendrons or Japanese cherry trees.
On the periphery of the island beats the heart of boating and water sports. These quays are very lively in the summer, when the sunny days arrive!
This magnificent place is very exotic and allows to spend a pleasant moment, in the middle of nature, in the heart of the city of Nantes. Don't hesitate and go for it!
The access to the park is free.
Island of Versailles
Quai Henri Barbusse
44000 Nantes
Streetcar n°2 stop Saint Mihiel
Bus n°C6 stop Bonde
How to pass in Nantes without making a detour by the museum of history of the city?
Located in the historical heart of Nantes, this castle is the flagship monument of the city's urban heritage! A little history lesson is necessary.
Built at the end of the 15th century and rich of six centuries of history, the castle has sheltered kings of France, before being used as barracks, military arsenal and prison. Classified as a historical monument in 1862, it was sold by the State to the city of Nantes before becoming a museum in 1924.
Now restored, you can come and discover it during a guided tour or through temporary exhibitions organized throughout the year. At the cutting edge of contemporary museography, with digital devices, the history museum is spread over more than 30 rooms and features more than 1,150 collection objects. During the visit, you will learn more about the origins of the city of Nantes, up to the metropolis of today. A place full of history!
Open every day from 8:30 am to 7 pm.
Moat garden open every day from 8am to 7pm
The interior of the castle is open between 10am and 7pm, except on Mondays.
Admission to the museum and temporary exhibitions is 5€ for students. If you want a guided tour, count 7,50€ for your entrance!
On the first Sunday of the month, access to the castle and the museum is free.
Castle of the Dukes of Brittany
Nantes History Museum
4 place Marc Elder
44 000 Nantes
Streetcar 1 stop Duchesse Anne
Busway 4 stop Duchesse Anne
Installed since 2005, this quarter bistro is located a few steps from the butte Sainte Anne, the machines of the island and the hypercentre of Nantes. In a warm atmosphere, with its large hidden terrace, sheltered from the traffic and from the eyes, the Café sur Cour proposes very affordable dishes, with a cuisine based on the simple idea of home-made, simple and local.
You can also discover this place a little later in the day, because it proposes afterworks and concerts, to rock your aperitifs!
Every month, a photographer or a painter hangs his works, the opportunity for you to discover local artists. So don't wait any longer to come and spend a good time in this café, always friendly and good atmosphere, with many events! Good evening guaranteed!
Open on monday from 12h to 23h
Tuesday and Wednesday from 12h to 00h
Thursday and Friday from 12am to 2am.
Café sur cour
9 place Louis Daubenton
44100 Nantes
Streetcar line 1 stop Gare Maritime
On the island of Nantes, this theme bar opened two years ago. It's a place that gathers a bar, a vinyl shop and a label.
This place has become emblematic because of its different facets.
You can both come to have an afternoon tea with your friends and at the same time do your shopping in terms of vinyls and listen to good music in this very nice and friendly place.
It is now an ecosystem that offers a place to share and exchange around an art that brings us all together: music. The space is also a label, where 100% Nantes electronic music is created. If you are a fan of electro music, don't wait any longer and go to this alternative place to discover the events which take place there every week!
Open from Tuesday to Saturday from 5pm.
The vinyl shop offers a large choice of vinyls, at affordable prices. The complete menu of the bar is available on the internet, but the prices are very affordable for students.
44 tours bar
4 Boulevard de la Prairie au Duc
44 200 Nantes
Metro stop Vincent Gâche
Bus n°5 and 26 stop République
Comments