Flights to Nantes France from Ireland – Destination Guide!
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With its well-kept cobbled streets, efficient tram system and a history of manufacturing such genteel staples as biscuits and berlingot (boiled) sweets, France’s sixth-largest city exudes a certain kind of bourgeois charm. Yet Nantes, which regularly tops 'quality of life’ surveys in the French press, is anything but staid. Spirited bars and arty events, keep the atmosphere lively.
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The Nantes vineyard trail will take you through captivating countryside with gentle slopes striped with vines, its great church bells and its waterways |
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Highlights
The choice of thing to do in Nantes is overwhelming. You may consider starting with one of the three main buildings: The Castle of the Dukes of Brittany which dates from the 15th century, The Fortress which houses the Governors Palace or the magnificent Cathedral of St Peter and St Paul. There are also museums covering a wide range of subjects including the Jules Verne Museum and an electric tramway that runs throughout the town and surrounding suburbs. The local tourist office proposes a range of themed tours throughout the year.
The seven waterways which flow through Nantes will surely tempt you and there are several choices: - hire an electric boat - no licence needed - for a picnic on the Sèvre; hire a canoe-kayak; go for a dip; sail along the Nantes-Brest canal; go rowing and cruise along the Loire estuary
Fish and seafood feature strongly in Nantes’ cuisine. Nantes is also known for its crêpes, and one of the best crêperies in town is La Gavrotte. For a change of scene, try the pretty quayside restaurants in Trentemoult, a former fishing village where colourfully painted houses have been colonised by artists.
Getting Around
The best way to get around this area, and also the 18th-century district Ile Feydeau, is on foot, although it's tempting to hop on board Nantes' 40km-long tram network - the longest in France. There's also a bus service. The main public transport hub is Commerce on Nantes' main square
Nantes is on the high-speed TGV rail network which links to Paris (more than 20 trains daily). There are also direct links to Lyon, Lille, Marseille, Grenoble and Brussels. For those who want to hire a car, the motorway A11 links to Paris and the A83 to Bordeaux.
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