Pays de la Loire

The Chapelle de l'Immaculée-Conception is located in Nantes between the Cathedral and the Jardin des Plantes. The foundation stone of the Gothic chapel, built from granite and tufa, was laid in 1469 by the Breton Duke Francis II. It underwent transformations in the 17th and 19th centuries and was consecrated to the Immaculate Conception in 1849. It primarily serves as a house of worship, occasionally also for concerts and exhibitions. Our Tip: Check opening hours beforehand and combine your visit with a stroll to the Jardin des Plantes.

The Jardin des Plantes in Nantes is located opposite the main train station and covers approximately seven hectares. Its origins trace back over three centuries, to a royal garden for medicinal plants in the late 17th century. Today, it is a public park with ponds, old trees, and approximately 800 square meters of greenhouses. The garden is known for its camellia collection. Between 2013 and 2017, it also gained eight permanent, often giant installations by artist Claude Ponti, which particularly appeal to children. Admission is free. Our Tip: Visit in late winter or spring when the camellias are blooming, or with children in summer for the Ponti installations.

Dépodépo is a permanent children's playground by artist and children's book author Claude Ponti in the Jardin des Plantes in Nantes, near the entrance on Rue Gambetta. It was created in 2017 as part of the cultural festival Le Voyage à Nantes and is designed like a giant's backyard: flowerpots become huts and arbours, along with soft hills and narrow underground crawling tunnels. Access is free of charge. Our Tip: Plan Dépodépo with children as a break during your stroll through the Jardin des Plantes.

La Psallette is a 15th-century building located right next to the Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul Cathedral in Nantes. Its name refers to the choir school (psallette) that was once housed here. The house, with its stair tower, is a listed historic building; the adjoining small garden is publicly accessible and offers a quiet corner in the old town district. Our tip: Combine your stop here with a visit to the cathedral, where the tomb of Duke Francis II of Brittany is located.

The Machines de l’île in Nantes are an art project by François Delarozière and Pierre Orefice, which has existed on the Île de Nantes since 2007. According to their own description, they combine the fantasy worlds of Jules Verne with the mechanical universe of Leonardo da Vinci. The workshops are located in the halls of the former shipyards. The most famous work is the approximately twelve-meter-high Grand Éléphant, which strolls across the site with passengers. In addition, there's the Carrousel des Mondes Marins, a three-story carousel with mechanical sea creatures. In the Galerie des Machines, you can see prototypes in action and even try some yourself.Practical Tip: Book tickets for the Elephant and carousel online in advance and come first thing in the morning or late in the afternoon. You can best photograph the Elephant from the forecourt of the halls.