How to spend top weekend in Nantes - ideas on extraordinary attractions and sites

Attractions of “Machine of the Isle of Nantes” Park

You will most likely be intrigued by the opportunity to visit an unusual amusement park. It is called "Machine of the Isle of Nantes". It is located in the central part of the city on the site where the shipyard was located in the past. The park is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day except Monday. You can reach it by tram number 1. The park's attractions combine the fantastic worlds of the writer Jules Verne and the mechanical inventions of Leonardo da Vinci.

You can ride on the territory of the "island" or take a tour of the city streets on the back of a huge elephant in good weather. It is made of wood and metal. It is 12 meters high and 8 meters wide. It moves at a speed of 2 kilometers per hour thanks to a complex mechanism. Water jets periodically flow out of its trunk.

You can also ride a 3-story carousel called "Sea Worlds". Its diameter is 20 meters. You will be able to choose where you will sit: on the back of a fancy fish, a deep-sea monster, or in a boat. Its movements imitate sliding on the water surface. There is another interesting attraction in the park. This is the "Heron Tree". There are live plants and 2 herons on it. You can climb on the back of one of these birds and "fly" over the branches. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Active Leisure in Nantes

You can diversify your vacation and enjoy the beautiful scenery during your stay in Nantes. You should book a balloon ride or helicopter tour to do this. You can also go cycling or horse riding in the surrounding area. You can also take a trip by boat, kayak, barge, or small ferry on the river Erdre. It is a tributary of the Loire. You can sunbathe, fish, and sail on the sandy beach of La Baule.

View the City from Saint Anne’s Hill

If you are a fan of the work of Jules Verne you can remember his works and learn a lot about the biography of the writer. You should visit the museum for this. It was opened in 1978. The museum is located on Saint Anne’s Hill. If you get here you can look at the science fiction writer's manuscripts, personal belongings, and virtual collections. They are presented on multimedia displays. You can also stand on the hill and enjoy panoramic views of Nantes and the Loire River.

Walk along the Castle Wall

You can visit the castle of the Dukes of Brittany while visiting the sights of Nantes. Granite and white sandstone were used in its construction. It is a museum today. It is open from 10:30 to 18:00 on any day of the week except Monday. You can visit the castle grounds from 8:30 to 19:00 daily. You will pass over the drawbridge. You will have the opportunity to start exploring the architectural monument if you take a trip to the upper gallery of the fortress wall. You will enjoy a panoramic view of Nantes and explore one of the castle's towers. Then you can visit the courtyard. Its style matches the era of the Renaissance. You can see the facades decorated with stone carvings. You will be waiting for 32 halls of the castle after that. Museum exhibits are located there.

Climb the Brittany Tower

If you want to see Nantes, the Loire, and the Airfield from a height without taking a helicopter or balloon ride, you can climb the Brittany Tower. You should use the high-speed elevator to do this. You will be able to see the panorama of the city and its surroundings standing on the observation platform of the upper floor. You can see the port of Saint-Nazaire in good weather. Each wall of the platform contains an inscription about what the visitor is looking at. You can also visit the roof of the building. A cafe called "Nest" is open there. You can relax, enjoy the amazing view of the city, and take beautiful photos sitting at one of its tables.