bridge
Saint-Nazaire Bridge
France's longest bridge sweeps 3.4 km over the Loire estuary in a graceful curve, its 61 m-high deck giving drivers brief, thrilling views of the shipyards and Atlantic coast.
47 km · about 55 min drive
Pays de la Loire, France · Europe
Nantes sits on the route: 5 minutes from Saint-Sébastien-sur-Loire, 53km from Passage du Gois.
Nantes is a city located in Pays de la Loire, France. With a population of 325,070, it is an important destination in Europe.
On a road trip, Nantes sits in France, where you drive on the right. It's in the Europe/Paris time zone. Below you'll find where to stay, things to do nearby, and everything you need to add Nantes to your route.
Nantes (, US also ; French: [nɑ̃t] ; Gallo: Naunnt or Nantt [nɑ̃(ː)t]; Breton: Naoned [ˈnãunət]) is a city in the Loire-Atlantique department of France on the Loire, 50 km (31 mi) from the Atlantic coast. The city is the sixth largest in France, with a population of 327,734 in Nantes proper (2023) and a metropolitanRead more
area of over 1 million inhabitants (2022). With Saint-Nazaire, a seaport on the Loire estuary, Nantes forms one of the main north-western French metropolitan agglomerations.
It is the administrative seat of the Loire-Atlantique department and the Pays de la Loire region, one of 18 regions of France. Nantes belongs historically and culturally to Brittany, a former duchy and province, and its omission from the modern administrative region of Brittany is controversial.
Nantes was identified during classical antiquity as a port on the Loire. It was the seat of a bishopric at the end of the Roman era before it was captured by the Bretons in 851 with the help of Lambert II of Nantes. Although Nantes was the primary residence of the 15th-century dukes of Brittany, Rennes became the provincial capital after the 1532 union of Brittany and France.
During the 17th century, after the establishment of the French colonial empire, Nantes gradually became the largest port in France and was responsible for nearly half of the 18th-century French Atlantic slave trade. The French Revolution resulted in an economic decline, but Nantes developed robust industries after 1850 (chiefly in shipbuilding and food processing). Deindustrialization in the second half of the 20th century spurred the city to adopt a service economy.
In 2024, the Globalization and World Cities Research Network ranked Nantes as a Sufficiency global city. Nantes received the European Green Capital Award in 2013. The European Commission noted the city's efforts to reduce air pollution and CO2 emissions, its high-quality and well-managed public transport system and its biodiversity, with 3,366 hectares (8,320 acres) of green space and several protected Natura 2000 areas.
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Nantes offers many attractions including tourist sites, museums, parks, and local restaurants. Explore famous landmarks, scenic roads, and natural wonders on our interactive map and plan your visit.
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Nantes is located in Pays de la Loire, France, Europe. The coordinates are 47.2172 latitude, -1.5534 longitude.
Nantes has a population of approximately 325,070 people, making it a city in France.
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Essential numbers in France
Carrying a warning triangle and hi-vis vest in your vehicle is mandatory. Motorway emergency phones connect to official breakdown services only.
Full driving guide for France3 notable places within an hour's drive.
bridge
France's longest bridge sweeps 3.4 km over the Loire estuary in a graceful curve, its 61 m-high deck giving drivers brief, thrilling views of the shipyards and Atlantic coast.
47 km · about 55 min drive
famous road
A 4 km cobbled causeway to Noirmoutier island that vanishes under the Atlantic twice a day: drivers cross between tides past rescue towers, on one of Europe's strangest public roads.
53 km · about 60 min drive
landmark
Unique French historical theme park in the Vendée region acclaimed for its spectacular live-action shows and immersive experiences.
60 km · about 70 min drive
April to October
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