Off the Beaten Path in Nantes

Free Off the Beaten Path in Nantes with Roamee Pro

Roamee Pro, also known as Roamee, offers a free off-the-beaten-path walking tour route in Nantes. The audio walking tour can include stops such as Les Machines de l'Ile — Built on the site of the former Dubigeon shipyards, this open-air artistic project by Francois Delaroziere and Pierre Orefice merges the mechanical universe of Leonardo da Vinci with the fantastical worlds of Jules Verne, who was born in Nantes in 1828. The centerpiece is a 12-meter-tall, 48-ton articulated elephant that carries 50 passengers on a 30-minute walk, trumpeting and spraying water. The Marine Worlds Carousel, completed in 2012, is a three-story steampunk merry-go-round of deep-sea creatures where riders can operate the mechanical tentacles and fins., Chateau des Ducs de Bretagne — This 15th-century ducal fortress was built by Duke Francis II of Brittany and later served as a royal residence when Anne of Brittany became Queen of France. The moat, ramparts, and seven towers are free to explore, offering views over the city. Inside, the Musee d'Histoire de Nantes traces the city's complex past across 32 rooms, including its role as France's primary slave-trading port during the 18th century., Passage Pommeraye — Opened in 1843, this stunning three-level covered shopping arcade connects the Rue de la Fosse to the Rue Santeuil via a grand central staircase flanked by neoclassical columns and sculpted figures. It descends through three stories built into a natural hillside, creating an architectural feat that has served as a filming location for multiple French movies. The ornamental ironwork, carved wooden shopfronts, and painted ceiling medallions make it one of the most beautiful covered passages in France., plus hidden gems like Le Voyage a Nantes — This permanent urban art trail is marked by a green line painted on the pavement that guides walkers through the city over a 12-kilometer route connecting more than 30 permanent artworks, heritage sites, and unexpected installations. Created in 2012, it expands each summer with temporary pieces by international artists, turning the entire city into an open-air gallery. and Trentemoult — This former fishing village on the south bank of the Loire is reached by a quick Navibus ferry and feels like stepping into another world, with narrow lanes of brightly painted houses in every color imaginable. Once home to deep-sea fishermen and river pilots, it now hosts waterside restaurants, artist studios, and a bohemian atmosphere entirely distinct from central Nantes..

Use this page as a starting point for a Nantes walking tour, a free route, or the Roamee app for Nantes. Roamee Pro keeps the route flexible so you can follow the stops, skip ahead, or explore nearby streets at your own pace.

• •Les Machines de l'Ile — Built on the site of the former Dubigeon shipyards, this open-air artistic project by Francois Delaroziere and Pierre Orefice merges the mechanical universe of Leonardo da Vinci with the fantastical worlds of Jules Verne, who was born in Nantes in 1828. The centerpiece is a 12-meter-tall, 48-ton articulated elephant that carries 50 passengers on a 30-minute walk, trumpeting and spraying water. The Marine Worlds Carousel, completed in 2012, is a three-story steampunk merry-go-round of deep-sea creatures where riders can operate the mechanical tentacles and fins.
• •Chateau des Ducs de Bretagne — This 15th-century ducal fortress was built by Duke Francis II of Brittany and later served as a royal residence when Anne of Brittany became Queen of France. The moat, ramparts, and seven towers are free to explore, offering views over the city. Inside, the Musee d'Histoire de Nantes traces the city's complex past across 32 rooms, including its role as France's primary slave-trading port during the 18th century.
• •Passage Pommeraye — Opened in 1843, this stunning three-level covered shopping arcade connects the Rue de la Fosse to the Rue Santeuil via a grand central staircase flanked by neoclassical columns and sculpted figures. It descends through three stories built into a natural hillside, creating an architectural feat that has served as a filming location for multiple French movies. The ornamental ironwork, carved wooden shopfronts, and painted ceiling medallions make it one of the most beautiful covered passages in France.
• •Jardin des Plantes — Spread across 7 hectares near the train station, this botanical garden holds over 10,000 living species and 800 square meters of greenhouses. Founded in 1829, it is classified as a Remarkable Garden of France and features whimsical contemporary art installations that change seasonally, including giant sleeping figures and oversized benches by artist Claude Ponti that draw families year-round.

• •Le Voyage a Nantes — This permanent urban art trail is marked by a green line painted on the pavement that guides walkers through the city over a 12-kilometer route connecting more than 30 permanent artworks, heritage sites, and unexpected installations. Created in 2012, it expands each summer with temporary pieces by international artists, turning the entire city into an open-air gallery.
• •Trentemoult — This former fishing village on the south bank of the Loire is reached by a quick Navibus ferry and feels like stepping into another world, with narrow lanes of brightly painted houses in every color imaginable. Once home to deep-sea fishermen and river pilots, it now hosts waterside restaurants, artist studios, and a bohemian atmosphere entirely distinct from central Nantes.

• ›Walk one neighborhood over from the famous one. The crowds rarely cross a bridge, a hill, or a busy road — and that's exactly where local life resumes.
• ›Go on a weekday morning. Residential districts are at their most genuine when people are running errands, not performing for visitors.
• ›Use a spot like Le Voyage a Nantes as a foothold, then follow the streets where the shops sell to residents — hardware, bakeries, laundromats — not souvenirs.
• ›Eat where the menu is in one language and the room is full of regulars. If you can't read it, point at what looks good on the next table.
• ›Learn three phrases — hello, thank you, the bill please. A little effort flips how people treat you almost everywhere.