If you have a weekend in Nantes, what should you see? Well, here are seven things which you should try to visit if you get a chance:

1. Les Machines de L’ile

A huge wooden elephant marching across the island, to a giant carousel of underwater creatures. What more could you possibly need?
→ Opening times and more here

2. Museum of the History of Nantes

This museum in the Chateau tells you everything you need to know about the history of this wonderful city. Including the bit where they moved an entire river.
→ More information is available here

3. Le Lieu Unique

This quirky building used to make biscuits, now it houses a great little cultural space which hosts everything from book festivals to film clubs.
→ Check the latest events on their website to see what’s on when you’re in Nantes.

4. Jardin des Plantes

A great little ‘English-style’ park (this means is actually has grass), complete with lake, plants, aviaries, goats, sculptures and a chicken that looks like Donald Trump.
→ View more details about the garden here.

5. Place Graslin

The opera house on one side, and La Cigale brasserie on another. It’s worth visiting this pretty pedestrianised square for the lampposts alone.
→ Find your way there via the official Nantes website

6. Memorial for the Abolition of Slavery

A reflective multi-sensory look at the unfortunate role that Nantes played in the slave trade, as well as an interesting look at the history of slavery worldwide.
→ See more about the memorial here

7. Public transport

Not really a ‘place’ but the Nantes public transport network is called ‘Tan’, and is an efficient network of trams, buses, and boats. Also a great way to see the best bits of the city, and the places in between.
→ See transport times, routes and prices here.

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Further reading

• For a look at what I got up to last time I visited Nantes, click here
• For more on Nantes (in English!), visit nantes-tourisme.com