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A little over two hours from Paris, I discovered Nantes, a city where history and whimsy coexist. I started at the Château des ducs de Bretagne, a 15th-century castle built by François II and Anne of Brittany, now housing a museum on Nantes’ past.
I wandered the medieval streets of La Bouffay, relaxed at Place Graslin and admired public art like Philippe Ramette’s “Éloge du pas de côté.” I couldn’t miss Le Passage Pommeraye, the steampunk creations at Les Machines de l’Île, the restored Gothic Cathédrale de Nantes and the lush Jardin des Plantes. Nantes is truly France’s underrated gem.
See the giant elephant and read the rest of the story.
– Jan Schroder, Editor-in-chief, The Travel 100