Home to architectural marvels, industrial expansion, and spectacular tradition, the magnificent city of Nantes also happens to be the crib of the surrealistic movement in European art. A hub of ceaseless activity, especially along the port area, the River Loire quietly flows by in the city’s northwest region.

You can fly into Nantes from practically anywhere in the world, the Nantes Atlantique Airport being an important air hub of western France. Whether you are traveling for business or leisure Nantes has a variety of accommodation, including luxury hotels, on offer. If you want to live it up in style while savoring the glory of a bygone era at the same time, we strongly recommend the Grand Hotel Mercure Nantes Central to you.

Located in the heart of the city, it is only a couple of feet away from the Palace Royale.
With your accommodation needs taken care of you can now think of venturing out. The city has a fair sprinkling of museums and art galleries and you might want to start with the eponymous Musee Jules Verne located at Butte Sainte Anne. Lose yourself in the world of science fiction and emerge the richer for it.

Other places that should figure in your itinerary are The Castle inside the city, Passage Pommeraye with its Art Deco shops, and the Opera Graslin which is nothing short of grand.

But if you want to step away from the city with its daunting high art and architectural splendors, why not take a trip to the bustling vineyards of Clisson? Watching how Anjou red wine is prepared, for instance, can be quite a ‘heady’ experience! Or take a ferry down to the south, to an islet called L’ile de Nantes which is a picture of industrial growth in a no-man’s land. Nowhere is the physical evidence of industrial expansion so clearly visible as it is here. A must-visit, surely, for those who like to go off the beaten track.

Going around in Nantes you will discover its active links with Britain. Its denizens, for instance, enjoy a good game of rugby. If you were to check into Webb Ellis, a quintessential British pub, you will find yourself cheering with avid rugby fans watching a gusty game. You’ll also see the owners dressed in kilts sometimes.

The same could be said of Le Graslin, a pub serving beers of all kinds and very decidedly British. It even has a British library!

If you have shopping on your agenda do bear in mind that stores usually close around 11 am to open at 2 pm. Also, do be careful around the train station as you might get harassed by drunks and beggars. On the whole, though, Nantes is a safe city to visit with much to offer. You will not find violence on the streets nor sudden eruptions escalating into carnage or bloodshed. It is for these reasons that Nantes is ranked as one of the safest cities in the world to live in.

Author's Bio: 

Mike Greaves is a self-made entrepreneur, a well known travel consultant and internet marketer. Over the years he has traveled across the world and has numerous writings credited to his name in many renowned publications. His areas of writing include travel experiences including reviews of Beach Resorts , World Best Hotels and Ski Resort .