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Offered languages
- German
- English
Explore the beautiful, contradictory heart of Nantes on a journey through a city that built its 18th-century wealth on the transatlantic slave trade and its modern identity on radical mechanical imagination. Join urban-design expert Clara and Adrian as they trace the red thread from opulent merchant plazas and a subterranean memorial to abandoned shipyards reborn as fantastical art parks. Confront the shadows of the past, marvel at the steel of the future, and discover how Nantes transforms difficult history into a canvas for renewal.
- A 4.5 km self-guided tour with 8 stops over 139 min
- Ideal for travelers interested in Art, Design and Aesthetics and History and Memory
- Immersively told in a podcast style by experts and locals
- Matching audio content, AI guide and navigation through the app
What's Included
Meeting and pickup
From the main transit hub in Nantes, take local transit toward Château des ducs de Bretagne. Walk the final stretch to Château des ducs de Bretagne, 4 Place Marc Elder, 44000 Nantes. Check the current local connection on the day of travel.
From HAB Galerie, 21 Quai des Antilles, 44200 Nantes, walk to the nearest transit stop and travel back to the main transit hub in Nantes. Check the current local connection on the day of travel.
Itinerary
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1Chateau Des Ducs De Bretagne
The historical seat of power in Nantes, now housing a groundbreaking museum that unflinchingly details the city's role as France's primary slave-trading port.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free -
2
The historical financial heart of Nantes, where the immense wealth generated from the triangular trade was managed and normalized into everyday business.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free -
3
An 18th-century mansion built by a wealthy slave trader, adorned with mascarons that subtly reflect the city's colonial ties and dark source of wealth.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free -
4Memorial to the abolition of slavery
A poignant, subterranean memorial built directly into the docks where slave ships once departed, honoring the victims of the transatlantic slave trade.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free -
5
A pedestrian bridge named after a prominent French abolitionist, serving as a physical and symbolic transition from the historical port to the island of artistic renewal.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free -
6Les Machines De L'ile
The epicenter of Nantes' imaginative present, where former shipyards have been taken over by fantastical, Jules Verne-inspired mechanical creatures.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free -
7Grue Titan
A preserved giant yellow shipyard crane that stands as a monument to the city's working-class shipbuilding history, anchoring the modern leisure space.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free -
8
A former colonial banana warehouse repurposed as a massive contemporary art gallery, encapsulating the theme of historical spaces finding creative renewal.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free
Additional info
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Tags
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Cancellation Policy
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
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