Nantes
We left the Atlantic coast early on a Sunday morning to start our journey home. As we would be passing Nantes it seemed silly not stop for a quick city visit. Camping de Nantes has good reviews on Google and elsewhere so we phoned up on Saturday to make a reservation: it's a popular site and reception told us that they had been fully booked for that night by 11 am.
We arrived by 12, before reception closed for lunch (12.30 to 3pm in low season) and booked in. (Not a problem on many French sites). Very helpful reception gave us 'what to see' info, a map, and sold us a 2 person/24 hour tram/bus ticket for 10€. You can buy the tickets at each stop from a vending machine, but buying at campsite is less of a faff!
We pitched, had lunch and validated our ticket on our first tram from the campsite gates by 14.50.
We rode the tram down into the centre and across the Loire to the Isle de Nantes where we walked along the embankment to see the big crane at the old ship yard
and the elephant at the Machines de l'Île.
Monday we were out early as our tram ticket would be turning into a pumpkin at 14.50. This time we got of tram in the centre and walked to the Château de Ducs de Bretagne passing by a statue jokingly referred as a side-stepping politician.
Entry to the Château courtyard and ramparts is free. There is a lift for those of us who can't do long flights of steps.
We thought we were stuck at the top of the tower when the lift refused to descend! A quick flip of our rolled-up map removed the leaves that were causing the problem.
A look around the court yard
and outside the ramparts
then off to the Cathédrale Saint-Pierre and Saint-Paul.
We then retraced our steps to see le Lieu Unique ( formerly the LU biscuit factory).
At this point we had planned to have a bite to eat at MacD's; however, the Gilets Jaune had wrecked the place in a riot a few weeks earlier!! Instead we happened on a small creperie as we threaded through the back streets. 7€ for two galettes ( one jambon: one emmental), a glass of water, and pleasant table service – hard to beat?
The tower, with its revolving viewing platform, was closed on Mondays
So we continued a slow stroll along the river Erdre before catching our tram back to site
All done within 24 hours.
The tram and bus services are excellent: they are frequent although crowded at times with students.
The campsite is well-situated for a city visit, the staff are very helpful, and all this for 20€ per night with your ACSI card. Nantes is an interesting, vibrant city which deserves more than a 24 hour visit. For those with reduced mobility the walking is mainly level, with ramps and lifts where needed. The trams have automatic wheelchair access ramps. If the tram is too busy, wait a few minutes for the next one
Comments
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I like sites near to City centres, this one seems ideal. Thanks for sharing. Nice to see the photographs.
David
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Interesting as always with great photos - Have a safe journey home.
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I've always wanted to visit Nantes and the north West/Atlantic Coast region of France. Wonderful pictures, it looks beautiful.
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Unfortunately the elephant is a bit of a cheat - it does not "walk" on its feet (as I expected) but moves along on wheels. Although we rode on the elephant you get a much better view (and free) just by walking alongside.
The site is very handy and you can also easily and pleasantly cycle from the site (off road) alongside the river to the city centre.
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Thank you for sharing. We too are looking to possibly stop off at Nantes and looked at that campsite. We are a 7 metre caravan though. What was the site like for caravans and was it easy to find? Would be grateful for advice. It will be a first expedition for us in a new and larger van so just a bit cautious!
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