Fly from Nice to Nantes

Nantes is home to some of France’s most popular biscuits, and makes a great family getaway for a delicious and exciting long weekend. It’s full of impressive architecture with its oldest walls - those of the ramparts of the castle of the Dukes of Brittany - dating back over 800 years. Since Anne, the last Duchess of Brittany, Nantes hasn’t stopped evolving, growing, prospering and improving. A walk along the banks of the Loire, the Royal Palace, or Feydeau Island provide a lovely stroll through time. You’ll see history both dark, with the slave trade, and bright, at Lieu Unique for example, a castle of culture installed in the old LU biscuit factory (a great example of early 20th century architecture!).
But a getaway to Nantes isn’t just old stones. It’s also the cold steel of the extravagant machines of Isle of Nantes. And the warmth of the land and its lush vegetation: the city has several large public parks that bring out its natural side. And finally, it’s the salt of the sea, a river boat that takes you all the way to the Atlantic, an easy hour's drive to the beaches and the delightful streets of Pornic or La Baule.

• Cross the drawbridge of the Castle of the Dukes of Brittany to discover the former home of Anne, wife of King François the First. Between Gothic and Renaissance, fortress and palace, and perfectly restored, it’s well worth a visit. Royal!
• Head for the Parc des Chantiers on the Isle of Nantes to see a world Jules Verne himself would have loved: the Machines of the Isle. The colossal, moving contraptions you’ll find here are inspired by nature and totally bewitching. Brilliant!
• Wander the Bouffay Quarter, the historical centre of the city, with its timeless timber-framed houses. While you’ll find a lot of history here, the area lives very much in the present through its many excellent bars and restaurants.
• Take in the window displays in Pommeraye Passage. Nested between the Royal Palace and Graslin Square, this age-old shopping arcade (inaugurated in 1843) is the place to be for fashionable locals. Lavish!
• Pull out your credit cards and head for the boutiques on Rue Crébillon, the most glamorous street in Graslin Quarter, and then stop off at Cigale, an Art Nouveau brasserie that's over a hundred years old. Posh!
• Push open the doors of the Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul Cathedral, one of the most beautiful churches in France. 450 years old and not a wrinkle in sight! Don’t miss the richly decorated tombs of François II, Duke of Brittany, and Marguerite, his wife. Truly unforgettable!
• Check out Lieu Unique. At LU, like the biscuits. Of course! Dedicated to the Nantes art scene, home to a large bookshop and renowned restaurant, this large circular building and its Belle Epoque tower was for years home to the LU Bakery. A definite must-see!
• Get some air and sun as you stroll through the Botanical Garden (Jardin des Plantes), and immense oasis of green in the heart of the city; or else head for the Isle of Versailles, an artificial island transformed into a huge Japanese garden. Zen!
• A 140 metres up, have a break in the Nid. Designed by Jean Jullien, this panoramic bar on the 32nd (and last) floor of the Brittany Tower plays host to a giant stork, egg-shaped armchairs and tables, and a winged bar. Whimsical!
• Take a river boat and float down the Loire to Trentemoult Port and spend some time admiring this old fishing village and its colourful houses. Picturesque!