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Haka time in the Beaujoire
Nantes is historically tied to the Brittany region of north western France but an administrative decision in the 1970s means that the city is now better known as capital of the Loire region.
It's a major maritime city and was once France's busiest Atlantic port. These days, that business has mostly moved downstream to Saint-Nazaire and Nantes has instead become France's most desirable city. It's not hard to see why. It's a delightful old town with a historic centre, great seafood, a lively nightlife thanks to 30,000 students and close proximity to some beautiful Atlantic beaches.
Stadium: Stade de la Beaujoire. Capacity: 38,285
Stadium History: Opened in 1984, La Beaujoire as it is known originally had a capacity of 52,000. It was modernised for the 1998 Football World Cup with seats replacing terracing to provide a new capacity of 39,000. The stadium has been used by both the French football and rugby sides from time to time, the All Blacks being visitors here in 1986. It is currently home to football side FC Nantes Atlantic who ply their trade in France's Ligue 1. The stadium is served by tramway 1 from the city centre.
Town: The city's name is derived from the name of the Celtic tribe, known as the Namnètes, who had made the site of Nantes their capital long before the coming of the Romans around 50BC. In 843, the Normans pillaged Nantes and occupied it until 936 when Alain Barbe-Torte, grandson of the last King of Brittany, retook the town and founded the Duchy of Brittany. But the sovereignty of Nantes and Brittany continued to be fought over for centuries by the counts of Nantes and Rennes. Finally in 1560, Francis II, king of France, granted Nantes a communal constitution. During the Wars of Religion between 1562 and 1598, Nantes joined the Catholic League but only opened its gates to Henry IV, king of France, in 1598, the same year he signed the Edict of Nantes, a charter assuring religious and civil liberties to all Protestants.
Nantes was again embroiled in civil unrest in 1793 during the French Revolution. The townspeople, who supported the removal of the king, resisted the attacks of the pro-monarchist Vendeens to the south. The traders of the city, also supportive of the Revolution, went as far as to drown anti-government suspects in the Loire River. But Nantes continued to grow. The city, now a major junction for the transhipment of goods became the busiest French port on the Atlantic. It also became the hub of much of the slave-trading between France and the West Indies. Around the same period, the Dubigeon naval shipyards developed and were to become an integral part of the local economy for the next two centuries.
In the 1920s, Nantes was greatly modified by the adoption of an urban renewal plan for the city centre. But much of this good work was undone by the capture and partial destruction of the city by the Germans during World War II. More famously perhaps were the 48 innocent citizens who were executed on what became the Place des 50 Otages, in retribution for the murder of a German colonel. It was the post-war years however that changed the face of the city forever. Roads were built on river infill, the railway (which used to cut across town) is now underground and the port was extended and rebuilt. The original university (founded 1460) was abolished during the French Revolution, but a new one was established in 1961. Nowadays, Nantes is the de facto capital of north-west France and has been designated as a major economic development centre. Many large projects are either underway or have been finished. These include the extension of air [Nantes-Atlantique Airport], rail and road communications, the building of vast industrial zones and the modification of the port to accommodate larger sea-going vessels.
Rugby Clubs: Stade Nantais was formed in 1903 by a group of students and enjoyed considerable success in their early years, winning the French Championship in 1917. They continued to flourish until the beginning of World War II. In 1943, their ground, Stade Pascal Laporte was bombed and it took quite a few years for rugby to be kick-started after the war. However, in the post-war years, football grew in popularity and in 1960, Stade Nantais lost their place in the French first division. The club has since languished in the nether-regions of senior French rugby, this season plying their trade in Federal 2(fourth division).
Location: Nantes is the capital of the Pays de la Loire région, as well as the prefecture of the Loire-Atlantique departement and is located 50km from the Atlantic ocean. The city is approximately 385km west of Paris and 325km north of Bordeaux.
Tourist attractions:
Cathedrale de St. Pierre and St. Paul, Place St. Pierre, Nantes - Begun in 1434, this Gothic cathedral wasn't finished until the end of the 19th century. Best of all is the tomb of François II, Duke of Brittany. Carved from marble by Michel Colombe between 1502 and 1507, it emerged unscathed after a 1972 fire damaged the interior. Inside the cathedral's 11th century crypt is a museum of religions.
Chateau des Ducs de Bretagne, 4 place Marc-Elder, Nantes - Unfortunately, the castle of the Dukes is currently undergoing restoration until 2008 but is worth a look from the outside. Nearby is the place du Commerce, a largely pedestrian area that offers a good array of restaurants and bars.
Passage Pommeraye, rue de la Fosse, Nantes - The Passage Pommeraye opened for the first time in 1843 and is a brilliant piece of architectural engineering, made up of glass and steel and housing one of the best shopping areas in the city. If retail therapy is your thing, then this is definitely the attraction to head for at the heart of the city. The passage has been used as a location in quite a few movies.
Musée Jules Verne de Nantes, 3 rue de l'Hermitage, Nantes - Author Jules Verne was a native of Nantes. Don't miss the museum with multimedia exhibits on the Butte Saint-Anne.
Musée des Beaux-arts, 10 rue Georges-Clemenceau, Nantes - This much celebrated fine arts museum is built around an airy courtyard and features works ranging from the Italian Primitives to contemporary artists. One of the best collections outside of Paris.
Transport connections: Like most major cities in France, Nantes is served by efficient infrastructure and public transport. The city has an extensive tramway in operation as well as buses. It also has a TGV connection as well as a motorway connection with Paris. The stadium is the last stop on the tramway 1 line.
By air: Nantes Atlantique Airport has daily flights serving Paris and other French airports as well as several European cities and further destinations. Nantes airport is linked to the city with the combination of the tramway line 2 and a bus shuttle.
By train: Nantes SNCF train station is a ten minute walk from the city centre but taxis are available outside the main entrance. TGV services are available for Paris, Lyon, Marseille and Strasbourg. Normal services will get you to most other major cities.
By car: The principal autoroute from Paris is the A11 and the A83 from the south.
RWC Matches:
09 Sep: Wales V Canada
22 Sep: England V Samoa
29 Sep: Wales V Fiji
Post-match hostelries:
The Planet Rugby Choice:
Webb Ellis Café
6 rue Santeuil
This dedicated rugby bar in Nantes are expecting to be ground zero during the World Cup and have organised with special events, extended opening hours and a big screen outside. They will also be organising tasting sessions of regional foods brought to Nantes by small independent producers from Catalonia to the Pays Basque.
Le Lieu Unique
Quai Ferdinand Favre
This venue is designed to house pretty much everything you want under one roof. Bar, bookshop, boutique, restaurant, creche, steam rooms, cultural events, dance hall, music, the arts, the list goes on...
Les Oubliettes
Château des Ducs 4 pl Marc Elder
Restored and fitted out in the tower believed to be the former dungeon of Nantes, on two levels and with a terrace on the yard. The coffee-restaurant welcomes you for a break while remaining in the setting of the castle of the dukes of Brittany.
Other Bars:
La Maison Café
4 rue Lebrun
Location: Town centre
Le Marlowe
1 pl St Vincent
Location: Town centre
Buck Mulligan's
12 r Château
Location: Town centre
John Mc Byrne
21 r Petites Ecuries
Location: Town centre
Tel +33 (0) 2 40 89 64 46
L'Appartement
1 rue Gresset
Location: Town centre
Le Bar du Coin
21 r Juiverie
Location: Town centre
Accomodation:
Luxury:
Grand Hotel Mercure
4, Rue du Couëdic
Location: Town centre
Tel +33 (0) 2 51 82 10 00
Mid-Range:
Graslin
1, Rue Piron
Location: Town centre
Tel +33 (0) 2 40 69 72 91
France
24, Rue Crébillon
Location: Town centre
Tel +33 (0) 2 40 73 57 91
La Perouse
3, Allée Duquesne
Location: Town centre
Tel +33 (0) 2 40 89 75 00
Budget:
Amiral
26 bis, Rue Scribe
Location: Town centre
Tel +33 (0) 2 40 69 20 21
Cholet
10, Rue Gresset
Location: Town centre
Tel +33 (0) 2 40 73 31 04
Colonies
5, Rue du Chapeau Rouge
Location: Town centre
+33 (0)2 40 48 79 76
