Information On Nates France

Nantes is a city (population 276,200) in northwestern France, near the Atlantic Ocean and located on the banks of the Loire River where the Erdre and the Sèvre Nantaise converge near the river’s mouth, west of Tours.

Nantes was originally founded as a town by the Celtic tribe named Nanmenti, from which it derived its current name, around 70 BCE and was conquered by Julius Caesar in 56 BCE who named it Portus Namnetus. Subsequently, it became a significant trade and administrative center under the Romans. The Huns, the Normans, and dukes of Brittany claimed it before it passed to France in 1499. It rallied to King Henry IV of France after he signed the Edict of Nantes in 1598. During the 18th century, prior to the abolition of slavery, Nantes was the slave trade capital of France, which led to its becoming the first port in France and a wealthy city.

During the French Revolution, Nantes was nearly stormed by royalist troops of the Vendée and was the scene of massacres by the revolutionaries in 1793. In the 19th century, Nantes was industrialized and the first public transport anywhere in the world may have been the omnibus service initiated in there in 1826. This was soon imitated in Paris, London and New York.

Occupied by German troops in World War II, Nantes’ civilian population suffered ruthless reprisals when it was heavily damaged by Allied bombing, and was ultimately taken over by U.S. troops in 1944.

Recent renovations of the rail, road, and air transportation systems and the many rebuilding and reconstruction efforts have contributed greatly to the city’s economic development and its vital centers. Today, Nantes has important industrial plants for food products (especially biscuits), naval equipment, metals, dyes, clothing, bicycles, agricultural equipment, as well as shipbuilding yards in its ocean port at Saint-Nazaire.

An interesting fact for your information: On December 31, 2006, some 600 people congregated in Nantes to protest the arrival of the New Year. They marched and held up banners that read “No to 2007″ and “Now is better!” The protestors asked several governments and even the UN to declare a moratorium on the future. When the clock ticked past midnight, indicating the arrival of 2007, the protestors happily began to cheer “No to 2008!” The organizers claimed that they would stage the same event at the end of 2007, but this time on the Champs-Elysees avenue in Paris.

To name but a few attractions in Nantes for you to visit are: the Cathedral Saint-Peter Saint-Paul with tombs of dukes of Brittany (fifteenth-century), Passage Pommeraye, Palais de Justice, the museum and the native home of Jules Verne, the pioneer science fiction writer, Musée des Beaux-Arts, the Tower of Brittany, Lefevre-Utile biscuit factory, Musée D’Obrée, Le Chateau des Ducs de Bretagne (tenth-century), Jardin des Plantes, Marché Talensac, the University of Nantes (established in 1460) and many other educational facilities.

Being situated within such close proximity to the coast, Nantes has generally cool winters and mild summers, with rainfalls at least once a week. Thus is considered to be sporting a moderate climate hospitable to its visitors.

Nantes, the historical gem of France snuggled in pleasant botanical gardens, is accessible through widely varied means of transportation: via its own international airport, via the dozens of train lines entering is station, and, of course, via the sea port.

Posted in France Vacation Guide