Île de Nantes

The Île de Nantes is a long island in the Loire, in the middle of the city, and over the last thirty years it has changed from a shipbuilding zone to a district of art, architecture and invention. For most of the twentieth century it was the home of the shipyards and port industries that employed thousands of Nantes workers, and when the last shipyard closed in 1987 the island was left with huge empty sheds and quays. A regeneration project, led by the city, turned the former industrial site into a place for culture, housing, education and leisure, and the old cranes and sheds are now part of the identity of the place.

The best-known attraction is the Machines de l'île, set up in the former shipyard sheds by the artists François Delarozière and Pierre Orefice. Its flagship creation is the Grand Éléphant, a 12-metre mechanical elephant made of wood and steel that walks along the quay with passengers aboard, spraying water from its trunk. The Carrousel des Mondes Marins, a tall merry-go-round with sea creatures to ride, and the Galerie des Machines, a workshop gallery where visitors can see the machines in construction and try out some of them, complete the experience. The project draws on the imaginary worlds of Jules Verne, who was born in Nantes, and on Leonardo da Vinci's inventions. Rides can be suspended in severe weather, and opening times vary with the season, so check before you go.

The island is also part of Le Voyage à Nantes, an annual summer art trail that places more than a hundred contemporary artworks in the streets and public spaces of the city. A green line painted on the pavement links the sites, so you can follow it from one to the next. Several modern buildings stand along the river, including the law courts designed by Jean Nouvel and the architecture school, and the island's quays are lined with bars and restaurants. The Hangar à Bananes, a former banana warehouse, is now a place for restaurants and exhibitions.

The Château des ducs de Bretagne, with the Nantes History Museum, stands on the mainland side, a short walk from the island, and along the quay on the Loire the Memorial to the Abolition of Slavery commemorates the city's role in the slave trade. These sites are best combined with a stay on the island.

The island suits families with children, those interested in contemporary art and architecture and anyone who enjoys walking and cycling along a river. It is easy to reach on foot and by tram, and several days of exploring could be spent here.