What to see and do around Nantes
What to visit near to Nantes is one of the questions you ask the most and also we ask to ourselves too! The weekend arrives and we ask ourselves, where are we going?
In case you don’t know, we live in Nantes for a year and a little, so we’re still in the process of getting to know the surroundings of Nantes.
1 Check Out: What to See in Nantes in 2 Days
Índice de contenidos
I’ve divided this post into what to see near to Nantes in less than 1 hour by car, what to visit in less than two hours, and there is a special section for Loire’s Castle, but they are at a maximum of two hours driving from Nantes.
And at the end, there is a section to go away on a weekend, if driving more than two hours is not a problem for you to see cool cities and towns. Let’s start!
- Recommended: Rent cheap car
What to visit near to Nantes
Trentemoult, the Nantes fisherman’s village
Trentemoult was a fisherman’s village. It is located very close to Nantes on the banks of the Loire River. Today it is a very colorful place with a very important artistic activity. Here you will find more than 20 artists with their workshops and shops.
Ideal to visit it during your visit to Nantes. When the good weather arrives you are able to enjoy its terraces by the river.
What to see in the surroundings of nantes in less than 1 hour driving
In this section you will find very nice towns and villages near Nantes. And more or less at an hour driving. I’m not going to write too much about every town. so that the post does not become eternal. But I’m going to leave you the links of the post I have already written so you can expand the information in which you’re most interested.
Clisson at 35 minutes from Nantes
Clisson is a medieval village with Tuscan airs that you’ll love. It’s very close to Nantes.
Here’s the post with all the information to visit Clisson.
Guerande 1 hour away driving from Nantes
Guerande is famous for its salt, but the village inside the wall is awesome. It is quite close to Nantes and is ideal for a day trip or as a start of a road trip through southern Brittany.
Le Croisic at 1:20 hour of Nantes (close to Guerande)
Although it is far more than one hour from Nantes, it’s very close to Guerande and if you stay here for the weekend it is great for visiting both places.
La Baule, the Nantes Beach (one-hour drive)
La Baule is the Nantes beach in summer. This area is very nice to visit at any time of the year, but you’ll enjoy it more in summer.
Pornic at 50 minutes from Nantes
Pornic has charm all year round, is an area that is composed of 15 communes, including Pornic. It is on the coast and at the mouth of the Loire, gastronomy is very good and there are lots of activities to do, both sport and cultural.
Saint-Brevin-les-Pins, the sea snake, 50 minutes from Nantes
Do you know the Snake of Nantes? I’m sure you’ve seen it in a lot of pictures. Well, it’s located in this village in the estuary of the Loire about 50 minutes by car from Nantes.
- Recommended: Rent cheap car
The Ocean Snake is a creation of the Chinese artist Huang Yong Ping. And it appears and disappears with the tides. For the lovers of sunset photography is a very cool spot.
Puy du fou at 1h driving from Nantes
The Puy du Fou is an amusement park that has been chosen as the best in the world. Here you will see performances of all kinds, it is like travel back in time.
What to see and do close to Nantes (less than 2 hours driving)
We keep visiting the surroundings of Nantes. Now you are going a little bit further and to visit some of the most beautiful villages in France.
Rochefort-en-Terre at 1.5 hours driving from Nantes
Rochefort-en-Terre is considered one of the most beautiful villages in France and we have it here close to Nantes. Ideal to go in spring, but you can perfectly visit the village all year round .
Vannes at 1.25 h Nantes
Vannes is a walled city of French Brittany. It has many points, it is the capital of the Morbihan region, has a marina, a fortified square, a medieval city, 15th-century houses with half-timber, history and art everywhere you look.
It is possible to see the essentials of Vannes in a day, but perhaps a weekend would be ideal for visiting.
- Recommended: Guided Tour by Vannes
Josselin at 1.50h from Nantes
Josselin is a medieval city of Brittany with its castle and square with the typical Bretons houses with its wooden latticework.
Carnac at 1.40 h from Nantes by car
Carnac is famous for its more than 3000 menhirs with more than 7000 years old, but also because of its beaches.
So here you can combine megalithic visits with water sport activities.
Noirmoutier-en-l’Ile at 1.25 h Nantes
Noirmoutier-en-l’Ile is an island that you reach crossing a road when the tide is low or crossing a bridge all day long. If you want to cross the road, which is much more picturesque, you have to see the tides scheduled first.
Noirmoutier is a place to go to the beach, visit its castle, taste its gastronomy.
It’s possible that you want to spend the weekend.
La Rochelle at 2 Hours from Nantes
La Rochelle located about two hours from Nantes, further south than Noirmoutier-en-l’Ile. This city is to spend at least a weekend, but you can make a quick day visit.
I leave you this post with all the info to visit La Rochelle in 2 days.
Castles of the Loire less than 2 hours from Nantes
For all of you who loves castles, I made this little section with castles of the Loire less than 2 h by car from Nantes. Maybe they’re not the most famous, those are closer to Orleans.
But if you want to make a little week end road trip from Nantes, these Castles you’re going to like.
Angers, the city and its castle
Angers is a city that is located an hour from Nantes. In the city centre you will be able to see their castle fortress.
It was about to be demolished in the 15th century by order of Henry III, but with the arrival of the Henry IV’s throne was suspended from demolition works.
Enjoy its interior and its history. But you also have to visit the city.
- Related: Visit to the Castle
Serrant
close to Angers you’re going to visit the magnificent Serrant Castle. It has a multitude of elements of defense and influences of the Renaissance style.
Brissac
Also very close of Angers we visit another castle, in this case it’s the castle of Brissac. Its name derives from the old local millers. It’s a medieval castle that was built for military purposes.
The interior of the castle includes a theater room, also has ghost stories and if you like wine, you can buy some of the castle bottles at reasonable prices.
Saumur, castle and city
Saumur is famous for its castle and for the national riding school. The castle has lived hundreds of stories over their centuries. It has inspired poems, it has undergone construction and remodels, has changed owners, but its charm remains.
Today, inside the castle you can also enjoy the Municipal Museum and the Museum of Horse.
In the surroundings of Saumur you can spend the night and continue visiting castles and sights the next day.
Montsoreu
A few inches away of the Loire you’ll find this castle of the fifteenth century. It was built with the goal of being a checkpoint for people crossing this path of communication.
The most famous character of the castle’s history is Charles de Chambes, who was immortalized by the story of Alejandro Dumas Sr., The Lady of Montsoreu.
Inside are 16 rooms that tell the story of the castle and Loire’s life. I’m sure you’ll enjoy them. .
Brezé Castle
A few kilometers away of Saumur you’ll see the castle of Brezé. It has been found references that this castle has existed since the year 1060. It’s surrounded by dry pits, is considered a historical monument of great interest, all because of the underground fortress, open to the public today.
Montreuil-Bellay Castle
This castle was ordered to be built by Folques Nerra, Count of Anjou, in the eleventh century.
The Count donated it to one of his vassals, whose name was Berllay or Bellay, who gave his name to the locality.
Over the centuries the castle was changing and growing, with walls buildings in the fifteenth century. Ideal to visit it in spring and enjoy its gardens.
What to see further than two hours from Nantes?
If you’re looking for a place to spend the weekend or make a short getaway, I propose these cities more than two hours by car from Nantes.
Tours at 2.20 hours by car from Nantes
Tours is a university town today, but it was a Gallo-Roman city. Visit the historic center, its cathedral and if you have more days take advantage and visit some of the castles of the Loire that are in its surroundings.
Rennes at 2h from Nantes
Rennes is the capital of Brittany, famous for its medieval houses and its cathedral. Has very cool places to visit. I have to make you a post of this city, promise.
If you spend the night in Rennes you can reach Mont-St-Michel, but first (or after) visit Dinan, Saint-Malo and then Mont-St-Michel.
Visiting the Mont-St-Michel from Nantes is 2.20 hours by car
You can also get to Mont-St-Michel from Nantes, the visit can be done in a day. You have to start super early to make the most of the day.
If you’re on time or staying in the area, visit St-Malo and Dinan.
Le Mans at 2.30 h from Nantes by car
Le Mans is a city super well known for the 24-hour Le Mans race. But this city has a very picturesque old town to walk around.
Poitiers and Futuroscope 2.30 hours from Nantes by car
Poitiers is a surprising city with hundreds of years of history, a historic center with impressive monuments, full of young people due their university and a few kilometers has the Futuroscope, a different amusement park.
At Futuroscope they use technology to make their attractions. Here you will live different shows, many of them based on Jules Verne’s travels. There are attractions for all audiences.
- Furutoscope ticket online, to avoid the lines
What do you think all the places to see near Nantes? These places you can visit round trip on the same day or some are to spend the weekend. But if you’re planning to make a road trip through these lands it’s also very good for you to put it on the map and enjoy them more calmly.
Tell me, what are your favorite places near Nantes!
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