The Machines of the Isle of Nantes, or Les Machines de l’Île, brings fantastical creatures to life in a former industrial hub. Situated on the Île de Nantes, this mechanical attraction merges art, engineering and storytelling.
It is the brainchild of artists François Delarozière and Pierre Orefice, who sought to transform the post-industrial landscape of Nantes. Notable works on display include the Grand Elephant, the Marine Worlds Carousel, and La Galerie des Machines,
An homage to the works of Jules Verne and Leonardo da Vinci, the attraction was officially launched in 2007 and now attracts visitors from across the globe.
Above Left: Hummingbird Machine in the La Galerie des Machines. Above Right: Family operating an ant machine.
Above: Aquatic machines on the Marine Worlds Carousel.
Above: Marine Worlds Carousel on Île de Nantes.
Above: Humming Bird, Octopus & Fish at La Galerie des Machines
Above Left: Crab on the Carrousel des Mondes Marins. Above Right: The Great Elephant sprying visitosrs
Above Left: Grue Titan Jaune. Above Right: Grand Elephant in La Galerie des Machines
Above: The Great Elephant taking a walk through the Iles Nantes.
Above: La Galerie des Machines and behind the scenes in the workshop.
Above: Spider machine in La Galerie des Machines.
Above: Machines on in La Galerie des Machines
Above: The Great Elephant holding tourists and spraying kids with water as it takes and outing through the Île de Nantes.
Above: Great Elephant and Le Carrousel Mondes des Marines.
Above: Le Carrousel Mondes des Marines on Île de Nantes.
Need to know
Getting there
Nantes is well connected to a range of European cities via air and train with regular non-stop EasyJet and Ryanair flights from various UK airports.
Nantes Atlantique Airport is located just 8km southwest of the city with easy connections to the centre via the Airport Shuttle (€10). A taxi would cost €30 to €35.
Nantes is two hours by car from Paris.
Best time to go
The free-to-visit Voyage à Nantes art festival takes place from early July until early September and is the perfect opportunity to see all the new art installations popping up around the city.
Nantes is also lovely during Spring and Autumn so if you want to avoid the crowds, April to May and September to October will offer a quieter visit.
Where to stay
The 4-star boutique Le Perouse Hotel is centrally located on All. Duquesne. It’s a modern hotel but with a traditional twist and is perfectly located just a few minutes from the Green Line.
There isn’t a huge range of accommodation options on Île de Nantes but the Novotel Nantes Centre Bord de Loire is a good option.
Must-pack items:
Any trip to Nantes involves walking so a comfortable pair of shoes is a must.
With temperatures varying with highs of 25°C and lows of 12°C in July and August combined with the oceanic climate being susceptible to rain year-round mean layers and waterproofs are a must so that you are prepared for any eventuality.
How to do it:
The city is very well connected with trams and public buses. Many of the stops are located along the Green Line if you don’t fancy walking the entire 12km.
Pick up a Nantes City Pass from the Le Voyage a Nantes website. It is available as 24 hours, 48 hours, 72 hours, or 7 days. The pass also grants access to the Dukes of Brittany museum, Carrousel des Mondes Marins and Erdre river cruise.
Anything else:
We walked the Green Line of Nantes to take in all the sights, art and installations around the city. Very easy to navigate and lots of fun for all ages.
The Estuaire Nantes-Saint-Nazaire that we would highly recommend: A Journey of Art, Nature, and Industry is the perfect day trip from Nantes that covers all bases.
For more information on Machines of Nantes or Nantes in general please visit Le Voyage à Nantes.
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