One travel journalist who visited the city recently said he was impressed by the many art installations and creative displays around Nantes.
Writing for the Sunday Express, Rob Crossan said the city is full of charm thanks to its medieval alleyways, chateaux and great value restaurants.
But it is also home to an impressive arts scene, with displays and attractions that will surprise and delight visitors.
Mr Crossan explained that thanks to the success of the Estuaire festival in 2007, which saw installation art scattered across Nantes, such displays are now a common sight in the city, as many were made permanent.
Families can stop off in Nantes during a boating holiday in Brittany. Cruises are available from the cruise bases at Messac, Nort-sur-Edre and Dinan.
In a recent article for the Daily Mail, journalists Gareth Huw Davies and Adam Dawe said tourists must head down to old docklands in Nantes to catch sight of the giant mechanical elephant, which is able to carry 49 people on its back.
