Nantes

Geography

Nantes is established in the alluvial valley of the the Loire, with the confluence of several rivers (). In north, the plain rises towards small hills of the scrap-metal of Brittany, while in the south the beginning of the plain of the Breton Marais is. Almost the whole of the territory of the commune is on northern bank.

Because of its position of many confluence and island S and channels that one found there (island Beaulieu, island Holy-Anne, island Feydeau, island Gloriette…), Nantes was a long time called Venice of the west . The majority of the channels and rivers of northern bank were filled or covered at the beginning of the 20th century, the most important operations being the filling of the northern arm of the the Loire and the confluent zone of the Erdre, deviated from now on by an underground channel.

The Nantes agglomeration is crossed by the the Loire which is divided into two arms enclosing the island of Nantes: that of “the Madeleine” (in North) and that of “Pirmil” (in the South). She is also traversed by the Erdre, the Nantes Sèvre, the Chézine, the Gesvres and the Cens. One finds there also a certain number of brooks, for the majority channeled and from now on generally underground.

Panoramic sight

panoramic Sight of Nantes since the Holy hillock Anne

On observes since the hillock: the center of Salorges, the dome of Notre-Dame of Good-Port, the Belem with quay as well as the Marité and the With a grid-Brézé, the Quay of the Pit, the Tower Brittany, the white bell-tower of the church Saint Nicolas, the cathedral, the Bridge Anne-of-Brittany spanning the arm of the Madeleine of the Loire, the yellow goliath crane of old the Building sites Dubigeon, the Tripod (disappeared today), the quay of the Antilles, the sugar refinery Tereos (blue and white), the Hangar with bananas, them cranes (Mofag and Titan at a peak of the Island of Nantes) of the Wilson quay of the port authority, and, in the south of the Loire, the Radiant Quoted of Le Corbusier and the church of Rezé.

Town planning

Nantes is a city built “with horizontal”: indeed, the turns HLM great height are much fewer than in the other French big cities, from where the important spreading out of constructible surface. That does not prevent that the Tour Brittany, in downtown area, is high 145 m what makes of it the second higher building of province and pyramidal the Sillon of Brittany, on the common neighbor of Saint-Herblain, high of 100 m out of 200 m approximately broad. It is about the one of the largest HLM of France, true “city in the city”, which shelters more: 10000 people.

One of the more great projects of Urbanisme that the city knew is the creation of the district Beaulieu in the Années 1970. This project consisted in creating a large international district of businesses of the east coast of the island of Nantes, including/understanding offices and residences. But the lack of attractivity of the project near the companies and the economic crisis involved a change of orientation of the district and a re-examined ambition with the fall. A part only of the preliminary draft could be realized, making district a mainly residential zone, cut downtown area. the Tripod , one of the large office buildings of the district, was destroyed besides the February 27th 2005, in particular because of the strong rate of Amiante present in its structure.

Moreover, the island of Nantes is the subject currently of an immense operation of urban renovation. It is about one of vastest the building site of refitting in France. The control of work is ensured by the SAMOA (Société of mixed economy created for the occasion) and controls it of work is managed by the team of Alexandre Chemetoff (Workshop Island of Nantes). It is a question of giving again attractivity with this space located not far from the downtown area, which are being inter alia one of the many old working districts of Nantes (the shipyards were very close, like certain companies of iron and steel industry - Alstom), and of part of the Beaulieu district, in particular the site of the Tripode, destroyed today.

Part of the district Malakoff/Pre-Gauchet (which is the subject currently of a Great project of City, or GPV) and is candidate for a concention with ANRU, the site of the Tripode and is Champ de Mars, will form the district Euronantes, European Quartier of businesses where will be built a hotel of great luxury, offices, residences, sports equipment and leisures. They will be added to the station TGV, at the head office of the banks CIO, with the Cité of the Congresses and the seat of the Urban community of Nantes Métropole already existing.

Demography

Nantes is the center of an agglomeration of more than: 550000 inhabitants and central pole of a urban surface of more than: 710000 inhabitants. She is considered, by adding the agglomeration of Saint-Nazaire, like the metropolis of the Grand West of France with more: 860000 inhabitants. In the Years 1990, it was, among the French big cities, one of those of which the population the most increased with Montpellier, Toulouse and Rennes. This growth should be confirmed since Nantes should count close to: 640000 inhabitants in the agglomeration and more: 1000000 in the Metropolis Nantes Saint Nazaire.

History

Antiquity

The historian Polybe mentioned already in 147 av. J.C., the existence of a river port to the mouth of the Loire called “Corbilo”, although its exact site remains unknown. The Celtes would have arrived between 5th and Worms 70 before J.C., the Namnètes, Gallic people, occupy the area of Nantes to the estuary of the the Loire. In 56 before J.C, Jules César invades Gaulle: the Gallic city of Namnètes (localized in the current historical quarters of the Bouffay) becomes the Roman “civitas” of “Portus Namnetus”.

The city is christianized during the 3rd century, and becomes the seat of évêché. Two martyrs are at the origin of the christianization of Nantes: Saint-Donatien and Saint-Rogatien.

The Breton conquest

Lambert II of Nantes, count de Nantes, resulted from the franque family of the Widonides which had controlled for one half-century the steps of Brittany and the county of Nantes.

In 841: Lambert fights with the count Ricuin of Nantes to the Bataille of Fontenoy-in-Puisaye the June 25th 841. Ricuin having been killed the county of Nantes that Lambert regarded as its legitimate heritage is entrusted by the king of France Charles the Bald person to Renaud, count d' Herbauge. Lambert then gives up the party of the king and joined Nominoë.

In 843: Renaud of Nantes beats Lambert of Nantes combined with Breton of Nominoé and to the Vikings of Hasting to the Bataille of Messac (?) but a little later it is beaten and killed with Blain the May 24th 843. The Nantes ones refuse to recognize Lambert as count. This last is suspected of having guided the Norman ones which it June 24th put the city at bag and kill the bishop in his cathedral. After the departure of its Lambert allies makes itself finally main from Nantes. In 844: Lambert kills in a combat the count Bernard of Poitiers and the son and successor of Renaud: Herve count of Herbauges.

In 845: at the end of October at the beginning of November, Lambert gives up the party of Nominoë and makes its tender with the king who leaves him the county of Nantes.

In 849: Charles the Bald person points out Lambert and entrusts to him the Nantes country, the country of Rennes and the territory in the south of the the Loire.

In 851: Lambert accompanies Nominoë in its offensive in Neustrie. After the sudden death of the Breton chief with Vendôme the March 7th 851, Lambert takes the command of the Breton army in retirement. It takes part then in with dimensions of Erispoë wire of Nominoë and new chief of Breton in the Bataille of Jengland close to the Large-Fougeray .

Following the Bataille of Large-Would plow up, Charles the Bald person and Erispoë, Breton chief, signs in September 851 the Traité of Angers . The King of France recognizes the Breton supervision on the countries of Rennes, Nantes and of Retz, thus fixing the frontier limits of “historical” Brittany.

Alliances between the county of Nantes and Anjou (909 - 1203)

In 909, following the death of Alain Large the, Foulque Ier of Anjou receives the Comté of Nantes. It is charged to fight against the Normands and the Bretons.

In 919, imposing a armada Viking, composed of Danes, come from their new stronghold of the Rock-Bernard goes up the the Loire. Nantes is taken by the Vikings in spite of the resistance of the Nantes guard and of the angevine escort of Foulque the Ist city is plundered and the burnt cathedral. The notable Nantes ones as well as the clergy of Nantes and the clerks flee towards Angers. In 920, the Vikings attack Angers which they plunder, then Tours and threatens Orleans which offers a strong ransom to avoid plundering. The Nantes ones and Angevins will find refuge in Burgundy. The Vikings go down again the large river until their Nantes stronghold. Foulque reconstitutes, in Angers, a troop the Nantes one and of Angevins to release the city of Nantes. In spite of the assistance of the franques troops of Robert Ier de France, the counter-attack in 921, is a failure. Nevertheless, the count of Anjou, Foulque Ier will preserve the title of count de Nantes, but this title was definitively recognized only in 930, when its suzerain Hugues Large the qualified it like such in one of his charters. Foulque Ier passed the remainder of its life to fight the Vikings. It loses one of its sons, Ingelger, during a confrontation against the Norman ones. The Vikings invade the Brittany. In front of their military successes, the Breton lords and the notable ones flee and embark to take refuge in England. Among the emigrants fleeing the Vikings, an young man, named Alain Barbetorte which will prepare its revenge.

It is Alain Barbetorte, unloaded on the northern coast of Brittany in 936 of return of exile of England, which will undertake with Breton troops the war with the Norman ones. In 937, Alain Barbetorte is recognized duke of Brittany. He pousuit his combat against the Norman ones and seizes Nantes the same year. The Norman ones return several times to the load along the Loire. It is only in 939, with the victory of Trans over the Norman ones, that Nantes will be definitively with the shelter of the Vikings. In 952 the duke Alain II Bores-Torte dies. He will be buried in collegial Notre-Dame in Nantes. He leaves the duchy to the young heir, Drogon. The widow of Alain II Bores-Torte remarie with Foulques the Good, count d' Anjou and wire of Foulque Ist.

Drogon of Brittany count de Nantes and duke of Brittany of 952 with 958. Drogon (or Dreux), wire of Alain Barbetorte and Roscille of Blois (sister of Thibaud Ier of Blois, succeeds his/her father at the two years age. Its supervision was ensured by his/her uncle Thibaut Ier of Blois, which remarie very quickly his/her sister (widowed of Alain Barbetorte) with the count Foulque II of Anjou. The capacity on Brittany is then shared: Foulque II receives the county of Nantes and the guard of the young duke Drogon, Thibaut preserving suzerainty on the north of Brittany. In 958, Drogon dies suddenly in Angers, perhaps poisoned by its guard Foulque II. The same year, at the time of an assembly gathering the counts of Anjou, Blois and the barons Breton, Foulque II becomes Count de Nantes and even duke of Brittany of 958 to its death in 960.

Hoël Ier of Brittany count de Nantes and duke of Brittany of 960 with 981. Wire illegitimate of Alain II of Brittany and a noble named lady Judith, Hoel Ier, is set up at the head of the county of Nantes by Foulque II of Anjou known as " Foulque II the Good ". Vis-a-vis the attacks Vikings, the successor of Foulque II of Anjou, Geoffroy Ier of Anjou cannot save Nantes of the hand put of the Norman ones. Hoël Ier joins with them following the incapacity of Geoffroy Ier to come to his help. Nantes places essential for the life of the Anjou is found thus in enemy hands, in addition Vikings.

In 971, In order to restore a new line of defense in the west, Geoffroy Ier of Anjou known as " Geoffroy Grisegonelle " with the support of Thibaut Ier of Blois is combined with Conan I {{er}} the new Count de Rennes while making him marry his Hermengarde daughter of Anjou (of their union will be born a son: Geoffroy Beranger born towards 975). For all this period Hoël Ier in quasi permanent war with the count de Rennes Conan Ier of Brittany known as " is; Conan the Wrong " , vassal of Thibaut Ier of Blois and its Geoffroy ally of Anjou.

In 981, Hoël Ier is assassinated on the order of Conan. As soon as prevented, his/her brother, Guérech leave his load of future bishop of Tours, before his dedication, and are made elect count de Nantes. Guérech continues the combat initiated by his/her brother against the count de Rennes Conan the Wrong. Guérech signs a treaty with the count Guillaume IV of Poitiers who confirms the Nantes possessions in the south of the Loire - the pagi of Herbauges, of Tiffauges and of Mauges - obtained by his father Alain II of Brittany in 942.

In 982, Guerech, the successor of Hoel, then calls upon Geoffroy of Anjou by recognizing it like its Suzerain. Conan, which is in fact vassal of Eudes Ier of Blois, is found then in opposition with Geoffroy. They meet in arranged battle with Conquereuil. The armies Nantes supported by the troops of Geoffroy I {{er}} of Anjou and of Rennes supported by the House of Blois, meet on the battle fields with Conquereuil; and Geoffroy Ier beats the troops of Conan. This victory angevine does not regulate the conflict.

In 983, Guérech goes to the court of the king of Francie Occidentale Lothaire to lend homage to him, and stops, on the way of the return, in the count Geoffroy Ier of Anjou. Guérech, vis-a-vis the threats of its rival Conan the Wrong, seeks nevertheless to be freed from the supervision angevine by making allegiance directly with king de France, but Geoffroy captures Guérech when this last goes back to Nantes. Geoffroy benefits from it to strengthen the possessions angevines in the South of Nantes, in particular by the construction of the keep of the Pallet. Indeed, Geoffroy Grisegonelle makes build a forterress with the Pallet (of which there remains a large keep nowadays). Geoffroy Ier extends the angevin field until the Nantes Sèvre. This powerful fort made it possible Geoffroy to control the Nantes valley of Sèvre as well as the access roads between the Poitou and the Comté of Nantes. The garrison angevine based with the castle of the Metal disc made safe the region and supported colonization angevine. The possession of this bastion devoted the hegemony of the Anjou in the South the Loire until the limit of the Pays of Retz and of Sèvre Nantes. The power angevine benefitted from the construction of the keep of the Metal disc to allow the foundation of a very important monastery Vertou.

Guérech will be released only in 985 by recognizing the suzerainty of Geoffroy Ier of Anjou on the County of Nantes. This last then gives the military support of Anjou to him vis-a-vis its Conan rival.

Already silent partner of the assassination of Hoël Ier, Conan the Wrong, fearing, rightly, alliance between the counts of Nantes and Anjou against him, would have convinced the doctor of Guérech, Héroicus, also abbot of the Abbaye Saint-Saver of Redon to poison the duke. Guérech dies like his/her brother prematurely, in 988. In 990, after the dispariton of the count Guérech of Nantes, Conan Ier of Brittany tries to put to the hand on the county of Nantes after the untimely death of its young heir the count Alain.

New the count d' Anjou (Foulques Nerra) worrying about the claims of Conan and its political ascendance, proclaims the defender of the interests of the house of Nantes and it delivers combat to him. Conan Ier is killed in the defeat, at the time of the second Bataille of Conquereuil on June 27th 992.

Judicaël of Nantes count of Nantes of 992 with 1004. Supported by Foulque III of Anjou, takes possession of the county of Nantes after the defeat and the death of Conan Ier of Brittany at the second Bataille of Conquereuil. Taking into account his young age the count of Anjou places it under the supervision of his vassal Viscount Aimery III of Thouars which will carry the title of count de Nantes of 992 to 994. Judicaël dies prematurely in 1004 assassinated by treason.

Budic of Nantes count de Nantes, wire of the count Judicaël of Nantes, succeeded his/her father and reigned until worms 1010. Budic made profitable a pilgrimage of the bishop of Rennes in Holy Land to seize the episcopal goods and to destroy the castle of the prelate in Nantes. Of return of Palestine, the bishop asked for the intervention of the count de Rennes and Budic had to require the assistant of the count Foulque III of Anjou what involved the loss of part of the Nantes territories, in particular of the south of the Loire. In the fight with the House of Rennes, the Maison of Nantes acquires supremacy by the accession of Hoël II of Brittany, count de Nantes, with the ducal throne in 1066.

Alain IV Fergent or Fergant, duke of Brittany of 1084 with 1112. In 1084, it names his/her faithful brother Mathias to the head of the county of Nantes and will personally take again the title with dead of this one in 1103. In 1093, Alain IV marries in second wedding, Ermengarde of Anjou, girl of Foulque IV Réchin and back-small-girl of Foulque Nerra.

In 1156, the Comté of Nantes is detached, during one period of internal divisions of Brittany, and is annexed to the Anjou. Indeed, whereas Conan IV is proclaimed duke of Brittany, the Nantes ones drive out his/her uncle Hoël III count de Nantes and choose for count the younger brother of Henri II, Geoffroy Plantagenêt, already count of Maine and Anjou since 1156. The county of Nantes leaves the duchy. In died of Geoffroy, in 1158, Conan believes capacity to take again the Nantes country, but must restore it with Henri II Plantagenêt which will preserve it in its hand during more than 30 years (1156-1189).

Conan IV must abdicate in 1166 and Henri II Plantagenêt is recognized guard duchy by the Breton barons while waiting for that his/her son Geoffroy II Plantagenêt, been engaged to the grand-daughter of Conan III, Constance of Brittany, reaches the majority. As husband of Constancy, Geoffroy Plantagenêt is proclaimed duke of Brittany under the name of Geoffroy II of Brittany in 1181, but he dies prematurely following wounds received during a tournament organized on August 19th 1186 in Paris by the king of France, Philippe Auguste. Of this first marriage, Constance has two children: in particular Arthur, which will succeed to him.

In 1196, Arthur was proclaimed Duc of Brittany by the large barons of Brittany. It was high with the court of Philippe Auguste, which protected it from covetousnesses of Richard Lion-hearted. With died of this last, Arthur, being the only son of Geoffroy Plantagenêt, puîné brother of Richard Lion-hearted, the heritage of " asserted; the Empire Plantagenêt " (England, Normandy, Anjou, Maine, Poitou, Aquitaine) which was to him raid by his/her uncle Jean without Ground (the youngest brother of Richard) with the support of his/her grandmother, the old queen Aliénor of Aquitaine. He became the nominal chief of the Breton barons who tended to independence. Overcome, him and his/her sister is made prisoners in 1202 with Mirebeau (close to Loudun) by Guillaume de Broase, lord Norman with the pay of Jean without Ground. He dies in 1203 in prison with Rouen, perhaps at the request of his uncle

Alliances with the central capacity

With died of Arthur, Philippe II Auguste, king de France, took the control of the duchy of Brittany and obliged Guy de Thouars husband of Constance of Brittany, duchess of Brittany, widow of Geoffroy II Plantagenêt to marry his daughter Alix with the capétien Pierre Mauclerc, in order to bring closer the duchy to Brittany of the kingdom of France. Pierre Mauclerc supported Philippe Auguste in his combat against England, and fought with the wire of the king to the Rock-with-Monks in 1214 against Jean without Ground.
Of return in Brittany, it repressed a revolt of the Breton barons. After the death of Alix (1221), he was regent of the duchy in the name of his son Jean Ier, who became major in 1237. Jean Ierle Roux married Blanche of Navarre. Arthur II, (1261-1312), duke of Brittany.

Though nomadisant of castle in forest, the dukes of Brittany very often remained in Nantes, and more still starting from the reign of Pierre II then of François II which makes its main home of it. One thus finds there the Château of the Dukes of Brittany, in which lived child one of the most famous Breton figures, the duchess Anne of Brittany.

Part of the dukes of Brittany chose Nantes and its surroundings like place of burial.

XVIesiècle

Union with France

Charles VIII enters the city in 1491 and this one is plain with the France (as the remainder of the Brittany) in 1532.

The Edict of Nantes

The Edict of Nantes, prepared with Angers, is signed there in 1598 by Henri IV.

XVIIesiècle

Nicolas Fouquet is there stopped by D' Artagnan on order of Louis XIV the September 5th 1661.

Disorders occur in the city during the Révolte of the stamped paper occurred in 1675.

XVIIIesiècle

Emigrations acadian and Vendean

Acadian refugees driven out of Acadie after the Grand Disturbance find refuge in the current district of Chantenay (with Holy-Anne) between 1775 and 1785. This wave of refugees will be followed soon, in 1793, by that of many Vendean fleeing the Guerre of the Vendée. This Vendean emigration will continue during XIXeet XXesiècle followed in that by the emigration of Breton of Low-Brittany.

Triangular trade and slavery

At the beginning of the 18th century the city is the first port French. Nantes was the main port French slave trader. As of 1688, the Nantes ship-owners dispatched their first black slaves towards America. 1427 forwardings were armed there, that is to say 42 % of the French draft. Nantes based its richness on the triangular Commerce and became the first place négrière of Europe.

Wars of the Vendée

During the wars of the Vendée, Nantes remained republican, in spite of a seat. Indeed, during the Revolution, the Vendean ones, under Cathelineau and Cart, undertook, on June 29th 1793, to seize Nantes. Cathelineau was mortally wounded there. Cart will be captured later and shot on March 29th 1796. Jean-Baptiste Carrier, representing Convention, carries out between 1793 and 1794 executions of mass by drowning, which it calls “republican Mariages” or “vertical deportation”, in fact, a true systematic massacre based on the political opinion and the faith.

XIXesiècle

In 1801, After the creation of the departments which obliged the French dioceses to adapt to the new territorial limits. The Concordat establishes new provisions between the State and the Church. Thus the hamlet of Saint-Jacob (depend on the parish of Saint-Sébastien-sur-Loire), blotti around its priory, became a new parish. This one as well as the islands of the Loire (future Beaulieu island), dependant on the common neighbor of Saint-Sébastien-sur-Loire were attached to the commune of Nantes. In this beginning of the 19th century, the municipal limits of the commune of Nantes crossed Southern bank of the the Loire by juridically taking possession of the châtelet of Pirmil and the suburb Saint Jacques.

As of 1825, it is in Nantes that are probably created the Public transport thanks to Stanislas Baudry with his Omnibus replaced by the Tramway in 1875 of the type Mékarski.

XXesiècle

In 1908, fastening of the communes bordering on Doulon (in the east) and on Chantenay (in the west).

The arms of the the Loire are filled starting from 1926.

The city is named by the decree of November 11th, 1941 Compagnon of the Release following the execution, on October 22nd, 1941, of 48 hostages in reprisals with the assassination of the lieutenant-colonel Hotz two days earlier by three resistant young people communist. This event will give its name to the one of the principal ways of Nantes: the Course of the 50 hostages.

The city is bombarded in 1943.

1958: Abandonment of the electric Tram and demolition of the Transporter bridge of the engineer Ferdinand Arnodin.

1985: Nantes is the first French city to obtain a network of modern tram (which is most important today of France).

Heraldic and currencies of the city

Of mouths to the vessel equipped with gold, equipped with hermine, sailing on a sinople sea driving of the point and money heavy shower, with the chief also of hermine.

These armorial bearings are known since the 15th century. The hermine and its typical moucheture are traditionally allotted to Brittany, whose Nantes was one of the capital . The ecu is stamped of a crown comtale and is surrounded by a cordelière.
The Military Cross and the Cross of Compagnon of the Release were added to the 20th century.

Since the 14th century, the currency of the city was Oculi omnium in sperant you Domine (“the eyes of all turn to you and hope, Seigneur”). On the initiative of a prefect, a new currency was adopted under the Restauration: Favet Neptunus eunti , which results in “Neptune supports those which dare” or by “Neptune supports those which travel” (cf illustrated France , 1882, of Malta-Brown). This currency was approved by letters patent of the king Louis XVIII the February 3rd 1816.
This currency is positioned with the top of the ecu, contrary with use.

The colors of the city are the white and the black. These colors are included in the current logo of the municipality.

Policy and administration

Mayors of Nantes

Principal article: List of the mayors of Nantes

The current mayor of Nantes east Jean-Marc Ayrault (PS). Elected official since 1989, his last mandate, begun in 2001, runs until in 2008.

Districts

Since 1995, the Nantes municipality divided the city into eleven districts having each one a " Committee consultatif" and of the elected officials referents, as well as a team of municipal technicians. These districts are composed of microphone-districts. Here eleven Nantes districts:

Center town (Nantes 1)
Bellevue-Chantenay (Nantes 2)
Dervallières-Zola (Nantes 3)
Top-Paving stone-Saint-Felix (Nantes 4)
Malakoff-Saint-Donatien (Nantes 5)
Island of Nantes (Nantes 6)
Breil-Barberie (Nantes 7)
Northern Nantes (Nantes 8)
Nantes Erdre (Nantes 9)
Doulon-Bottière (Nantes 10)
Nantes-South (Nantes 11)

Intercommunality

Nantes belongs to a Urban community, named Nantes Métropole, just like 23 common neighbors.

Cantons

Nantes is divided into 11 cantons. All are made up exclusively of part of Nantes, except the 10th canton which also includes the commune of Saint-Sébastien-sur-Loire. Their population in 1999 lay between 18.251 (11th canton) and 35.648 inhabitants (10th canton).

For the detail of these cantons, to see the article Cantons of the Loire-Atlantique.

Area and department

Nantes is the Préfecture at the same time department of Loire-Atlantique and area Pays of the Loire.

Nantes and Brittany

The question of the administrative membership of Nantes - and more generally of the Loire-Atlantique - to the area Brittany is regularly the object of debates.

Nantes was more the big city of what was formerly the country and the province of Brittany, membership which is always a component of its identity.

Historically, the bonds of the Nantes country ( Paeï de Nàntt in Gallo, Bro Naoned in Breton) and of Brittany are numerous, at the point even as one saw the dukes of Brittany making of Nantes their principal place of residence (in XVesiècle, as still the presence testifies some today to the Château of the Dukes of Brittany in the middle of the city and the memory of the castle of Bouffay. Several dukes of Brittany were made even bury in Nantes (Alain II Barbetorte, Jean IV, Pierre II, Arthur III, François II, the heart of Anne…) or in the abbey close to Sorinières (Constancy and his/her daughter Alix de Thouars), mark of an emotional and political choice.

In 1789, suppression of the old provinces and the creation of the departments cutting Brittany in five departments; the Loire-Inférieure (today Loire-Atlantique) is one of the latter.

In 1848, Brittany is briefly recomposed by the mandate of general police chief of Brittany which the Nantes Michel Rocher obtains, with authority on the general police chiefs (name which had just replaced that of prefect) of the four other Breton departments.

At the 20th century, the departmental regroupings successive (economic areas “Clémentel” and tourist areas created in 1919, economic areas created in 1941 by the Mode of Vichy, areas of program of 1955 transformed later on into administrative areas) each time separated the Loire-Atlantique from the other Breton departments. Nantes is thus always at present administratively in area Pays of the Loire (it is even the capital of area), but the political debate persists: the partisans of such a measurement evoke economic interests and of territorial administration, its detractors generally oppose cultural and historical arguments to them. It however should be noted that even if the town councilors are more or less favorable to the fastening of the Loire-Atlantique to the administrative area Brittany, they do not make any or more one determining question, for finally leading to a claim with very tourist vocation. In addition, these cultural aspirations, for justified that they are, would have only one range that very symbolic system, since the axis of NORTH-SOUTH tradtitionnel influence - thus including Brittany - city since regionalization yielded the step to an influence/western is marked definitely (see for that the orientation of the axes of transport) and who testifies to a catch of distance from fact, at least on the economic plan, of the city of with Brittany known as “historical”.

Malgrés all, certain cuttings respect historical Brittany with five departments, or remain of the old mode, such that legal, of the Court of Appeal, Court of Bankruptcy, of Rennes, on which Nantes depends; that religious of the Archbishop's palace of Rennes, whose diocese of Nantes is suffragan; and well of others, administrative or commercial.

The linguistic question is also thorny. In the East of Brittany, called Brittany Gallèse or High Brittany, French and the local speech resulting from French, the Gallo, belong to the language of oil and had always more influence than the Breton one. In the big cities of Brittany Gallèse, and particularly in Nantes and Rennes, the Breton language not very present and was primarily spoken by the immigrants from Low-Brittany as attests it travellers of the Middle Ages or even Jules Verne in a description of the department of the Loire Atlantique. In the district of Chantenay, where Breton and Breton-speaking immigration was important, there was a procession where one sang canticles into Breton until the Fifties. The campaigns of the Nantes country more knew the Gallo that the Breton, which besides was not the case on all the department: Batz-on-Sea for example was a Breton-speaking enclave until second half of the 20th century. The will for some to find historical and cultural roots, push them to discover the Breton one, or to make it learn with their children. Thus, the school Diwan proposes since 1978 a teaching entirely into Breton, and even a public school (Marsauderies) and a private school (co. Madeleine) accommodate since 1998 the children within a bilingual framework.

These examples remain however exceptional, and the Breton one is practically not spoken in Nantes today, which besides does not prevent a very big part of its population from being interested not only in the Breton culture, but also with all the other forms about cultures.

Economy

CCI

Nantes lodges one of the 2 seats of the Chamber of commerce and industry of Nantes and Saint-Nazaire, main actor economic of the area which gathers the CCI of Nantes and Saint-Nazaire.

Nantes is also the seat of the Regional court of trade and industry of the Countries of the Loire.

Port authority

See also: Port authority of Nantes-Saint-Nazaire

The Port authority of Nantes-Saint-Nazaire (PANSN) is a public corporation of the French State. Fourth French port, it annually treats 34,5 million tons (figure 2006) of goods (of which 77 % of hydrocarbons). It occupies on the town of Nantes the terminals of Cheviré (produced forest, sugar, manure, scrap) and of Rock-Maurice (cereals, manure, cast iron), representative 10 % of the total of its traffics. The Wilson quay, located on the island of Nantes, accommodates since 2002 of the steamers of cruising. Its other sites, downstream from the estuary, are at Donges, Mounting block-of-Brittany and Saint-Nazaire.

Higher education

The city counts more: 44000 students of which more: 31000 within the University of Nantes.

Audencia, the national college of business of Atlantic Nantes
School of Trade (EAC)
School Brassart
central School of Nantes
School of Atlantic Nantes Design (EDNA)
School of the mines of Nantes
National school of the merchant marine of Nantes
National school of engineers of the techniques of agribusiness industries (ENITIAA)
3Ecole Nationale Sup3erieure of architecture of Nantes (ENSAN)
National school veterinary surgeon de Nantes
Polytechnic school of the university of Nantes (Polytech'Nantes)
School for data processing and new technologies (EPITECH)
regional School of the Art schools of Nantes
University of Wood (ESB)
IDRAC, national college of business and of catholic communication
Institute of arts and trades (ICAM)
European Institute of higher learning of management (ISEG)
Sciencescom, the school of the communication and the media
University of Nantes
Enacom
Private school of Computer sciences (EPSI)

Health

University hospital of Nantes

CHU Hôtel God in Nantes Centers
Northern Hôpital Laënnec with Saint-Herblain
Hôpital Saint-Jacob in Southern Nantes

Regional center of Fight against Rene-Gauducheau Cancer with Saint-Herblain
Hôpital Beauséjour in western Nantes
Polyclinique of the Atlantic with Saint-Herblain
Clinique Jules Verne (polyclinic) in Nantes East
Nouvelles Nantes private clinics (polyclinic) with Southern Nantes/Rezé

Transport

Automobile transport

At the national level

Nantes is a road junction and highway important of the French Atlantic facade, on the simplest road since the Brittany and the Basse-Normandie towards the the Vendée and the Poitou. It is on the axis of the Autoroute of the Estuaries (of the Flandres to the Basque Country).

The presence of the Estuaire of the the Loire obliges road flows to forward by the Ring road of Nantes, regularly encumbered at the rush hours the morning and the evening, which contributes thus to the development of the road exchanges on the Atlantic facade. Indeed, there exists for the moment no bridge on the Loire between that of Saint-Nazaire and that of Cheviré where forward more: 95000 cars each day on the 2x3 ways of the bridge. The transition on the Nantes by-pass to go the North-West to south-west east thus almost inevitable causing a very dense circulation at the time of big departures on vacation… Therefore the project of the second crossing of the Loire between Nantes and Saint Nazaire is considered from here with 2025. It would in the long term support the second peripheral of Nantes.

In urban area

The town of Nantes was invested these fifteen last years in a policy of reduction of the automobile traffic in downtown area.

For this purpose, the peripheral also plays an important function in the fluxing of the urban and perish-urban road traffics. Its realization culminated by the construction of the Pont of Cheviré above the Loire, downstream from Nantes. Many other bridges were also created in order to control circulation.

The ring road of Nantes is the largest peripheral of France. It makes it possible to sail round Nantes by north and by the south, it bears several names: in north, it is the highway A844, in the west, RN844, in the south, the RD145 and RD844, while with the east, it is RN249. This fractionation shows its construction stage starting from different the main axes joining Nantes.

The penetrating one, is consisted of the highway A811, makes it possible to connect the exchanger number 22 of the A11 to the exchanger number 42 of the peripheral (another name of the boulevard) more known under the name of door of Anjou. It was initially built with 2x2 ways between the N°22 exchanger of A11 and the exchanger of the Madeleine with the RN23 (become D723 since 2006) and 2x1 ways between this exchanger and the door of Anjou. At the end of the years 1990 this section was carried to 2x2 ways. It was the single access to A11 from Nantes until the completion of the prolongation of this one to the Northern peripheral in 1993.

Several radial highways give access the Nantais peripheral: the highway A11 towards Angers and Paris, the highway A83 towards Niort and Bordeaux, RN165 (future highway A82) towards Quimper and Brest (work of setting to the highway standards by the widening of the road with 2x3 ways between Nantes and Savenay before 2x4 ways on 1,5 kilometer before the junction towards Saint Nazaire) and RN137 (future highway A84) towards Rennes) and Caen.

Public transport

See also: History of public transport in Nantes, Tram of Nantes, Busway of Nantes, Lines of bus of Nantes

The Nantes agglomeration has a grid system jointly important managed by the Semitan and which comprises in 2007:

a network of tram which vastest and is the most attended France (in particular line 2), and which adds up three lines (lines 1 , 2 and 3 ) out of 38 kilometers.
a line of Busway (line 4 ) of 7 kilometers was inaugurated on November 6th, 2006 (One second line, line 5, should be born in the next years).
More than 50 lines of bus, including three lines of Chronobus (the lines 25 ; 32 and 86 ) and 3 lines of bus “express train” (towards Carquefou, Couëron and Vertou) also furrow Nantes and its agglomeration.

Lastly, Nantes have also a public transport river with three river lines (the Navibus the Loire , Erdre and Passeur ) and two services of vats. The latter are managed by the General advice of the Loire-Atlantique. They connect on the one hand, the Pilgrim with Couëron, and on the other hand, Indret with Low-Indre (both on the commune of Indre). They make it possible to cross the Loire downstream from the Pont of Cheviré (without using this one nor to pass by the center of Nantes).

Rail-bound transports

At the national level

In urban area and périurbaine

Nine SNCF railway stations of the Nantes agglomeration are accessible with tariffing from the urban transport TAN, the stations are; Nantes, St Not enchanted Sebastien, St Sebastien Round Ash, Vertou, Thouaré, Mauve, Rezé Pt Rousseau, Bouaye, Chantenay, Low-Indre, Saint-Herblain, Couëron.

In the decade which will follow, the line the SNCF in direction of Châteaubriant should be reopened with the passenger traffic. This objective being accompanied by the project interconnection by tram lines 1 & 2 in north, (by the Bridge of Jonelière). Initially a Tram-train should in particular serve, at the horizon 2009 - 2010, the stations of It Vault-on-Erdre, Suck-on-Erdre, Nort-sur-Erdre, like some additional stops especially created for the occasion with Nantes and It Vault-on-Erdre. Then, in the three years which will follow, the stations of Abbaretz, Issé and Châteaubriant should be served in their turn. The construction of a section towards the future airport of Our-Lady-of-Moors and which would be thus grafted with the line, is also being studied.

See also: Tram-train Nantes-Chateaubriant

Air transports

Nantes has an international airport, the Aéroport Nantes Atlantique, located at the south-west of the agglomeration, with horse on the territory of the communes of Bouguenais and Saint-Aignan-with-Grandlieu. Between 1996 and 2006, the traffic of passengers passed from 1,29 to 2,33 million passengers per annum. It is the second airport of province, after Lyon, for the flights Vacances (nonregular international flights known as “charter”), the sixth for the traffic of passengers and the eighth for freight.

As the axis of the tracks is directed towards the downtown area, it is frequent to see planes approaches some to fly very low above the city.

In 2008, the building work of a new airport, the Airport Nantes-Atlantic Large-West, should start, for a startup envisaged in 2012. It would gather the whole of the traffic from Brest to Bordeaux and would come to replace the current airport. It would be established with Our-Lady-of-Moors, in the Nantes area and would have an accessibility, thanks to the prolongation of the 2x2 ways and with the creation of a new line of public transport (Busway, Tram-train or chronobus).

But the ACIPA (Association Inter-commune Citizen of the Populations concerned with the project of Airport of Notre Dame of the Moors) fight against the construction of this airport qu´elle useless judge and pollutant. The construction of this airport n´est not yet completely decided, only the feasibility studies were made.

Maritime transport

August 1st

Nantes youth

Several different mediums cross there: easy layers as well as the " youth dorée" there have their place (the Carousel, Manor house, Loft, etc). The latter generally meet in the fashionable districts of the city (Course Cambronne - Guist' hau - Monselet). Young people of the districts " défavorisés" find themselves at the time of organized, collective evenings or in certain nightclubs (essentially the Quay West, Bliss,…). As for the students without under: Erasmus evenings, on the edges of the Erdre, at one or the other, the bars of night such as the Single Place (LU, the old factory), the 15 (a), Florida, the tug boat and other rads with music and environment…

Inheritance and culture

Nantes received the label town of art and history thanks to its inheritance and its major culture.

Tourism and inheritance

The inheritance of Nantes is rich thanks to its history. The castle of the Dukes of Brittany is the historical emblem of the city. The historical quarters have many places and buildings which make it possible to recall the history of Nantes.

Castle of the Dukes of Brittany

The Château of the Dukes of Brittany is located on Right Bank of the the Loire in the downtown area of Nantes. It was the main home of the dukes of Brittany of 13th at the 15th century. It is a fortress made up of seven towers connected by curtains. The entirety of the covered way is opened with the public. The court has several buildings dating from 15th, 16th and 18th century of which the ducal residence built out of stone of Tuffeau. The monument knew a large building site of restoration begun in 1990 and finished in 2007. It offers a new face to the architectural whole of the castle.

Historical quarters

The historical quarters of Nantes have many historic buildings. The medieval district of Bouffay close to the castle dates from the 15th century. It gathers a whole of houses to the frontages with wood sides, half-timberings and corbellings.

The districts of the 18th century whose architects are Jean-Baptiste Ceineray and Mathurin Crucy is the heart of the city. One finds there several places like the Place Graslin with his theater and the Brasserie the Cicada, the Royal Place with his fountain in the course of restoration and the Place Marshal-Foch. These places are connected by broad streets like the Cours Cambronne or the Cours Saint-Pierre and Saint Andre. These districts gather also the prefecture of Department (old Course of the Accounts of Brittany), the Palais of the Stock Exchange which sheltered the Tourist office today then FNAC and finally the island Feydeau (Temple of the Taste, Oval Cour, street Kervégan). Lastly, the Quai of the Pit is the witness of the old wearing of Nantes.

The districts of the 20th century present also some important monuments as the house of the Compagnons of the Duty which has a very beautiful twisted Clocher, the Tour Brittany, the Immeuble CGA and the Blockhaus DY10

Crowned places

Cathedral Saint-Pierre
Churches:

Saint Nicolas's Day: Classified historic building, because first Neo-gothic project of France, Built by Jean-Baptist-Antoine Lassus, raises Purple-Leduc , at the 19th century.
Holy Therese: built 1939 with 1963 by the architects Ménard and Shoed, it is a church of Style italo-Byzantine all in brick.
Holy-Cross: church of the 17th century surmounted by a communal Belfry drawn by Henri Driollet. The bedside is of the architect Nau
Notre-Dame of Good-Port (known as Saint-Louis)
Église Saint-Luc (one of the first churches polyvalantes of France)

Museums

Museum of history of Nantes (with the Castle of the dukes of Brittany) - (inauguration on February 9th, 2007)
Museum of the Art schools,
Museum Jules Verne,
Museum Dobrée,
Museum of Printing works,
Natural history museum of Natural history
Planetarium
Museum of the Companions of the Duty, with the manor of Hautière (with Chantenay)
Museum of the Sewing machine
Museum of the Post office
naval Museum With a grid Brézé
Museum of the Firemen of Loire-Atlantique

The first memorial with the Abolition of slavery of Europe will be built in the city starting from the autumn 2007 at an announced cost of 6,5 million euros. It will be built under the Quai of the Pit between the Pont Anne-of-Brittany and the Passerelle Victor Schoelcher.

Other inheritances

Machines of the Island

industrial Inheritance

Turn LU
yellow Goliath crane
Old Tobacco factory
Old electric factory Lamoricière

Trade of character

Passage Pommeraye
Chocolate factory, street of the Pit
Old Store Decré

Environmental inheritance

Parks and gardens:

Nantes is a flowered city having obtained four flowers with the Concours of the cities and flowered villages with the prize list 2006.

Several sites deserve the turning:

Botanical garden
Japanese Garden of the Island of Versailles
Park of Procé
Park of Gaudinière
Park of Beaujoire
Park of Chantrerie
Garden of the 5 Directions
Meadow with the Dukes (in building site, nearest opening)
Park of Large-Blottereau the
Valley of Erdre
the Small Amazonia, only site classified Natura 2000 in urban environment, located at the north of the District Malakoff and at the south of the station the SNCF. However, the visits are rather rare there; they are organized by LPO.

Cultural events

Biennial of contemporary art: Estuary. This year, about thirty works of art were to be discovered in boat throughout the estuary between Nantes and Saint-Nazaire,
the Eidos Festival of film of environment and sustainable development,
the Festival of the three continents,
the Insane Day,
the Utopiales, International festival of Science fiction,
the carnival of the Mi-Carême,
Lit the,
the International Floralies,
Natura,
Artibat,
the international exhibition, Parc of the Beaujoire,
the demonstrations End of century,
the Go of Erdre,
the festival Tissé Mongrel,
the Printemps of Arts,
the festivals of the cinemas German, Spanish, British and Italian with the Katorza,
the festival Scopitone,
the festival Nantes by FAC,
the festival Bar-bars, at the end of March,
Celtica,
Festival Right to laugh,
the Night ICAM.

Theater of street

Royal of Luxury

Rooms

the Theater Graslin, built by Mathurin Crucy in 1788. The frontage is made up of eight columns of Corinthian Ordre.
the Pannonica
the Single Place, arranged by the architect Patrick Bouchain in the old cookie factory LU.
the Olympic, in an old cinema of district builds in 1927.
the Career (with Saint-Herblain, in the west of Nantes)
the Trocardière (with Rezé, in the south of Nantes)
the Zenith, whose inauguration took place on December 4th, 2006 is built with Saint-Herblain, by the cabinet of architects Chaix & Morel. It is the 2nd greater Zenith of France with: 8500 spectators.
the Room Onyx, by the architect Jean Nouvel, is also located at Saint-Herblain, Atlantis zone.
the Quoted of the Congresses
the TNT (Neutral Ground Theater), located 11 allée de la Maison Rouge at Nantes.
the Mouth of air or room Strong Paul.
the T.U. - University Theater - room of 300 places established on the campus of the University of Nantes. " Officially agreed scene théâtre" since 2001.

Cinemas of art and test

the Good Guard
the Cinematograph
the Harmony
the Katorza
UGC Apollo (this cinema does not form any more part of the Nantes landscape because it was not profitable enough). It was the only French cinema to propose films with large spectacle with 10 francs then with 2 euros. UGC Apollo attracted customers with coed majority.)

Other Cinemas

UGC Atlantis
Pathé Atlantis (one of the largest cinema of Nantes)
Gaumont Trade
Cinéville with Saint-Sébastien-sur-Loire

Films made to Nantes

the Boat with soup of Maurice Gleize (1946)
Lola of Jacques Demy (1961)
Thunder of God of Denys of Patellière (1965)
the Mouth of the wolf of Michel Léviant (1981)
a room downtown of Jacques Demy (1982)
Jacquot of Nantes of Agnes Varda (1991)
the white Queen of Jean-Wolf Hubert (1991)
Because of it of Jean-Wolf Hubert (1993)
Wednesday insane day of Pascal Thomas (2001)
the Young lady of honor of Claude Chabrol (2004)

Music

an national orchestra: the National orchestra of the Countries of the Loire, directed in 2006 by Isaac Karabtchevsky, which proposes one symphonic season in Nantes and Angers (head office and logistics since its creation in 1971). The musicians are divided per half between the two cities.
an opera: Angers-Nantes Operated which officiates in Nantes with the Théâtre Graslin and with Angers with the Grand Theater.

Groups and musicians originating in Nantes

Nantes media

Local presses

the Letter with Excentric, “irrégulomadaire” (sic) satirical, paying in kiosk, free
the Newspaper of the Companies, monthly magazine, paying.
the Nantes, monthly magazine, free month
Nantes Attitude, City Mag Nantes, triennial, free
Nantes.maville.com, Internet site of information
Nantes Pocket, cultural weekly magazine, paying
Nantes Passion, municipal, free monthly magazine
New West, monthly magazine, paying
Western France, daily newspaper, paying
Pil', cultural weekly magazine, paying in kiosk, free
Press-Ocean/the Flash, daily newspaper, paying
Pulsomatic, monthly magazine cultural, free,
20 Minutes, daily newspaper, free
People Nantes, monthly magazine, free,
InSITU Nantes, quarterly, urban, free news magazine
Www.photos-nantes.com, Internet site of access to the work of the Nantes press photographer Daniel Joubert.

Local televisions

TéléNantes
Nantes 7
France 3 Estuary

Local radios

Alternating, associative radio, on 98.1 FM
Atlantis FM, associative radio on 107.0 FM
FIP Nantes, public radio, on 95.7 FM
Dimension of love, radio, on 99.9 FM
France Blue the Loire Ocean, public radio, on 101.8 FM
Hit West, on 100.9 FM
Jet FM, associative radio, on 91.2 FM
PRUN', radio coed, on 92 FM
Sun FM (Nantes), on 93 FM
NTI, on 93.4 FM
Euradionantes, on 101.3 FM

Famous personalities related to Nantes

The Nantes ones of origin

List of people born in Nantes

The Nantes ones of adoption

Jean-Baptiste Armonville, politician, originating in Rheims, it lived in Nantes and there Maria.
John-James (or Jean-Jacques) Audubon, born with Santo Domingo, ornithologist, naturalist and American painter (naturalized in 1812), appointed the first ornithologist of the New-World. It was high in Nantes and Couëron by his mother-in-law.
André Breton, originating in Tinchebray in the Flowering ash, writer and poet, one of the fathers of surrealism, followed its studies of medicine there.
the general of Empire Pierre Cambronne, second pomegranate of France, faithful among the faithful ones of the Emperor, and who remains famous to have pronounced the famous word which bears its name at the time of the end of the Bataille of Waterloo, according to the legend. He lived in Nantes, but was however native of Saint-Sébastien-sur-Loire, in the South-eastern suburbs of the city.
Joseph Fouché, duke of Otranto, politician, originating in the Pilgrim, in the South-western suburbs of the city, made its studies in Nantes and began its political career there.
Julien Gracq, writer originating in Saint-Florent-the-Old in Maine-et-Loire, it exerted its functions of professor of college in Nantes.
Angel Guépin, doctor and French politician, originating in Pontivy, lived in Nantes.
Rene Laennec, doctor, inventor of the stethoscope (born with Quimper and deceased with Ploaré), passed part of its youth to Nantes in his/her uncle, doctor him also, professor, director of the medical school and vice-chancellor of the university.

Sports

Athletics

The Nantes Stage Athletic Club is the club of most important Athlétisme of the area. Organizer of great events such as the international meeting Nant' hedges, his flag team is ridden in N1A in 2007, and the athletes of the club are regularly placed on the podiums of national competitions. Many athletes of the club are international.

The principal bond of drive is the stage of Procé, but there exist secondary establishments as with St Sebastien.

Oar

The city has several clubs of oar of which some count/counted Olympic champions among their members.

Circle of the Oar of Nantes (EDGE)
University of Nantes Oar
Club Léo-Lagrange Oar Nantes

Basketball

The Hermine of Nantes is in pro B (the second professional division) in 2007. It is the most former team on this level, it is present since the middle of the Nineties.

The historical club of Basketball of Nantes, NBC, was dissolves in 1991.

Horsemanship

Nantes is equipped with a Hippodrome (the Hippodrome of the Small Port) located on a site timbered near the universities.

Football

FC Nantes Atlantique has one of the most beautiful prize lists of national football:

8 championships of France of the First Division (1965, 1966, 1973, 1977, 1980, 1983, 1995 and 2001)
3 cuts of France (1979, 1999 and 2000)
2 Trophy of the Champions (1999 and 2001)
Record of longevity in the First Division: 44 consecutive seasons, of 1963-64 to 2006-07. The club indeed was mathematically relegated the evening of May 9th, 2007 and will thus evolve/move in Ligue 2 at the time of the season 2007-08.

Michel Der Zakarian, is the current trainer of the club. The preceding trainer, Georges Eo, holds the record of brevity at the post of trainer of the FCNA: entered in function on September 20th, 2006, he was laid off on February 13rd, 2007; there however remained trainer associated during several years.

The training center, located at Jonelière, was one of the first training centres of the French football and undoubtedly most prestigious of the years 1980.

In residence, the club plays in the Stade of Beaujoire or stage Louis Fonteneau, property of the city. This stage currently has a capacity of 38.285 places for an multitude record of more than 51.000 spectators at the time of the France-Belgium match on June 16th, 1984. In addition to the matches of FC Nantes, it also accommodates international sporting meetings (Football, Rugby) or cultural events (Concert). It was especially built at the time of the Euro 1984. The stage was also used for the Football world cup 1998 and the World cup as Rugby 2007.

The old stage (Stage Marcel-Saupin) is currently in reorganization. The majority of the enclosure was demolished in August 2006; only the northern platform and the zone of play were preserved. The site will in the long term accommodate a whole of offices and residences.

To note that the town of Nantes also has another football club, the ASPTT Nantes football, which evolves/moves in Higher Regional Division (D7) of the Atlantic Ligue of football. This club was Champion of DH Atlantique in 1979 and 1987.

American football

The Dockers is the only American football club of Nantes. Champion of France of D3 (Money Helmet) in 2003, after one year in the second division (semi-final the first year of Gold Helmet) in 2004, the Dockers evolve/move in D3 since 2005 with a presence in play-off for each season disputed in Division 3. http://dockers.football.free.fr The club has a team first senior and a team junior (+ 15 years) as well as a team of flag football (sport without contact)

Football of table (babyfoot)

The NFT (Nantes Football of table) is the most important club of babyfoot of France with more than 70 bachelors.

The club has been also champion of France of the Clubs for 4 years (2003-2006). Several players of the club are world champions.

The city is in addition the seat of the International federation of football of table (International Soccer Federation Counts).

Gymnastics

The gymnaste Jacques Def, invented with Nantes in 1984 the figure homonymous, known as the " Def" , initially conceived for the horizontal bar, which consists of an exit of the asymmetric bars with releasing higher bar in salto back tended accompanied by a gimlet and half.

Handball

Handball Club of Nantes is assembled in 2005 in Division 2.

Subaqueous hockey

For more than twenty years, the various teams of the Nantes Subaqueous Center have been regularly present on the national podiums of subaqueous hockey. Certain players of the club form part or belonged to the national selection. In 2006-2007, four different teams take share with the competitions: Equip male elite, male Equipe 2, female Equipe and junior Team.

For the moment, in 2007, team 1 is Championne Brittany-Country of the Loire and Championne of D1 France of winter with: Frederic Naux, Damien Chesné, Pascal Bruneau, Ruud Van Burgsteden, Jonathan Draper, Joost Schaap, Keveen Meurlay, Ugo Brisset, William Pasquet, Olivier Mehauté and their captain Samuel Noirault.

The championships of France of the first division proceeded June 22nd, 23rd and 24th in Evian. Team 1 is classified third of the group B with 7 victories, 1 no one and 2 defeats. She gains occasion consequently the trophy of the " chair in bois" rewarding the team having carried out the best progression in D1.

For more information on this sport and the Nantes team, go on the site of the club.

Hockey

Corsairs, in Division 2.

Rink-hockey

The NARH is in the first division.

Twinning

Nantes is twinned with:

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