Nantes... something like a Capital

[RS-steph35]

Nantes is in west of France, is around 300,000 inhabitants in the city proper, and many more in urban and metropolitan area...

here some shots from yesterday...

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[Minato Ku]

I really like it...

[HowardL]

Are one or the other of these buildings leaning?
Leaning aside, really fantastic looking city. I adore France.

[Nantais]

Originally Posted by HowardL

Are one or the other of these buildings leaning?
Leaning aside, really fantastic looking city. I adore France.

Yes they are both leaning, it's because the Loire river is next to them and is weakening their foundations. There are a lot of old buildings leaning in Nantes (these are from the 18th century).

Actually I lived next to these buildings, in the same block, during seven years.
I miss my city.

[M II A II R II K]

Spectacular architecture.

[muppet]

hey Im visiting here in 2 days

[Fabb]

I like the tour de Bretagne, but something needs to be done to the roof. Even though its ugliness may be better than a tacky crown or a dull, flat roof, I guess that it's unfair to the skyline.

[FREKI]

Looks great - those leaning ones nearly blew my mind - looks crazy!

[elsonic]

wow, good job, for such an intangible city.

classic, half-destroyed (WWII), noble, socialist, bretonne, modern, old-school, french, gritty, modern, classy, catholic, small, huge, rich in history, ugly, photogenic, green. the ultimate French post-industrial city. still getting bigger, the 6th French city now?

that city is better to live than visit. no tram, no Erdre river, no student demonstration, no graff, no garden or tropical trees in your pics. but you get the picture : clear skies, white stone, space, modern (but subtle) infills, cranes all over the place. and yes : subtle. nothing spectacular.

Nantes est une ville complètement folle quand on la fouille un peu... Bordeaux est grandiose, Toulouse est vivante et colorée, Lyon fascine au premier regard, mais Nantes reste mystique, tout en progressant à l'écoute de sa population. lentement, constamment, et toujours en mieux. l'évolution est prudente, calculée mais toujours constante et parfaitement logique et rationnelle. j'adore cette ville qui prend en main son développement sans vouloir être le nombril de l'Europe. la qualité de vie des citoyens est priorisée, davantage que les grandes opérations touristiques marketing.

just for the record, the tram through the city (largest network in Europe) :


Flickr - Niels Hoffmeyer - http://www.flickr.com/photos/6103751...ith/403884278/


Flickr - Moktoipas - http://www.flickr.com/photos/moktoip...ith/301222512/


Flickr - quelquepartsurlaterre - http://www.flickr.com/photos/quelque...th/1415087628/

[elsonic]

I just reexplored your pics, and yes the tram is in da house - mais subtil :



twice

[staff]

Great, great shots. I only visited Nantes briefly, when driving from Bordeaux up to Normandie.

I don't think the tram system is the largest in Europe though, that sounds way wrong in my opinion.

[Minato Ku]

Originally Posted by elsonic

just for the record, the tram through the city (largest network in Europe) :

Are you joking
Nantes tram is only 40 km when Milan, Moscou, Cologne... network are about 200 km.
It is only the largest network in France, where most tram system was distroyed after the WWII.

[elsonic]

or, yes, right, largest in France only, I think it was too late yesterday night.

[Chelsea Spy]

delightful architectural details of a delightful town!

[PFloyd]

I love those trams! - I wish we had them here instead of our obsolete streetcars

[Austinlee]

France has so many great cities and towns.

[tackledspoon]

Beautiful! I regret not seeing more of France when I was in Paris and Avignon last summer. Anyway, a tip for my fellow forumers: this thread is even better when accompanied by the Beirut song of same name.