Day 74. Mauve-sur-Loire to Nantes. 27km, 1h45.
After an excellent breakfast at Bel Air, we flew down the hill in the mist and drizzle back to the Loire. We had a relaxed cycle on a flat route to Nantes. Here we wound our way to the very helpful tourist information office and then on to the market.
The Marche de Talensac, the indoor market, was buzzing. The array of seafoods, meats, and cheeses was amazing. We stocked up for our 2 day stay in Nantes. Gilly and Mitch then dropped off their bikes and we had lunch with them at the station before they caught the TGV back to Paris. It was wonderful to have them along with us for a week, even though the time went very fast. They did 440 km with us which is pretty good going. We will certainly miss their cheerful and easy company.
We rented a small - I mean tiny - apartment for our 2 nights in Nantes. It is situated in an historic building on what was once the river frontage and is close to the centre of the city which was what drew us to book it. What we didn't know was that it was at the top of 103 steps, we couldn't stand upright in the bedroom-cum-bathroom, and that the mozzies would attack in waves. It was still good to be able to cook for ourselves and have somewhere to watch the World Cup final.
Nantes is a very pleasant and friendly place. The streets are wide; there is a relaxed cafe culture; there is an interesting and harmonious combination of old and modern buildings. The cathedral (St Pierre St Paul), which took over four hundred years to complete, is an imposing building on the outside, but inside it is very elegant and simple. The elaborate tomb of Francois II and Marguerite de Foix is there with beautiful marble sculptures of the 4 virtues and heaps of disciples and saints. The chateau (the Castle of the Dukes of Brittany) with its classical moat was built by the same Francois II, who was the last Duke of Brittany and completed by Anne of Brittany who was twice queen of France.
Nantes is situated at the confluence of 4 rivers, the Loire, Sevre, Sens and Erdre at the head of the Loire Estuary so was an important maritime city. Today it is the biggest city of north-west France, and although no longer officially part of Brittany, is culturally Breton and regarded as its capital city. In 2004 Time named Nantes as the most " livable city in Europe".
The busy Sunday market.
All still alive.
An amazing choice of fruit.
Cathedral interior - the nave is 37,5m, higher than Notre-Dame.
Adriatic to Atlantic! Nice one. I remember getting a bit lost in Nantes - coming in via the Erdre and going out the same direction instead of the Loire! How nice that Gilly and Mitch were able to join you for the week. I'm curious - where is your route taking you next?
ReplyDelete