Nantes: a delight for your senses

Nearly all the inhanitants of this city live less than 300 metres from a green space of some kind – which together with its efforts to promote a sustainable way of life earned Nantes the designation as Europe’s Green City 2013. Beyond this, the city which gave birth to Jules Verne still holds many secret (as well as not-so-secret) delights down its streets. Highlights include the Castle of the Dukes of Brittany, a wonderful botanical garden and Japanese garden, a properly imposing cathedral, a plethora of impressive churches, and the Bouffay and Feydeau Island districts. Nantes also makes an especially fine jumpoff point for a tour of the famous châteaux of the Loire Valley.