Nantes (Breton: Naoned; Gallo: Naunnt) is a city in western France, near the Atlantic coast, with 711,120 inhabitants in the metropolitan area at the 1999 census. Nantes is the capital of the Pays de la Loire région, as well as the préfecture of the Loire-Atlantique département. It is also the most important city of historic Brittany, though now a part of the modern Pays de la Loire region.
Main sightsThe city has a total area of 65.19 km² (25.18 mi²). Its coordinates are 47°14' N, 1°35' W.
Nantes is located on the banks of the Loire river, at the confluence of the Erdre and the Sèvre Nantaise, near the river's mouth, 55 km (35 mi) from the Atlantic Ocean. The city was built in a place where many branches of the Loire river created several islands, but most of those branches were filled in at the beginning of the 20th century (and the confluence with the Erdre river diverted and covered) due to the increasing car traffic.
Nantes is divided into 11 neighborhoods, 9 on the right bank of the Loire, 1 on the left bank and 1 on the Ile-de-Nantes island.
Nantes is bordered by the cities of Basse-Goulaine, Bouguenais, Carquefou, La Chapelle-sur-Erdre, Couëron, Indre, La Montagne, Orvault, Rezé, Saint-Herblain, Sainte-Luce-sur-Loire, Saint-Jean de Boiseau, Saint-Sébastien-sur-Loire and Vertou.
DemographicsAs of the 1999 census, there were 270,251 inhabitants in the city (commune) of Nantes. The population density was 4260 persons/km². There were 711,120 inhabitants in the metropolitan area (aire urbaine).
As of February 2004 estimates, the population of the city of Nantes reached 276,200 inhabitants.
MiscellaneousFormerly the capital of Brittany, Nantes was separated from the region by the Vichy government in June 1941. Although the city has been part of the Pays de la Loire région since 1971, the feeling that Nantes belongs to Brittany is still solid nowadays. For cultural and political reasons, many people still identify with Brittany.
The local football team is FC Nantes Atlantique.
The Celtic band Tri Yann was originally known as Tri Yann an Naoned (the three Johns from Nantes).
Nantes's primary sister cities are the ports of Jacksonville, Florida; Seattle, Washington and Cardiff, Wales.
On December 31, 2006, some 600 people gathered in Nantes to protest the arrival of the New Year. They marched and held up banners that read 'No to 2007' and 'Now is better!' The protestors asked several governments and even the UN to declare a moratorium on the future. When the clock ticked past midnight, indicating the arrival of 2007, the protestors happily began to cheer 'No to 2008!' The organisers claimed that they would stage the same event at the end of 2007, but this time on the Champs-Elysees avenue in Paris.[1]
Colleges and universitiesThe omnibus, the first organized public transit system within a city, appears to have been originated in Nantes in 1826 with tramway beginning operation in 1879, this tramway system closed in 1958. The Tramway de Nantes has three lines. The first line was opened in 1985, now the largest tramway network in France. Futures line extensions are projected.
Projected Lines
Nantes is the first european city to have created a busway launched in 2006 : the Ligne 4.
The Nottingham Express Transit system in Nottingham, UK has trams of a similar design.
Nantes has an international airport: Nantes Atlantique Airport.
Nantes lies on a number of rail lines, including TGV lines. By train, Nantes is connected via TGV to Paris, Lyon, Marseille, & Lille. In 2007, Nantes will be connected to Strasbourg & the East of France. By Corail (Classical Train), Nantes is connected at Quimper, La Rochelle, Bordeaux, Lyon, Toulouse. By TER (Regional Transport), you can to go Saint-Nazaire, Angers, Le Mans, La Roche sur Yon, and many other regional cities.
Famous people born in Nantes
