Technical Tours
Discover the comprehensive program of technical visits and excursions! Each tour is available on Wednesdays and Thursdays, and each person can register for one tour.
Two visit time slots are available:
Wednesday from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Thursday from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Departure and return will take place at the Cité des Congrès.
On Thursday, participants registered for visits during the 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. time slot will not be able to attend the conferences scheduled at the Cité des Congrès during that same time.
Discover all itineraries:
ITINERARY D: Euronantes - Quartier Malakoff - Pré Gauchet
Urban Renewal and Ecological ContinuityITINERARY E: Ancien bras de Loire Est
Starting point of the Nantes promenade
ITINERARY A: Ile de Nantes - East
The Development of Beaulieu Island: From a 1960s Project to Contemporary Urban Challenges
Explore the Beaulieu district, located on the eastern side of the Île de Nantes, and discover the legacy of its 1960s urban development project along with today’s urban planning challenges.
Date and time :
10 September, from 9:00 to 12:30
or 11 September,from 13:00 to 16:30
Duration:
3 hours - Departure from / return to the Cité des Congrès
Accessibility: partial
This tour will highlight the transformations of Beaulieu Island through five key stops, from Place René Viviani to the Beaulieu Nature Park (Crapa), passing through the Garden of the Five Senses as well as the local public spaces of Place de la Galarne and Square Jacques de Bollardière. It will showcase the range of initiatives underway in the neighborhood—from soil de-sealing and renaturation to the requalification of uses and landscape integration. Along the way, you will also discover community-based projects developed in consultation with local residents.
Programme :
A1 - Place René Viviani
Place / open ground plan / revegetation
A2 - Jardin des Cinq Sens
Garden / Educational area / playground / relaxation area
A3 - Place de la Galarne
Place renovation / revegetation
A4 - Square Jacques de Bollardière
Public square / playground / picnic area
A5 - Parc Naturel de Beaulieu
Public park / wet meadows of the Loire / games > playground / picnic area
Jardin des 5 sens © Ville de Nantes
Parc de Beaulieu (1) © Ville de Nantes
Parc de Beaulieu (2) © Romain Boulanger, Nantes Métropole
ITINERARY B: Île de Nantes - Centre
The Reinvention of the Île de Nantes: Between Industrial Heritage and Opening onto the Loire
Dive into the industrial past of the Île de Nantes and explore the banks of the Loire, the river driving urban transformations.
Date and time :
10 September, from 9:00 to 12:30
or 11 September,from 13:00 to 16:30
Duration:
3 hours - Departure from / return to the Cité des Congrès
Accessibility: partial
During this visit, you will explore the former industrial site of the Fonderies, located at the heart of the Île de Nantes, now a neighborhood combining housing and tertiary activities, as well as the Jardin des Fonderies, a former industrial hall from 1937 transformed into a covered public garden. Along the banks of the Loire, you will discover the developments made to reclaim the riverbanks and enhance their natural and fluvial character, promoting soft mobility.
Programme :
B1 - Les Fonderies & Jardin des Fonderies
Housing / tertiary activities
B2 - Banks of the Loire
Riverbanks / soft mobility
Les Fonderies
© Franck Tomps - LVAN
© Franck Tomps - LVAN
ITINERARY C: Île de Nantes - Ouest
The transformation of the western part of the island: from a historic shipbuilding hub to a vibrant creative district
Discover one of Nantes’ most iconic neighborhoods and meet its famous elephant!
Date and time :
10 September, from 9:00 to 12:30
or 11 September,from 13:00 to 16:30
Duration:
3 hours - Departure from / return to the Cité des Congrès
Accessibility: partial
For about fifteen years, the western part of Nantes Island (Prairie-au-Duc / Parc des Chantiers area), once a major shipbuilding hub long left abandoned, has undergone a profound transformation driven by urban planner Alexandre Chemetoff. Throughout your visit, you will discover a creative, cultural, and tourist hub that has become one of the symbols of Nantes’ urban renewal. Not far from there, the Jardins de l’Estuaire, currently under development, are strengthening the island’s green network and embody the ambition of a sustainable, peaceful city focused on the well-being of its residents.
Programme :
C1 - Prairie au Duc & Parc des Chantiers
Urban renewal / creative hub / tourism
C2 - Jardins de l'Estuaire
Green network / sustainability
© David Gallard / LVAN
© Franck Tomps / LVAN
© Franck Tomps / LVAN
ITINERARY D: Euronantes - Quartier Malakoff - Pré Gauchet
Urban Renewal and Ecological Continuity
Explore an area in the midst of transformation, where social, economic, and environmental challenges intersect.
Date and time :
10 September, from 9:00 to 12:30
or 11 September,from 13:00 to 16:30
Duration:
3 hours - Departure from / return to the Cité des Congrès
Accessibility: partial
Your visit will begin with the discovery of Quai des Pins, a flagship project of Nantes' Plan Pleine Terre, located near the new Euronantes Gare business district. Moving toward the south, you’ll pass through the working-class neighborhood of Malakoff, which has been completely redeveloped and connected to the city center through the creation of the Pré-Gauchet district, built from scratch and crossed by Mail Pablo Picasso, a long linear garden linking the banks of the Loire to the historic northern neighborhoods. Nearby, the Petite Amazonie, a protected natural area, shelters rare and valuable biodiversity right in the heart of the city.
Programme :
D1 - Quai des Pins
Business / urban renewal
D2 - Malakoff District / Mail Pablo Picasso
Working-class neighborhood / Linear garden
D2 - Petite Amazonie
Natural area / Biodiversity
© Ville de Nantes
© Martin Argyrodlo - LVAN
ITINERARY E: Ancien bras de Loire Est
Starting point of the Nantes promenade
From the Jardin des Plantes to the Château des Ducs de Bretagne, discover a new green corridor connecting two of Nantes’ most iconic historic sites.
Date and time :
10 September, from 9:00 to 12:30
or 11 September,from 13:00 to 16:30
Duration:
3 hours - Departure from / return to the Cité des Congrès
Accessibility: partial
Begin your visit at the Jardin des Plantes, renowned worldwide for its remarkable botanical collections, notably its camellia collection, unique in France. Directly connected to Nantes train station, which it faces, the garden extends beyond its walls and spills onto the forecourt through “botanical bursts,” marking the start of the “Promenade Nantaise,” a new green pathway where car traffic has been reduced in favor of pedestrians. This new green corridor crosses the city center from east to west, connecting the train station to the Château des Ducs de Bretagne, where you will discover a “Station Gourmande”: an urban orchard open for public foraging.
Programme :
E1 - Jardin des Plantes
Biodiversity / green pathway
E2 - Château des Ducs de Bretagne
Station Gourmande / urban orchard
© Nantes Métropole
© Rodolphe Delaroque, Nantes Métropole
© Rodolphe Delaroque, Nantes Métropole
ITINERARY F: Ancien bras de Loire Centre
Reinventing the city center: greening and transforming busy areas into pedestrian-friendly spaces
Dive into the heart of Nantes city center and discover its recent transformations through a journey blending heritage, art, and urban planning.
Date and time :
10 September, from 9:00 to 12:30
or 11 September,from 13:00 to 16:30
Duration:
3 hours - Departure from / return to the Cité des Congrès
Accessibility: partial
From the water mirror reflecting the Château des Ducs de Bretagne to the artistic playground created by Kinya Maruyama featuring a wooden sea monster, and passing by the surprising Feydball football pitch, this route invites you to discover the city’s unique spirit. As you walk along the Bouffay district, renovated between 2009 and 2012, you will reach the Feydeau-Commerce area, where a former major road junction has been transformed into a green, peaceful space designed for pedestrians. The highlight of the visit is the Gloriette-Petite Hollande site, a former parking lot symbolizing car dominance, soon to be replaced by a 4-hectare park-archipelago in the heart of the city.
Programme :
F1 - Château des Ducs de Bretagne
Water mirror
F2 - Artistic playground Kinya Maruyama
Station Gourmande / urban orchard
F3 - Bouffay district
Commerce area / green space
F4 - Gloriette-Petite Hollande
Park-archipelago
© Martin Argyroglo - LVAN
© Philippe PIRON / LVAN
© Jean-Dominique Billaud / LVAN
ITINERARY G: Quai de Loire Ouest - Bas Chantenay
Loire River Views and Garden Discoveries: A Journey with Extraordinary Perspectives
Escape within a stone’s throw from the city center and explore the Bas Chantenay district.
Date and time :
10 September, from 9:00 to 12:30
or 11 September,from 13:00 to 16:30
Duration:
3 hours - Departure from / return to the Cité des Congrès
Accessibility: partial
Along the way, you’ll enjoy stunning views over the Loire before entering a truly extraordinary garden! Set within a former quarry, the Jardin Extraordinaire is a lush, tropical-inspired oasis featuring a 25-meter-high recirculating waterfall, exotic plants, and a vast phyto-purified paddling pool—unique of its kind. The visit concludes at the Parc des Oblates, a magnificent haven of nature and heritage, also offering exceptional panoramic views of the Loire.
Programme :
G1 - Jardin extraordinaire
Tropical-inspired oasis
G2 - Parc des oblates
Nature & heritage
© Ville de Nantes
© Ville de Nantes
© Ville de Nantes
ITINERARY H: Centre Nantes Nord
Discovering the Banks of the Erdre – A Green Haven in the Heart of the City Center
Experience the charm of the city center through a route that invites you to stroll.
Date and time :
10 September, from 9:00 to 12:30
or 11 September,from 13:00 to 16:30
Duration:
3 hours - Departure from / return to the Cité des Congrès
Accessibility: partial
Start your visit in the city center, at Quai Ceineray — one of the most popular spots among locals during the warmer months — and stroll along the banks of the Erdre River, once described by King Francis I as the most beautiful river in France. Along the way, you’ll encounter charming houseboats that contribute to the neighborhood’s unique character, as well as amenities designed to promote soft mobility. Not far from there, take a peaceful escape to the Japanese garden on Île de Versailles — a haven for local flora and fauna, and a peaceful retreat in the heart of the city.
Programme :
H1 - Quai Ceineray
River / soft mobility
H2 - Japanese garden, Île de Versailles
Flora and fauna / biodiversity
© Stéphane Menoret, Nantes Métropole
© Ville de Nantes
© Patrick Garçon, Nantes Métropole
ITINERARY I: Nantes Est
From the Former Mellinet Barracks to the Jardin des Plantes: A Preserved and Revitalized Heritage
This tour will take you on a journey through time and allow you to discover the city’s efforts to preserve and restore its historical heritage, both architectural and landscaped.
Date and time :
10 September, from 9:00 to 12:30
or 11 September,from 13:00 to 16:30
Duration:
3 hours - Departure from / return to the Cité des Congrès
Accessibility: partial
Located on the site of a former military barracks, the Mellinet Barracks is being transformed into a new 13.5-hectare mixed-use neighborhood, set for completion by 2030. This project, which includes 1,700 housing units, public facilities, business spaces, and the renovation of historic buildings, is being co-developed with local residents as part of a sustainable approach promoting social diversity, soft mobility and material reuse. Continuing your visit toward the city center, you'll discover the Jardin des Plantes of Nantes, internationally renowned for its exceptional botanical collections. Renowned for its seasonal beauty and exceptional specimens—such as the 200-year-old Hectot magnolia, the park’s oldest tree—this garden stands as one of Nantes’ most iconic destinations, with a history that mirrors that of the city itself.
Programme :
I1 - Mellinet Barracks
Housing / public facilities / renovation / mixed-use neighborhood
I2 - Jardin des Plantes
Biodiversity / Botanical collection
© Roberto Giangrande, Nantes Métropole
© Ville de Nantes
© Ville de Nantes
ITINERARY J: Sud Loire - Rezé
Between Urban Renewal and Picturesque Charm: Discover the Future Pirmil-les-Isles District and the Tourist Village of Trentemoult
Cross the Loire and head to Rezé, a neighboring town of Nantes, to explore a territory undergoing major transformation—then let yourself be charmed by the colorful authenticity of the Trentemoult district.
Date and time :
10 September, from 9:00 to 12:30
or 11 September,from 13:00 to 16:30
Duration:
3 hours - Departure from / return to the Cité des Congrès
Accessibility: partial
The Pirmil-les-Isles project, located between Nantes and Rezé, aims to transform the Basse-Île—an island in the Loire River—into a mixed-use, sustainable, and exemplary urban neighborhood. Nearly 1,000 new homes will be built, along with public facilities, shops, and office space, all within an ecological and participatory approach supported by the France 2030 plan. Not far from there, by the Loire riverbanks, you’ll discover Trentemoult, a former fishing village with narrow streets and vibrant facades inviting you to slow down and wander.
Programme :
J1 - Pirmil-les-Isles
Island / sustainability / mixed-use neighborhood
J2 - Trentemoult
Fishing village / patrimony
© Mezerette Thierry / Ville de Rezé
© Clément Surcouf / LVAN
© Clément Surcouf / LVAN
ITINERARY K: Nantes Grand Ouest - Quartier Grand Bellevue
Reinventing Grand Bellevue: a major urban transformation serving its residents
Discover an emblematic district of the Nantes metropolitan area, where an ambitious urban project is taking shape combining quality of life, social diversity, and sustainable development.
Date and time :
10 September, from 9:00 to 12:30
or 11 September,from 13:00 to 16:30
Duration:
3 hours - Departure from / return to the Cité des Congrès
Accessibility: partial
The Grand Bellevue project, which you will explore during this visit, is one of the largest urban renewal programmes in the Nantes metropolitan area. Spanning the municipalities of Nantes and Saint-Herblain, this district of nearly 20,000 residents—built in the 1960s—is undergoing a major transformation. The goal is to create a vibrant, inclusive, and sustainable neighborhood, with a strong focus on improving living conditions, boosting economic development, and fostering social cohesion.
Programme :
K1 - Grand-Bellevue Project
Urban renewal / transformation
© Ville de Nantes
© Ville de Nantes
© Ville de Nantes
