Life in Nantes

Nantes, a European city in France

By Joshua Jampol, journalist, weekly tribunes in The Times, The Guardian, Time Magazine and the International Herald Tribune.

"Nantes is the gateway to the central Loire Valley, one of the nation’s jewels, with its lush vineyards and legendary châteaux. From Nantes you have access to a dozen different worlds and their rich history, architecture, gastronomy and more. Just two hours from Paris by high-speed train, Nantes is a link outward to London, Brussels and Geneva. It is France’s western capital and Paris’ natural route to the sea. Open to the sea, it boasts both the nation’s number-one Atlantic seaport and busiest airport […]"

A singular mix of competencies

"[…] Today Nantes is building a bridge into tomorrow. It’s channelling a singular mix of competencies, consolidating its role in the 21st century. The region, always open, is now reopening; it’s in complete transformation. You can visit various civilisations and lifestyles from here. But you’ll also catch a glimpse of what the future is going to be like."

The western powerhouse economic dynamism is catching

"Today, whenever any big company considers moving to France, Nantes always makes the shortlist. […] The economy has spread so widely, and grown so mixed, that it’s no longer easy to pin down to a sector or two.
Nantes prefers variety. It mingles traditional industries - like food processing or aeronautics, where it has led for years - with emerging activities like information technology and biotech […]"