Barbusse footbridge

The Barbusse footbridge, a panorama over the Erdre

The Nantes audio-guided tour invites you, on leaving Versailles Island, to take the high Barbusse footbridge to enjoy a fine panoramic view of the Erdre and its barges. It is the ideal moment to capture this river landscape in the heart of the city.

A tribute to a pacifist writer

The footbridge, like the quay it overlooks, bears the name of Henri Barbusse, a French pacifist writer who died in 1935. This cable-stayed footbridge spans the Erdre from the Quai de Versailles and links the two banks for pedestrians. On the left, the quay continues as the Quai de la Motte rouge, from where the cruise boats that ply the river depart.

What there is to see

From the footbridge, the gaze takes in the Erdre, its tree-lined banks and its moored barges, offering one of the finest river views of Nantes. It is a photogenic stop between Versailles Island and the city centre. Below, the ballet of the cruise boats recalls the river's vocation for strolling and leisure.

Practical information

The Barbusse footbridge spans the Erdre from the Quai de Versailles, to the north of central Nantes, near Versailles Island. Reserved for pedestrians, it is freely accessible at all hours. The nearby Quai de la Motte rouge is the departure point for cruises on the Erdre.

Where does the footbridge's name come from?

It bears the name of Henri Barbusse, a French pacifist writer who died in 1935, like the quay it overlooks.

What can you see from the footbridge?

A panorama over the Erdre, its banks and its barges, as well as the Quai de la Motte rouge, from where the cruises depart.