Botanical Garden

After the sea, it’s time for the land. Welcome to the Jardin des Plantes, the Botanical Garden. Opened in 1886 and designed by the Nantes landscape architect François Aubry, this English-style garden was created as a place to wander, with wide lawns, winding paths and rare trees. It was laid out on an old sand dune that had been stabilized and it opens directly onto the Loire estuary. Today, more than 300 plant species grow here side by side, including century-old trees, both Atlantic and Mediterranean varieties, a rose garden, shady pergolas and even a vegetable patch whose summer harvests are shared with visitors. But the garden is also a place of memory: you’ll see a granite arch from the former chapel of Notre-Dame d’Espérance, and a memorial to the victims of the Queen Mary 2 accident in 2003, when a temporary walkway collapsed during the ship’s construction, tragically killing sixteen people. The event left a lasting mark on the city and is still remembered today. The garden itself is lovingly cared for by the city’s gardeners, who add spectacular plantings each year while preserving its rich natural heritage. A peaceful haven in the heart of Saint-Nazaire, it invites you to slow down, take a stroll and enjoy the mix of history, nature and sweeping views of the sea.