View of the Saint-Nazaire Bridge

It’s here, at the edge of this rocky outcrop, that your walk might suddenly come to an end—but not in a bad way, especially if you’ve made it all the way to the tip. At the foot of the Vieux Môle lighthouse—the city’s very first port structure, built back in 1835—you’ll find a kind of balcony with a breathtaking view over the vast, tranquil waters of the Loire estuary, and beyond that, the Atlantic Ocean. Take a moment to pause. Let your eyes wander to the horizon and soak in this peaceful natural panorama. With a bit of focus, you’ll spot the graceful outline of the Saint-Nazaire Bridge stretching across the water. Inaugurated in 1975 after three years of construction, it’s currently the longest bridge in France, measuring 3,356 metres in length. It’s held up by 72 cable stays and 54 towering piers. Open to cars, pedestrians, and cyclists alike, the bridge links Saint-Nazaire to Saint-Brévin, rising more than 61 metres above the water at its highest point. It used to be a toll bridge, but since October 1st, 1994, the crossing has been completely free.