Chateau des Ducs de Bretagne, Nantes

You'll recognize the medieval Chateau des Ducs de Bretagne by the bright white tufa stone that glistens in the sky as you approach it. This austere fortress is home to the Nantes History Museum and is the last castle of the Loire before reaching the Atlantic Ocean. Recent renovations allow you to stroll along the inner courtyard, revealing a 15th-century ducal palace in Renaissance style. In sharp contrast with its rough exterior walls, this castle radiates a certain elegance owed to its fine stone carvings. The rampart walk offers a number of viewpoints of the fortress and its interior buildings and across the city. In the grounds, stroll around the moat and surrounding magnolia gardens. You can download a free app with a tour of the castle to your smartphone. Plan your visit to Chateau des Ducs de Bretagne and a wealth of other attractions, well-known and undiscovered, using our Nantes trip builder site.