Nantes Audio Tour, Castle to Machines de l'Île

2–3 hours Private tour

Nantes Audio Tour, Castle to Machines de l'Île, photo 2 — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

About this activity

Explore Nantes' rich history on this engaging three-hour walk that takes you from medieval gates to modern art. Begin at Porte Saint-Pierre, where significant historical events unfolded, and visit landmarks like the majestic Nantes Cathedral and the Castle of the Dukes of Brittany, where the Edict of Nantes was signed. Discover the stunning Passage Pommeraye and the poignant Memorial to the Abolition of Slavery before ending at Les Machines de l'Île, where you can encounter the fascinating mechanical elephant. Enjoy insightful audio commentary at your own pace, with the flexibility to explore attractions further if desired.

Discover 18 historical sites over 4.5km in Nantes
Visit the Cathedral and Castle with free access to certain areas
Learn about Nantes’ transformation through engaging audio narration
Conclude at Les Machines de l'Île

Private and Luxury Private Sightseeing Tours Audio Guides Cultural Tours Historical Tours Walking Tours Short term availability Weather Dependent - Low

At a glance

Duration: 2–3 hours
Confirmation: Instant confirmation
Ticket: Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Group: Your group only
People per booking: 1–15
Audio guide: English
Written guide: English
Operated by: Exploro - Dublin

Ages: Adults (1–120 years)

What is included

Included

Included: Audio narration, plus images for context
Included: Easy to use app
Included: Unlimited access to this Self-Guided Tour on the Exploro app
Included: Compatible with both iOS and Android
Included: Local expert curated itinerary with hidden stories and highlights
Included: Flexible: start, pause, or resume anytime at your own pace
Included: Interactive map with GPS navigation, directions, and marked stops

Not included

Not included: In-person Guide

Itinerary

Porte Saint-Pierre

10 min

Porte Saint-Pierre was the main eastern gate into the medieval city.
Stop 2

20 min

Duke of Brittany, started construction in the 1460s knowing that the King of France wanted his territory.
Basilique Saint Nicolas

10 min

This building took 25 years to construct and another 15 just for the bell tower.
Passage Pommeraye

10 min

One of the most beautiful shopping arcades in France
Stop 5

5 min

This time it's a schoolgirl, dressed in what looks like a standard French school uniform, and she's in the middle of climbing on or off the empty plinth.
Stop 6

5 min

A single metal pole with five hoops branching off it at different heights.
Les Anneaux

10 min

Today, the riverbank has been reclaimed by eighteen massive steel rings that stretch nearly a kilometer along the water.

Meeting point and pickup

Everyone meets at the meeting point.

Meeting point

Press the direction button to get there. The app will tell you where you need to go.

End point

After the tour is completed you can enjoy Nantes as you wish.

Using your ticket

Your Exploro Tour is Ready!

Thanks for booking your self-guided tour with Exploro, we’re excited to help you discover the city at your own pace!

To avoid issues, open the tour a day early and check everything loads correctly

Here’s everything you need to get started:

If you don’t have the Exploro app yet:

1. Download the Exploro app from our website: https://exploro.app

2. Open the app and sign up for a free account.

3. Follow the onboarding steps. When asked, select the platform where you bought your tour (e.g. Viator, TripAdvisor), choose your tour from the list, and enter your booking reference number to unlock it.

4. If you have any trouble unlocking the tour during onboarding, copy and paste the link below in Chrome or Safari (tap Allow if prompted) then enter your booking reference number to unlock it.

Already have the app installed?

1. Make sure you're signed in to your account in the Exploro app

2. Copy and paste this link in Chrome or Safari to open your tour in the app (if asked click on allow):

https://exploro.app/tours/nantes-audio-tour-castle-to-machines-de-l-ile?source=viator

3. Insert your booking reference number.

Helpful tips:

Make sure your phone is charged
We highly recommend bringing a portable charger
Bring earphones to avoid disturbing others
Wear comfortable shoes
The tour is completely flexible — explore anytime

Want to revisit the tour later?

You’ll find it saved under the “Saved” tab in the Exploro app anytime.

It is suggested opening the app a little earlier to familiarize yourself with the interface and to make sure you've given it access to your location. This will ensure you can fully utilize the map function for a seamless experience.

If you have any questions or run into any issues, feel free to contact us at [email protected] or drop a message via WhatsApp at +39 389 644 9134, we're happy to help!

Don't forget to rate the tour when you're done. Thanks!

Enjoy your journey,

The Exploro Team