Nantes is packed full of history and a thriving culture, and you can explore it all by visiting the resident museums covering local history and beyond. You'll find museums showcasing art, both historic and modern, along with history museums focused on preserving the past.

Whether you're interested in technology, history, the planet or art, you won't have to look far to find something that sparks your interest. Take a look at some of the best museums in Nantes where you can dive into a world of knowledge.

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    Machine Gallery (Galerie des Machines)

    Explore a bestiary of machines

    Machine Gallery (Galerie des Machines)
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    The Machine Gallery (Galerie des Machines) is a fascinating museum that showcases a variety of machines that take the shape of strange creatures. At this museum, you'll see machines in the form of a giant hummingbird as well as wild geese.

    One of the more stunning creations is the massive heron, which features a wingspan of 8 metres. In some cases, you can even climb in and control some of the machines yourself. It's all located just south of the city centre on Ile de Nantes.

    ที่ตั้ง: 75007 Paris, France

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    ภาพโดย Erwan Corre (CC BY-SA 3.0) เวอร์ชั่นแก้ไข

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    Nantes Art Museum (Musée d'Arts de Nantes)

    See both historic and modern art

    Nantes Art Museum (Musée d'Arts de Nantes)
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    The Nantes Art Museum (Musée d'Arts de Nantes) is a popular museum first established in 1801 where you'll find historic and contemporary art on display. The collection here is divided into 2 overall sections, with each defining a certain time period.

    When you visit the museum's first section, you'll find a collection of works from 13th-century to 18th-century artists like Abraham Bloemaert, Jan Brueghel the Elder and Perugino. Meanwhile, the second section focuses on 19th to 20th century works by artists like Eugene Boudin, Camille Corot and Delacroix. See it all for yourself right near the city centre.

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    ภาพโดย Vincent Valentin (CC BY-SA 4.0) เวอร์ชั่นแก้ไข

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    Natural History Museum

    Discover a museum for animal lovers

    Natural History Museum
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    The Natural History Museum (Musée d'histoire naturelle de Nantes) lets visitors dive into the history of animals and wildlife with a massive number of specimens. You'll find that the collection covers quite a few different topics, including general zoology, local wildlife and mineralogy.

    When you visit this museum, make sure to stop by the reptile house. This stunning exhibit lets you see not only reptiles that are native to France but more exotic specimens. Check the local calendar, as the museum frequently holds temporary exhibitions too. It's conveniently located on the west side of the city centre.

    ที่ตั้ง: 57 Rue Cuvier, 75005 Paris, France

    เปิด: Wednesday–Monday from 10 am to 6 pm (closed on Tuesdays)

    โทร: +33 1 40 79 56 01

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    ภาพโดย M.Strīķis (CC BY-SA 3.0) เวอร์ชั่นแก้ไข

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    Memorial to the Abolition of Slavery

    Remember the dark side of local history

    Memorial to the Abolition of Slavery
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    The Memorial to the Abolition of Slavery (Mémorial de l'Abolition de l'Esclavage) is a memorial in town dedicated to the victims of the Nantes slave trade. Nantes was active in the slave trade from the 17th to the 19th centuries as the principal trade port.

    When you visit this monument, you'll be able to see a massive site loudly declaring in 47 different languages that never again shall a human be held in slavery. You'll also find a detailed slavery timeline as well as quotes from abolitionists and freedom fighters from across the world. It's located on the northern bank of the Bras de la Madeleine.

    ที่ตั้ง: Passerelle Victor-Schoelcher, Quai de la Fosse, 44000 Nantes, France

    เปิด: Daily from 9 am to 6 pm

    โทร: +33 811 46 46 44

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    ภาพโดย Jean-Marc Ayrault (CC BY 2.0) เวอร์ชั่นแก้ไข

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    French Destroyer Maillé-Brézé (Le Maillé-Brézé)

    Set foot on a museum ship

    French Destroyer Maillé-Brézé (Le Maillé-Brézé)
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    The French destroyer Maillé-Brézé (Le Maillé-Brézé) is a warship and museum where you can learn all about the history of this particular ship as well as French naval warfare. The Maillé-Brézé is actually the third ship of this name, with the first being in the 17th century and the second being destroyed in 1940.

    When you visit this ship, you can explore its rich history, including its 10 years of service after WWII. It was eventually disarmed and anchored in 1988 at Nantes, where it has been a museum ever since. You can find it along the northern banks of La Loire just a short distance south-west of the city centre past Pont Anne de Bretagne.

    ที่ตั้ง: Quai de la Fosse, 44000 Nantes, France

    เปิด: Tuesday–Sunday from 2 pm to 4.30 pm (closed on Mondays)

    โทร: +33 9 79 18 33 51

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    Jules Verne Museum (Musée Jules Verne)

    Explore literary history

    Jules Verne Museum (Musée Jules Verne)
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    The Jules Verne Museum (Musée Jules Verne) is a fascinating look into the life and talent of the eponymous writer, with artefacts and replicas on display. The museum itself is split up into 8 different rooms that each have their own theme, though the themes are more abstract rather than specifically describing displays.

    Among the themed rooms, you'll find one called 'The sea, the sea' and another called 'Known and unknown worlds'. Much like the building itself, it was designed to replicate the atmosphere that inspired Verne. It's all located overlooking the Loire west of the city centre where the river splits.

    ที่ตั้ง: 3 Rue de l'Hermitage, 44100 Nantes, France

    เปิด: Sunday–Monday, Wednesday–Friday from 2 pm to 6 pm, Saturday from 10 am to noon and from 2 pm to 6 pm (closed on Tuesdays)

    โทร: +33 2 40 69 72 52

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  • 7

    Nantes History Museum (Musée d'histoire de Nantes)

    Visit a museum in a chateau

    Nantes History Museum (Musée d'histoire de Nantes)
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    Nantes History Museum (Musée d'histoire de Nantes) is located within a historic chateau where you'll find a massive collection of historical artefacts and exhibits. The structure itself is impressive, dating back to the 14th century in its oldest parts, and it's surrounded by sturdy walls.

    Inside the museum, you can explore a collection that spans 32 rooms with plenty for the whole family to enjoy. Some of the exhibits are even interactive, so it's especially useful for families travelling together. It's all located in Château des ducs de Bretagne east of the city centre.

    ที่ตั้ง: 4 Pl. Marc Elder, 44000 Nantes, France

    เปิด: Tuesday–Sunday from 2 pm to 4.30 pm (closed on Mondays)

    โทร: +33 811 46 46 44

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  • 8

    Dobrée Museum (Musée Dobrée)

    See the collection of Thomas Dobrée

    Dobrée Museum (Musée Dobrée)
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    The Dobrée Museum (Musée Dobrée) is a collection of various historical artefacts collected by Thomas Dobrée housed within a Romanesque Revival palace. Among the collection, you'll find a variety of items, including old paintings and books along with coins and metals.

    Much of the collection is from the old Breton culture, with manuscripts and autographs, though you'll find German and Dutch engravings too among the graphic arts. The collection covers a wide time period from the middle ages to the 19th century, the time of Dobrée himself. Check it out on the west side of the city centre.

    ที่ตั้ง: 18 Rue Voltaire, 44000 Nantes, France

    โทร: +33 2 40 71 03 50

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    Printing Museum (Musée de l'Imprimerie)

    Explore the history of printing

    Printing Museum (Musée de l'Imprimerie)
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    The Printing Museum (Musée de l'Imprimerie) is a fun museum that showcases the history of the printing trade in Nantes, where you can still smell the lead and ink. Numerous artefacts and exhibits display print's fascinating history, with old machines and tools on show.

    Much of this museum is interactive, allowing you to learn more intimately how old printing processes worked in centuries past. That interactivity makes this museum especially popular for travellers with children. You can get to this museum just west of the city centre.

    ที่ตั้ง: 24 Quai de la Fosse, 44000 Nantes, France

    เปิด: Monday–Saturday from 10 am to noon and from 2 pm to 5.30 pm (closed on Sundays)

    โทร: +33 2 40 73 26 55

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    ภาพโดย Koreller (CC BY-SA 4.0) เวอร์ชั่นแก้ไข

  • 10

    Le Chronographe

    Travel into the past

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    Le Chronographe is the centre of archaeological interpretation regarding the city of Ratiatum, an ancient Roman city that once stood where Nantes does today. More than 1,000 years ago, the Romans built a community here, and its remnants can be explored today.

    When you visit, you'll find not only genuine artefacts from the time period but digital and interactive tools that let you explore the local history in a more direct manner. Temporary exhibitions are common here as well. It's all located in Reze a few miles south of the city centre.

    ที่ตั้ง: 21 Rue Saint-Lupien, 44400 Rezé, France

    เปิด: Wednesday–Sunday from 2 pm to 6 pm (closed Monday–Tuesday)

    โทร: +33 2 52 10 83 20

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