Discover Nantes
- A young and attractive city
With 600 000 inhabitants, Nantes is the 6th urban area in France and the 3d urban area for its demographic growth, estimated at 100 000 new inhabitants by 2030.
Nantes is one of the youngest urban area in France: 2 out of 3 inhabitants are under 40 years old and 36% of the population is under 25 years old.
- Leading economic area in Western France
Nantes is also the leading economic area in Western France, with 25 100 companies and 275 000 jobs.
This stems from both traditional sectors (naval and aeronautic construction and services) and innovative sectors (composites, biotechnologies, ICTs, creative and cultural industries).
Nantes, the city where everything is possible
Thanks to its cultural liveliness, its natural environment and its policies to encourage social cohesion, Nantes Métropole strives to achieve a high quality of life for every citizen.
- Creativity: from Jules Verne to the Creative Cluster
The birthplace of Jules Verne is still today a centre of imagination and creativity: discover the Elephant, the creative cluster Quartier de la Création on the Ile de Nantes, the Lieu Unique, the brand new music complex La Fabrique and much more places, where every citizen can be inspired and get involved.
- Sustainable development and quality of life
Beyond being an active and political partner in international climate negotiations, Nantes has a century-long history of botanical gardens and public parks. Being the Green Capital 2013 will enhance our aim to encourage all citizens to contribute to sustainability and climate actions.
- Territorial and social cohesion
For Nantes, high quality accessible local public services, that facilitate citizens’ everyday life and foster their involvement in city life, are essential to social cohesion.
A new way to discover Nantes !

Launched in April 2015, the "Use-it" map of Nantes stands for no-nonsense tourist info for young people, made by young locals from testimonies collected from the inhabitants of Nantes. Gathered on a map with original design, all the information is dedicated to young travelers from all backgrounds. Through the vision of the people, the map reveals to travelers the secrets and symbols of the city, habits and local tips.
The "Use-it" Nantes map is part of a European initiative that counts numerous maps of European cities.
Practical information