About 80km to Guérande and La Baule, roughly an hour by car or connected by a direct tram-train line.
Discover Authentic Loire-Atlantique: A Local Travel Guide by Mercure
At Mercure, we believe you shouldn't need a guidebook to feel like you belong somewhere. That's the idea behind Discover Local: since 1973, every Mercure hotel has been built around its neighbourhood, not just dropped into it — from the décor on the walls to the flavours on the menu. Step into any Mercure and our teams are on hand with the kind of tips you won't find in a guidebook: the market stall locals queue for, the bar where nobody speaks English, the walk that skips the crowds. They live here. They know. Discover Local isn't a generic city guide — it's a short, honest list of the restaurants, markets and neighbourhoods our own hotel teams actually recommend to guests, updated as the city changes around us. Below, you'll find our picks for Loire-Atlantique, an interactive map to help you find your way, and answers to the questions travellers ask us most. So — where will Discover Local take you?
Our map pins local favourites such as the Estuaire art trail, Escal'Atlantic in Saint-Nazaire and the Traict du Croisic.
Top 5 Things to Do in Loire-Atlantique
Nantes
Former capital of the Duchy of Brittany, now known as much for contemporary creativity as history — see the Château des Ducs de Bretagne, the covered 19th-century Passage Pommeraye, and Les Machines de l'île, home to a mechanical elephant that walks through the streets.
Guérande
A medieval walled town surrounded by roughly 2,000 hectares of salt marshes, still worked by hand by paludiers. The fleur de sel harvested here is prized by chefs well beyond the region.
La Baule
The region's grandest seaside resort, with a 9-kilometre sandy beach and rows of Belle Époque villas behind it. A short tram-train ride from Guérande makes combining the two towns easy.
Clisson
Rebuilt in an Italian style in the 19th century after the Vendée Wars, with pink-brick houses and cypress-lined gardens that feel out of place — in a good way — this far from the Mediterranean.
Pornic
A former fishing village with a clifftop château overlooking the marina, and a coastal path that makes for an easy afternoon walk between coves.
Explore Loire-Atlantique's Best Local Spots with Our Interactive Map
What's on the map in Loire-Atlantique
We've mapped local spots between Nantes and the Atlantic.
Art & heritage
Estuaire art trail
Thirty-three contemporary artworks line 60 km of the Loire estuary between Nantes and Saint-Nazaire, including Huang Yong Ping's 'Serpent d'océan'. Discover them all year, on foot, by bike or by boat.
Nantes to Saint-Nazaire · Outdoor art trail · Perfect for art and cycling
Escal'Atlantic, Saint-Nazaire
3,500 m² recreating the legendary liners built in Saint-Nazaire, such as the Normandie and the France, from cabins to engine room – and the story of the emigrants who crossed the Atlantic.
Saint-Nazaire · Museum · Great for families
Moulin à papier du Liveau
Built in 1407 on the Sèvre Nantaise and restored in 2014, this mill lets you make your own paper and learn about printing. Open February to early November; booking recommended.
Gorges, 30 km from Nantes · Paper mill · Made for a hands-on visit
Château de Ranrouët
A marshside fortress burned, then demolished on Richelieu's orders. Guided tours April to November.
Herbignac · Castle · Ideal for history
Terre d'Estuaire
An immersive 90-minute visit into the Loire estuary in Cordemais – tethered balloon included.
Cordemais · Discovery centre · Perfect for families
Marché de Talensac
Nantes' oldest and most iconic market, opened in 1937, with more than 150 vendors. Come hungry.
Nantes · Market · Great for food shopping
Station Nuage
A seasonal open-air spot on Île Forget, 10 minutes from Nantes, to drink, eat and unwind.
Saint-Sébastien-sur-Loire · Guinguette · Perfect for summer
Cantine du Voyage
A summer canteen under greenhouses by the Loire, next to the sculpture 'Le Nid'.
Nantes · Canteen · Ideal for summer evenings
Le Patio'nnément
A Maître Restaurateur in the Bouffay district serving homemade cooking across four different spaces.
Nantes · Restaurant · Perfect for local food
Le Mathurin
A Nantes bistro proud of its region, with a short menu of fresh produce.
Nantes · Bistro · Great for lunch
L'Atelier des Délices
Lunch, brunch or a snack near the Tour de Bretagne, on a terrace along a pedestrian street.
Nantes · Café · Made for brunch
Coast & flavours
Traict du Croisic and Mont Esprit
The 680-hectare Traict du Croisic feeds the Guérande salt marshes and appears at low tide. Climb Mont Esprit, an 18th-century spiral mound 26 metres high, for the view. 19 minutes from our Mercure La Baule Majestic.
Le Croisic · Tidal wetland · Perfect for nature and views
Le Fondant Baulois
La Baule's signature treat, created 40 years ago: a chocolate cake with a meringue-like crust, a gooey centre and a hint of salted butter caramel. Find it at the market and in the town's pastry shops.
La Baule · Local speciality · Made for chocolate lovers
Bazar Officiel du Voyage
Inside the Nantes tourist office: posters, mugs, notebooks and other objects made by local artisans. A 100% Nantes souvenir.
Nantes · Souvenir shop · Great for local gifts
Saint-André-des-Eaux
A village between the sea and the Brière regional park, 10 km from La Baule, with canal-side trails. Listen for the birds.
Brière · Village · Ideal for birdwatching
Monkey Forest
The area's largest treetop adventure park, with 18 courses for ages 2 and up.
Saint-Molf · Adventure park · Perfect for families
Le Croisic marine farm
Meet the seaweed foragers whose fresh harvest supplies Michelin-starred restaurants.
Le Croisic · Farm visit · Great for food lovers
Terre de Sel
Guided walks through the Guérande salt marshes with salt workers and naturalists.
Guérande · Salt marsh tour · Made for nature
La Baule market
Local producers – and oysters with a glass of Muscadet on a terrace by the market. That's lunch sorted.
La Baule · Market · Perfect for oysters
FAQ
Yes — La Baule's long sandy beach and the quieter coves around Pornic both suit families, and the Brière marshland adds something beyond the standard seaside itinerary.
Guided walks with local paludiers run through the harvest season and are the best way to understand how the salt is worked by hand rather than just viewing the marshes from a distance.
A permanent collection of 33 contemporary artworks along the Loire estuary between Nantes and Saint-Nazaire, visible all year.
An attraction in Saint-Nazaire recreating the great ocean liners built in the town, such as the Normandie and the France.
The fondant baulois, a chocolate cake with a crisp crust, gooey centre and salted butter caramel.
Where to Sleep in Loire-Atlantique
See our Mercure hotels across Loire-Atlantique, ideally placed to explore these picks.