Ohlala Placements is based in Nantes, a beautiful and vibrant city which is perfect to live your Erasmus + internship and experience in France.
Boarded by the Loire river, Nantes is the biggest city in the Pays de la Loire region. It has around 320 000 residents and approximately 660 000 live within its suburban area. This makes of Nantes the 6th biggest city in France. The university of Nantes counts almost 40 000 students who partly contribute to the dynamism of the city.
On a sunny day, Nantes is only a short 1-hour bus, train or car ride (or a 60-km bike ride for the bravest) away from the Atlantic Ocean and its sandy beaches. For those that fear the sun and prefer bigger cities, Paris is only a 2-hour train journey away.
History
Nantes is a city full of history. It inherited its name from a Gallic tribe called “Namnetes” over 2000 years ago.
Over the centuries it has been successively occupied and developed by the Romans and the Bretons. Its history is also sadly linked to the slave trade. Nantes has been the port of departure for more than 1700 slave trade expeditions, which transported more than 550 000 African captives to the French colonies between mid 17th and 19th century. Their lives are now remembered at the “Memorial de l’abolition de l’esclavage”.
Walking through Nantes you’ll find remaining signs of this rich past and history with for example the “Chateau des ducs de Bretagne”, the “Hangar à bananes” or the St Pierre Cathedral.
Food & Drink scene
In Nantes and its suburbs, you’ll find hundreds of restaurants and bars and surely some that will suit your taste.
Discovering the local specialities is part of the discovery of a city and its region. So get out there and get a taste of all the local produces Nantes and its region has to offer. From the fresh fish from the Atlantic Ocean or the nearby rivers, to the vegetables grown just a few kilometres outside town and of course the wines from the Loire valley too. Should you feel more like staying at home and cook something yourself, you’ll find all these great produces in one of the numerous food markets in town (Marché de Talensac, Petit Hollande, Doulon,…).
While you are here why don’t you try some of these local specialities: the Breton gallette (savoury) and crêpe (sweet), the gateau nantais, berlingots or of course the famous LU biscuits.
Culture
Nantes is culturally rich. Whether you like art, theatre, music, cinema or other types of entertainment, you’ll always find something to do in your free time. The event that attracts the most people every year in Nantes is “Le voyage à Nantes”. It is a multi-cultural event that lasts for 2 months throughout the summer. But it is also an interesting concept with a 20-km green line to follow on the ground and that takes you through Nantes and its surroundings all year around. That journey will lead you to original pieces of contemporary art, heritage monuments and various points of view throughout the city.
Of course this green line goes past “Les Machines de l’île” and its world famous mechanically animated elephant.
Nantes also has plenty of large venues for concerts and shows, including “Le Zenith” which hosts the biggest names on the French and international music scene while they are on tour. If you are more into intimate and smaller venues, you’ll also be able to find bars with open mic session or live music throughout the week and at the weekends.
If cinema is your thing, you’ll find plenty of movie theatres around town. From the small independent cinemas in the city centre to the large cinemas with multiple screens near the big shopping centre on the outskirts.
Shopping & Leisure
In the city centre you’ll find small or large shops in pretty much every neighbourhood. The most frequented area is probably Rue Crébillon with the most popular clothing and shoe stores as well as designer boutiques. On Rue Crébillon you will also find the “Passage Pommeraye”, a historic and spectacular shopping centre in a 19th-century listed building. This is one of the most visited sites in Nantes. Another area to do some shopping in the city centre is Decré. There you’ll find the “Galleries Lafayette” a big shopping mall that host more than 300 shops.
Outside the city centre you’ll also find plenty of big shopping malls (Atlantis, Beaulieu, Paridis, …) with all the most popular brands.
Sport
Nantes likes sports. The city has big sporting venues and has teams playing at the highest national level in various sports (football, handball, volley ball, basketball, ice hockey,…). The biggest venue is the “Stade de la Beaujoire” with a capacity of 37 500 spectators. It is home of the FC Nantes football team and will also host 4 games of the Rugby World Cup in September & October 2023. Should you wish to practice your favourite sports yourself, you’ll easily find a space in one of the numerous collective sports clubs in town or get a membership in one of its multiple gyms. This is one of the best way to meet people during your Erasmus + experience. Another great way to get fit and free your mind is running, and Nantes has so many great places to run, whether this is along a river or in one of the numerous parks of the city.
Nature & Parks
Nantes is a city guided towards the future. The council prides itself on its commitment to green and eco-responsibility. 100% of the population lives within 300m of one of its 100 parks and gardens. This is one of the reason why Nantes was named European Green Capital in 2013. So you’ll always find somewhere to explore and have a nice walk. The “Jardin des Plantes” opposite the train station is a 7-hectare green space right in the city centre that host more than 10 000 living species. You can also find very nice walks or bike rides along the Loire or Erdre rivers that pass through Nantes.
So what are you waiting for? Come and see Nantes for yourself and be one of our next Erasmus + participant!
