The place in France. Anyone been or know the place? A retired friend of mine is thinking of going there as there is a mechanical Museum or something he wants to visit. Any advice on where to stay, eat, prices etc would be appreciated and passed on to my Old mate.

Thanks

The only redeeming feature of Nantes is that they send me shitloads of work. So yes, fantastic place, don't know the first thing about it. I'd be surprised if they had hotels though.

Stopped there once. Cold and bleak with lots of charcuterie and I went to a restaurant that had a big stuffed wild boar in it.

You're best bet is to stay in Rennes (a truly beautiful city with every amenity you could want) and take the sncf to Nantes. Trains run every hour or so and take about an hour to get there. It's not too expensive either, about 30 euros return.

Thanks all, keep the advice coming, I'll pass it on to the Old Bloke I know.

I'd imagine that's Bishops mates plan, he probably won't even bother booking a hotel as he knows once he starts telling the female population about the mechanical museum they be as one will be 'dripping wet.'

TBF PJ, he is 72, but I suspect he would like your cunning plan!

Tell him to drive on..i know their streets are paved with love .tell him

Best. song. ever.

One of my favourite French cities.

Sounds nothing like Peterlee...

Nantes, in Western Loire, is a beautiful city that was once the long-held historical capital of Brittany and is today a vibrant hub for the creative arts.
Located on the Loire, as the river flows into its estuary, Nantes is filled with a stunning range of architecture from the past and a wealth of surprising, fascinating and unusual works of modern art from the present. Historically part of Brittany, the city is home to the magnificent castle of the Dukes of Brittany, made from beautiful white tufa stone. Built to protect Brittany from the Kingdom of France, the château now houses the Nantes Historical Museum where you can find out all about Nantes' fascinating past. The wonderful, flamboyant Gothic cathedral and the elegant Passage Pommeraye, a 19th century shopping arcade, are some of Nantes' other unmissable historical buildings.

Today, the city is well-known as a space where culture and the arts flourish. From the marvellous Machines de l'île, an incredible arts project where the imagination of Jules Verne meets the invention of Leonardo da Vinci, to the contemporary artworks along the Loire Estuary, Nantes is undoubtedly the place to be inspired. The majestic Elephant, built by the artists of the Machines de l'Ile, is a  sight not to be missed as this 12m high mechanical ride walks up and down the quayside with its passengers. A real favourite with the kids!

Every summer, Nantes really comes alive with the 10 mile discovery trail of Le Voyage à Nantes. Discover temporary arts installations, arts exhibitions and the beautiful heritage sites around the city. At the Lieu Unique, located in the old LU biscuit factory, you can explore all kinds of cultural activities including modern theatre, dance, literature and philosophy. There's even a hammam (Turkish bath) to relax in. Or if you fancy enjoying your art with a view, visit Le Nid on the 32nd floor at the top of the Tour Bretagne where a huge white bird, half-stork, half-heron, watches quietly over the city and you can see far and wide from the 360 degree panoramic viewing platform.

There's plenty of great places to shop, but you can't miss a stroll inside the ornate Passage Pommeraye. Be sure to try some local specialities in Nantes' wonderful restaurants such as dishes using beurre blanc, a white butter sauce that goes very well with fish and the delicious gâteau nantais, a cake made using almonds and Antilles rum. Enjoy your meal with a glass or two of Muscadet produced in the nearby wineries and vineyards of the Loire Valley. With its location between land and sea, Nantes' cuisine is a delightful mixture of flavours.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odQMZULheCw

Forget Goodbye Toulouse and JJ Burnel's pulsating bass, here's Les Prisons de Nantes, a 1972 'classic' from Britanny's old folk heroes Tri Yann. I know, it's atrocious but everybody in France knows this embarrassing song about a guy stuck in a jail and awaiting his execution... Says a lot about the place, yeah? Horden can copy and paste all he wants, the fact is Nantes is dull and sedate and rather charmless -definitely not a dream destination. But still... There's the Ocean. The best thing about Nantes is the proximity to the Ocean: Pornic, St. Jean des Monts, Pornichet or the absolutely wonderful Noirmoutiers Island are all less than an hour away.

You should never forget a pulsating bass. There's a bit of the city centre with a couple of good record shops in it and I always get this song in my head every time I'm wandering round there.

And while I'm thinking about it this is a much better Breton effort than those fiddly-dee blokes. Favourite French record of recent years and their massive sound system is a joy to behold.

I'll get right on to Punjabi records to check it out ...

Lets go the whole hog with the the French theme..she's great with the hula hoops as well.