Saint-Nazaire is a large port at the mouth of the Loire and one of the most famous French shipbuilding centers. During World War II, there was a German U-boat base here. Nowadays, the industrial heritage is an attraction here comparable to the nice sandy beaches.
The city began to develop in the 19th century in connection with industrialization and the construction of a shipyard. It also quickly became a significant commercial port. It was from here that the first French steamboat sailing across the Atlantic to South America departed. During the Second World War, the Germans established a submarine base here, which was bombed several times by the Allies. As a result of the air raids, a large part of the city was also destroyed. Today, Saint-Nazaire's main specialty is still shipbuilding. In the local shipyard, i.a. one of the largest passenger ships in the world, Queen Mary II.
Although Saint-Nazaire does not have much of the old buildings, exploring the city is fascinating. It mainly includes monuments and museums related to the development of the shipbuilding industry and maritime traditions. The entire port district is protected under the Eco-museum. It includes technical monuments, a modern shipyard and modern museums.
Saint-Nazaire attractions include a submarine open to the public and the amazing Escal'Atlantic museum showing what transatlantic travel was like in the 19th and early 20th century. You can also go to the observation deck located on the former submarine dock and admire the view of the harbor from there . In the evenings, special shows combining music, light and a spectacle created with the help of lasers are held here.
