On the mouth of the Loire, Saint-Nazaire does not apologize for not being the most beautiful city in France.
Because this is a place where things get done, and it attracts people on exactly those terms. For large machines, ambitious engineering works, and military history, there are very few places that can hold torches to Saint-Nazaire. The shipbuilding industry took off in the 1800s and the aviation industry followed a century, and supermarkets continue to be assembled here today. Saint-Nazaire is summed up by the submarine pens in the harbor: Ugly concrete hulks that couldn’t be destroyed but are now crammed with days out. Discover the best things to do in Saint-Nazaire.
[toc]
1. Submarine Base
Before World War II, Saint-Nazaire was the starting point for transatlantic cruises to Mexico, Cuba, and Panama. But after 1941 a 19th-century lock by the harbor entrance was chosen for an indomitable submarine pen, with nine meters of reinforced concrete that no bomb could penetrate.
This was where many U-boats fighting in the Battle of the Atlantic were stationed, and you’ll see, the base came through the war without suffering much damage. The bays have interesting things to see such as Espadon and Ecal, Atlantic, where we will visit next.
2. Escal’ Atlantic
Touching the romance of the cruise ship era is the attraction in the submarine base that shows you the exquisite décor and great inner workings of two historic ships: SS Normandie, dating back to 1935 and SS France, launched in 1960.
The tour takes you through 20 different rooms and areas, including a dining room, piano bar and both a cockpit and a luxurious cabin for passengers. But you can also see what went on behind the scenes in the engine room and on the bridge.
Kids will be entertained by the multimedia and interactive games, while grown-ups will be wowed by more than 200 authentic artifacts from these legendary ocean liners.
3. French Submarine Espadon
Meaning the swordfish for whales in French, the Espadon submarine can be brought to Nazi U-Boat. The craft was launched in Le Havre in 1957 and was the first French submarine to dive beneath the Polar Ice, going as far north as 70° in the Norwegian Sea.
You’ll have an audio-guide as you explore this diesel-electric submarine, and will get plenty of insights about how the crew of 70 sailors went about their day in the eating areas, bunks and kitchens, which are almost absurdly cramped.
Sound effects on the guide will add a bit of color, and there’s lots of science if you need the nuts and bolts.
4. Terrasse Panoramique
There’s an elevator, but you can also climb the stairway to the top of the fortified lock for a view to remember from the terrace. From here, you can see the Penhoët pier, 22 hectares wide, is one of the largest piers in Europe.
But perhaps even more amazing is the massive installation of the Suite Suite de Triangles, the massive Swiss artist Felice Varini, famous for his local perspective art. So on the neighboring harbors, the buildings are covered with triangles, arranged in a coherent structure only when you are in the correct position.
5. STX Shipyard Tour
On a two-hour drive around the STX shipyard, you’ll have privileged access to a world-leading facility that employs thousands of people and uses the most sophisticated technology available.
These are the harbors built MS Harmony of the Seas, the world's largest passenger ship, completed the first cruise in 2016. The bus departs from the submarine base on a six-kilometer journey with Regular stops for you to take pictures or listen to insightful explanations from your guide.
The tour takes place on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays, and there’s one trip a week organized in English during July and August.
6. Airbus Tour
Also departing from the Submarine Base is a bus to visit the high-tech Airbus installation in Saint-Nazaire, departing on Wednesdays and Fridays.
Because of the sensitive nature of what you’ll see you have to book your place on the tour at least 48 hours beforehand, and show ID. The Airbus website in Saint-Nazaire assembles and tests the front and center fuselage parts for each aircraft manufactured by the brand before they are delivered by air or water to the facilities.
Toulouse, Spain or Germany to complete. It is very special to see the whole fuselage being swallowed up by huge Beluga cargo planes.
7. Front de Mer
Over the past few years, Saint-Nazaire has revamped its waterfront promenade alongside Wilson Boulevard and Albert 1er. The town has planted trees, laid lawns and widened the walkway to give you an unbeatable place for a stroll.
Idle here on hot summer days when the Atlantic wind will blow away the webs, and there are a few bars with large terraces to watch the ocean with a cold drink. As you go for a walk, you'll cross many different monuments, such as once for the wrecked HMS Lancastria and again for the US recapture of Saint-Nazaire at the end of World War II.
8. Écomusée de Saint-Nazaire
On the harbor facing the shipyards, the Écomusée is a small permanent exhibition about Sant-Nazaire and its shipbuilding heritage. Galleries began with history but quickly gained speed in the 19th century, explaining major technological leaps over the last 150 years or so.
You can study some of the mythical craft that has been assembled in Saint-Nazaire. There are models of the SS Normandie, SS France, and the trailblazing Loire seaplanes manufactured here in the 1930s. The entrance to the Écomusée is included in the ticket for Escal to charge the Atlantic.
9. Plage Les Jaunais
To the west of Saint-Nazaire, nature dominated and the coast became pristine and rugged. Backed by granite cliffs are a series of near-perfect sand beaches on the Côte d Summer Amour, and their ice cream is Plage Les Jaunais.
This beach is 500 meters long, there’s ample parking and it’s patrolled by lifeguards all through July and August. The water is shallow and sandy in the bay, but the rocks that bookend the beach have little pools where you can climb and go looking for crabs. Next to it is a small cave, hidden from the sight and often of the naturalists.
10. Pont de Saint-Nazaire
From the top of the lock and the submarine base, you can see this majestic bridge spanning the mouth of the river.
When work was completed in 1975 this was France’s longest bridge, and it also remained the longest cable-stayed bridge in the world until 1983. Including its viaducts, the total length is more than 3.3 kilometers, and the height of almost 60 meters makes it visible from a long distance.
Tour de France fans may already know Pont de Saint-Nazaire because it has appeared on the course many times over the years, the most recent cross-border crossing taking place in 2011.
More ideals for you: Top 10 things to do in Saint Germain En Laye
from : https://wikitopx.com/travel/top-10-things-to-do-in-saint-nazaire-709715.html
Không có nhận xét nào:
Đăng nhận xét