Cathédrale St-Pierre-St-Paul, Nantes
The Cathédrale St-Pierre-St-Paul (Nantes Cathedral), in the region of Brittany, is one of France's last Gothic cathedrals, built well after most other medieval cathedrals had been completed.
History
Begun in 1434, Nantes' cathedral was dedicated to Saints Peter and Paul. The cathedral wasn't finished until the end of the 19th century, but it remained amazingly architecturally harmonious.
After a 1972 fire destroyed the roof, the interior was restored.
What to See
Two square towers dominate the austere façade, which contrasts with the light, wide, limestone interior.
The large, airy interior is an impressive 100m (335-ft.) long with 120-foot high vaults (higher than the Notre-Dame in Paris). The whiteness of the walls and the rich colors of the stained-glass windows make for a striking contrast.
Nantes Cathedral's most notable treasure is Michel Colomb's Renaissance tomb of François II, Duke of Brittany, and his second wife, Marguerite de Foix. Also noteworthy is the tomb of Gen. Juchault de Lamoricière, a Nantes native and a great African campaigner; sculptor Paul Dubois completed the tomb in 1879.
The cathedral's crypt, dating from the 11th century, shelters a museum of religions.
Location Map
Location map and satellite view of Nantes Cathedral. Using the buttons on the left, zoom in for a closer look or zoom out to get your bearings. Click and drag the map to move around. You can explore all of France from space on our France Satellite Map.
Quick Facts
| Location: | Place St-Pierre |
| Phone: | 02-40-47-84-64 |
| By air: | Nantes Airport (Aéroport Nantes-Atlantique) is 12km (7.5 miles) SE of town. Air France offers daily flights from Paris. A shuttle bus between the airport and the Nantes train station takes 25 minutes; a taxi from the airport takes about 15 minutes. |
| By rail: | The TGV (fast train) from Paris's Gare Montparnasse takes about 2 1/2 hours to get to Nantes. Slower trains can take up to 5.5 hours. Nantes's train station is at 27 bd. de Stalingrad, a 5-minute walk from the town center. |
| By car: | From Paris, take A11 for 385km (239 miles) west of Paris. The trip takes about 3 hours. |
| Hours: | Cathedral: Summer daily 8:30am-7pm; off season daily 8:30am-6pm. Crypt: Mon.-Sat. 10-12:30 and 2-6, Sun. 2-6:30 |
| Cost: | Free |
More Information
- Cathédrale St-Pierre – Frommer's Attraction Review
- Cathédrale St-Pierre-St-Paul – Fodor's Online Travel Guide
