Nantes is a gateway to the beautiful northwest of France, renowned for its connection with its history, the arts, and the outdoors. This is evident just outside the train station; the city’s impressive botanical garden is about 50 metres outside the door, and the awe-inspiring Château des Ducs de Bretagne is just two tram stops away. In the city’s old shipyards, you’ll find the Machines of the Isle of Nantes, a collection of machine animals that are a living art installation and one of the city’s must-sees. Green spaces are sprinkled around the city, and beyond the city limits are charming fairytale villages and idyllic farms, the latter of which fuel the region’s dairy industry (which is the strongest in France). This might explain the impressive use of cheese and butter in the area’s food. Bon appetit!