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Activité

Les Machines de l’île

Nantes · Loire-Atlantique

Activity

Les Machines de l’île

Nantes · Loire-Atlantique

On the Île de Nantes, Les Machines de l’île: the Machine Gallery, the Marine Worlds Carousel and the Great Elephant, under maintenance until the end of February 2027.

Les Machines de l’île
Suggested time
2 to 3 hours
Type of place
Cultural site and giant machines
Atmosphere
Imaginative and spectacular.
Getting there
Île de Nantes; tram line 1, Chantiers navals stop. Check opening times, bookings and any age limits with the site before you come.

Who this place suits

With family
9/10
As a couple
7/10
With friends
8/10
Solo
6/10
With a dog
2/10
Reduced mobility
4/10

These scores are calculated from what the page records: official rating, facilities, difficulty, duration and location. They are a guide, not a substitute for contacting the venue, especially about accessibility.

About

Les Machines de l’île, on the Île de Nantes, are a world of giant machines, between art, mechanics and imagination. The Galerie des Machines (Machine Gallery) is a living place where you discover the creatures of this world. The Grand Éléphant (Great Elephant), a moving piece of architecture that emerges from a steel cathedral, takes passengers for a walk. On the banks of the Loire, facing the Jules Verne museum, the Carrousel des Mondes Marins (Marine Worlds Carousel) seems to rise from the belly of the island. Please note: because of maintenance, the Great Elephant does not run from Monday 2 November 2026 to Sunday 28 February 2027. Opening times vary with the season, with evening openings; tram line 1, Chantiers navals stop, is the easiest way to get there.

What you will see

  • The Machine Gallery
  • The Great Elephant (maintenance from 2 November 2026 to 28 February 2027)
  • The Marine Worlds Carousel
  • Tram line 1, Chantiers navals stop

Tips on the spot

  • Check the opening times for the day: they vary with the season.
  • In extreme heat or bad weather, the sites may close at the last minute.
  • Come by tram: line 1, Chantiers navals stop.

Frequently asked questions

How do I get there?

By tram, line 1, Chantiers navals stop.

What is there to see?

The Machine Gallery, the Great Elephant and the Marine Worlds Carousel.

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Photograph: Guilhem Vellut · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons