In a reinvented port city, a unique art project blends industrial and imaginative elements to create a one-of-a-kind menagerie.
Nantes, France has long been something of a hidden gem. Located about an hour south of Paris, it has all the trappings of a typical charming French town: historic buildings, excellent cuisine, and a genuine castle. But it also has a healthy dose of quirkiness. Once a renowned shipping port (and the birthplace of Jules Verne), it has reinvented itself as a hub for the arts, with a variety of public projects and festivals celebrating the creative spirit of the place. And by far the most interesting of these projects is Les Machines de l’ile, a steampunk theme park that owes as much to Leonardo Da Vinci as to its famous native son. The park is still very much a work in progress, which is part of what makes visiting it so delightful. Even more exciting? Seeing the amazing inventions that are already there.