Nantes
France
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Located on the Loire River, Nantes—France’s sixth largest city—has all the amenities of a big city: world-class museums, breathtaking cathedrals, a great public transportation system, and even its own château. But the best thing about Nantes for study abroad? It’s small enough to feel like home.
Before long, you’re blending in with local residents and university students, and saying “bonjour” to the shop keepers you pass on your way to class every day. This livable, accessible, and exciting city was the official EU 2013 Green Capital. It’s something to celebrate when you study abroad in Nantes and can get around easily on the bus, tram, or by foot.
Immerse yourself in French language and culture in this city full of history and vibrant city life. You won’t want to leave. Dreaming of French food, culture, and city life?
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Programs
Nantes's Top Five
Sample the Delicacies of Nantes
For instance, try the galettes de blé noir, savory buckwheat crêpes filled with eggs, cheese, and ham.
Shop the Passage Pommeraye
Named because it serves as a link between two streets, this spectacularly ornate and elaborate little shopping mall is stunning, whether you’re here to shop or just passing through.
Chateau des Ducs de Bretagne
With beautiful gardens surrounding the moat and a fascinating museum of Nantes’ history inside, this impressive castle is a must see.
Cruise Down the River
Since Nantes is right on the Loire River, a scenic boat cruise down the estuary to the nearby Atlantic Ocean is a great way to spend a few hours.
Ride the Great Elephant at Les Machines de L'Ile de Nantes
This collection of gigantic and whimsical mechanical beasts is something you’ll only find here in Nantes.
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The Latest from Nantes
Alsace Vacation!!!
We just got back from our week-long February break. A few friends and I decided to squeeze in as many locations as we could during this trip (without getting too exhausted). We went to Paris, Lille, Strasbourg, and Colmar. All of these are locations in France, but I’m going to focus on the two places we visited that are part of the Alsace region of France.
Mont-Saint-Michel and Saint Malo!!!
Everytime my program takes us on an excursion, the energy is electric. Everyone is so excited because we get to spend the day exploring a new place in France that we may otherwise never get to visit. This weekend, we spent Saturday (March 19th) traveling on a coach bus to Mont-Saint-Michel and Saint Malo. If you look up pictures of Le Mont Saint Michel, I’m sure you have seen or heard of it at some point.
Reflection can be Hard . . . Au Revoir Nantes!
I’ve been struggling with the question, “How was study abroad?” How does one answer that question? How do I say that it was the best four months of my life, but that I still missed all my wonderful friends and family back home? If I go on and on about how life-changing it was, does that make the people back home feel unworthy or discredited? It isn’t that I was away from them, it is that I was away from myself; everything I knew.
Was it Worth the Worry?
I decided to document how I was feeling the night before leaving for my study abroad program. As you can tell, I wasn't feeling great. I was overwhelmed with anxiety and fear that this experience was not going to be for me. I was scared to leave my family, freinds, a familiar language, and my schedule. I knew I would have fun once I arrived, but there was no way to convince myself of this at the time. Everything felt like I was about to make the biggest mistake of my life.
FINAL DAY in Nantes!!
I can’t believe I’m posting about my final day in Nantes, France. People always told me study abroad flies by, but it’s hard to comprehend that until you personally experience it. I wanted to document my final day for all of you because I spent it with some amazing friends, doing things I love in Nantes. I had to say goodbye to the IES Abroad building, which was harder than I thought. I spent every day in that building for four months, so it became a huge comfort place for me.
