The Ile de Versailles, a garden in the city

Previously a stagnant marsh, the Ile de Versailles was created in 1831 from earthworks and dredging materials during the digging of the Nantes-Brest Canal. It was known successively as the "Barbin marsh" (the name of the village on the right bank), "Ile Le Gall", then "Ile aux Singes", before taking the name of the Quai de Versailles, which runs alongside it to the east. From 1840 to 1844, the island was home to a variety of activities: laundries, carpentries, tanneries, forges, boat building, fisheries and taverns.

In 1986, Nantes City Council launched a competition among architects to rehabilitate the Île de Versailles, which had been abandoned for decades. The winning entry was for a garden inspired by Japanese landscape culture...

The Japanese garden 📍

Cross the mystical-looking red wooden footbridge to the island and take a stroll, of course! The Island isn't huge, but with its stone path over the water, the Kois carp frolicking in the ponds, its many footbridges and the superb waterfall hidden in the trees at the centre, it has more than one surprise for you to discover. Plant lovers will be delighted by the impressive variety of carefully tended exotic plants, while children will feel like budding Indiana Joneses, exploring every nook and cranny of the island and leaping from stone to stone. A fun play area is also available.

Our advice:

• The Ile de Versailles is one of the most popular green spaces in Nantes, so it's often packed on weekend afternoons. We recommend that you visit during the week, preferably in the morning to make the most of its Zen atmosphere.
• Visit the island in spring when the Japanese cherry trees (sakuras) are in bloom, flooding it with pink flowers in an enchanting tableau.
• 🕑 Allow around an hour to explore the island in addition to visiting the Maison de l'Erdre.

Access to the Ile de Versailles is completely free!

⏰ Garden opening times: 15 January to 19 March: 8.30am to 6.30pm20 March to 22 October: 8.30am to 8.00pm23 October to 17 November: 8.30am to 6.30pm18 November to 14 January: 8.30am to 5.30pm.

The Maison de l'Erdre

Next to a restaurant that has unfortunately closed, you'll find the Maison de l'Erdre, one of the main activities on the Île de Versailles. Housed in a delightful red and white building surrounded by wooden walkways and inspired by traditional Japanese tea pavilions, the Maison de l'Erdre is an exhibition centre dedicated to rivers and aquatic life. As well as temporary exhibitions, you can discover a wealth of information about the animal species found in rivers and streams, the etymology of aquatic plants, and even anecdotes about the history of Nantes. Please note that dogs are not allowed.

Opening hours of the Maison de l'Erdre: ⏰

From 15 January to 17 November: Monday, Tuesday and Friday, 1.30 pm to 6.15 pm. On Wednesdays, Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, the doors are open from 9.15 am to 12.15 pm and from 2.15 pm to 6.15 pm; from 18 November to 14 January: Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays from 1.30 pm to 5.15 pm. On Wednesdays, Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, the house is open to visitors from 9.30am to 12.15pm and from 2.15pm to 5.15pm.

Les Rendez-vous de l'Erdre

Every year at the end of August, the Rendez-vous de l'Erdre dre jazz music festival takes place on the banks of the canal. For the occasion, stages blossom along the water and on the boats. From the quayside, taking advantage of the mild late summer weather, spectators can listen to some of the biggest names on the jazz scene. It's one of Nantes' not-to-be-missed cultural events!

Water sports 🏊

The best way to discover the Erdre is to take to the water. The water sports leisure centre on the Île de Versailles offers a wide choice of water sports activities: electric boats (easy to manoeuvre), kayaks, canoes, paddle boats and even water bikes are available for hire or for supervised outings to be enjoyed solo, with family or friends. For an even more memorable experience with friends or family, a boat escape game is also available with the Escape Boat!

The water sports centre is open from April to October.

🍷 Without hesitation, at the Bâteau Lavoir! Aboard a delightful wooden barge surrounded by greenery, this very festive guinguette bar, which opens its doors in fine weather, is a Mecca of Nantes conviviality. But it was originally a temporary project, conceived by François Delarozière and Pierre Orefice in 2009 as part of the Voyage à Nantes. Do their names ring a bell? They are the illustrious creators of the Machines de l'île, one of Nantes' most famous attractions! Delarozière and Orefice drew their inspiration for the site from the history of the Erdre canal in the 19th century, with its washboats, floating laundries and public meeting places.