Discovering the village of Trentemoult

Situated in the Loire estuary, opposite Nantes, on the left bank of the Loire, this small fishing village typical of theLoire Atlantique is only a 5-minute crossing away and is well worth the diversions: its history, its authenticity, its colourful houses…

It has a bohemian atmosphere, far from the noise of the city, in a totally different setting. Bourgeois mansions rub shoulders with fishermen’s houses, and palm trees and other exotic plants brought back by sailors from their voyages suddenly spring up at the bend in an alleyway.

Last but not least, many artists have left their mark on this village: architecture, paintings, mosaics… Historian André Péron. Films have also been shot in Trentemoult, including La Reine Blanche, starring Catherine Deneuve. Bars, restaurants, organic markets – let yourself be surprised by Trentemoult’s lively and friendly atmosphere.

How do I get to Trentemoult from Nantes?

To the south of Nantes, the “Gare Maritime” stop on tram line 1 will take you to the Navibus, a waterbus located on the Quai Ernest Renaud in Nantes that will take you to the village of Trentemoult in just 7 minutes.

As you sail along, you’ll be able to catch a glimpse of the Hangar à Bananes, the Buren rings, the Titan cranes that are emblematic of the Ile de Nantes, and the Carrousel des Mondes Marins. It’s sure to be a great time!

The narrow streets of Trentemoult

Take a stroll through the streets of Trentemoult, and you’ll discover brightly coloured houses: pink, yellow, red, blue… (This custom comes from fishermen who painted their houses with what was left of the paint used to maintain the hull of their boat).

If you look up, you’ll sometimes see hooks and pulleys used to lift furniture upstairs in the event of flooding.

The middle-class residences, a sign of the wealth of the ocean-going captains and cape-horners, were built after 1850. It is in these houses that you will see palm trees and other exotic plants brought back by their owners. According to legend, only captains who were able to round Cape Horn were allowed to plant a palm tree on their property.

Trentemoult in the movies and artists

The director Jean-Loup Hubert, who came from the region, made the film “La Reine blanche” with Catherine Deneuve in 1990.

Claude Chabrol’s “La Demoiselle d’honneur” in 2005.

Many artists have since settled in the village of Trentemoult, and they welcome you to their galleries. There are around twenty of them in this former fishing village.

Regional specialities

The specialities of the Loire Atlantique are well represented in the bars and restaurants on the Quai Marcel Boissard, where you can enjoy local fish and seafood accompanied by a glass of local wine while gazing out over the banks of the Loire. You’ll always find a little something to nibble on along the quayside.

What to do in Trentemoult

• The Saturday morning organic market: fruit, vegetables, meat, fish, cheese, cider, wine, cooked meats, galettes…
• Concerts, flea markets…
• The marina.
• The Chronographe, which takes you on a journey to the Gallo-Roman town of Ratitium.
• The Radiant House by architect Le Corbusier.
• The clock.
• The famous Trentemoult regattas: this event usually takes place in September and brings together dinghies, sail-rowing boats and houseboats to compete against each other in a friendly atmosphere. The aim is above all to have a good time and share the pleasure of sailing with novices, and this has been the case since 1847.

You can download a tour guide from the city of Rezé’s website, where you’ll find all the information you need for your trip.