Royal Square

The Royal Square was designed at the end of the 18th century by Mr. Crucy, the city’s architect, to whom we owe the Graslin Opera House. After the recent demolition of the old medieval wall the freed space had to be redesigned. Up to 1790, this was the place of a bastion built around 1500 to secure access to Porte Saint-Nicolas. Here, the architect has created a square that respects all the classic codes of an ancient royal square. Rounded, framed by beautiful symmetrical façades and with perfect perspectives running from it. However, there’s no statue of a monarch, as it was the custom in Royal Squares. Instead, in its center you can admire, a monumental fountain that reminds us of the bond between Nantes and its river, its tributaries, and the ocean. The city is represented by a white marble statue surrounded by allegorical bronzes. From its inception, the square has been dedicated to trade. The architect had thought of merchants by specifically planning ground floors for shops. Its central position attracted renowned brands that have distinguished themselves through their longevity. For instance, the pharmacy, founded in 1793, only disappeared in 2010! Whatever the case, the Royal Square has been the centre of many social and popular movements, such as Armistice Day in 1918, the Great Strike of 1936, and the May ’68 uprisings. Up to this day, it is still the favourite place for symbolic events.