Versailles Island

The quays lead you to the man-made island of Versailles, built entirely on the Erdre River. Once a marshland, the landscape was transformed in 1831 with the construction of the canal linking Nantes and Brest. The soil recovered from the canal excavation was stored here, eventually creating a 1.7-hectare artificial island. The Island used to be home to laundries, tanneries and boat factories. In 1844, the town’s architect sought to transform the island into a huge washhouse. Of course, with all these connecting canals, it really seemed worthwhile, however his project never came to fruition. It wasn’t until 1986 that the local council decided to transform the island into a garden. The winners of the competition launched by the city were architects, who put together a project based on Japan. Thanks to them, you can enjoy a Japanese break amidst bamboo, red pontoons, fish, and traditional houses. It’s a haven of peace and tranquillity.