La Havane District

Saint-Nazaire may not immediately strike visitors with its architecture—after all, more than 80% of the city was destroyed during the war. What it offers instead is a strong maritime identity. But just when you start to think of the city only in terms of ships and shipyards, you stumble upon a hidden gem: the charming district of La Havane. One of the few areas to survive the bombings, this small neighborhood feels like stepping into another time—specifically, the eclectic 19th century. Back then, as Saint-Nazaire was booming with industrial and port activity, the city began dreaming of far-off destinations. Transatlantic liners regularly set sail from here toward the sun-drenched shores of Central America. That spirit of adventure still lingers today in the names of the streets—like Santander, Veracruz, and, of course, Havana—whisking you away to exotic places with just a glance at a street sign. This little pocket of history, lined with elegant bourgeois houses in a mix of styles—Basque, Norman, Art Nouveau, Neoclassical—tells the story of Saint-Nazaire’s golden age with color, charm, and character. It’s a place that feels both unexpected and unforgettable.