One named "Venice of the West," Nantes presents to its visitors the urban landscape marrying "the blue" and "the green." Its natural heritage is exceptional: 1,000 hectares of green, open spaces, exotic plant collections in the Jardin des Plantes, the magnolia trees lining the Cours des 50 Otages... From the orientalism of the Ile de Versailles to the most humble square and the garden, it's like plants from all over the world had converged in Nantes. 
The contemporary developments, such as the green "rivers" of the île Feydeau, renew undying memories of life downstream. Along the river Erdre 'most beautiful river in France' according to François I, you can discover its beauty by boat. Nantes makes sure that the quality of its surroundings has been retained. Here's a selection to bring sparkles to people's eyes.
In 1711, the people of Nantes fell in love with the magnolia. And in fact the 400 varieties in the national collection are housed in the La Beaujoire floral park.
- Parc du Grand-Blottereau
- Parc de la Chantrerie
- Places to discover along the water (La Loire)
- Runners and hikers will find exactly what they are looking for, either in the city itself or nearby. The paths and trails are well-marked and well-maintained.
