The city of Saint-Nazaire, located near Nantes on the Atlantic coast of France, began as a small fishing village, and grew to prominence as the embarkation point for all ocean liners bound for South America. The town is focused around its harbour and beaches, and has a strong maritime heritage, considering itself the "birthplace of France's ocean liners". Indeed, many ships have been constructed it the city's Aker shipyards, including the great ocean liner Queen Mary 2. The city is also known for the manufacture of Airbus airplanes, playing a role in the production of the largest civil aircraft ever built, the Airbus A380. Guided tours are available of the Airbus factory, where visitors can view the production of the cockpit and fuselage of the great planes.
All of this manufacturing has appeared after WWII, as Saint-Nazaire was the site of a German submarine base throughout the war, which eventually led to the all-but-complete destruction of the town by bombs. The complete reconstruction of the city and the rise in harbour-based industry is chronicled in the Écomusee, where visitors can see a multimedia presentation of the rapid growth of Saint-Nazaire in the last 50 years. Guided tours are available of the Saint-Nazaire Port Authority and shipyard, as well as the Submarine Espadon, the only submarine museum in France that's actually afloat.
History aside, many visitors to the city of Saint-Nazaire will probably be more interested in the town's 20 beaches, waterfront activities and other opportunities for relaxation and leisure. The harbour is home to numerous pleasure craft and sailing boats, and there is a well-kept promenade along the seaside.
Near to the town is the 9 km long bay of La Baule. With its long, sandy beach, the area offers a chance to relax, with a number of thalassotherapy clinics and other outdoor activities including horseback riding and sailing. A visit to the nearby Brière Marshland takes you back in time. With more than 2,000 thatched cottages and a maze of canals, this traditional peat harvesting area offers tours by horse drawn carriage or old-fashioned flat boat. Saint-Nazaire is located just across the Loire estuary from the prominent seaside resort, Pornic and the Jade Coast, offering miles of beaches and outdoor activities.
