Built in Le Havre and launched in 1958, this submarine covered during its 25 year long career the equivalent of 17 times the circumference of the earth ! Since 1987, the Espadon (Swordfish) has been... More info
TRANSATLANTIC LINERS : SAINT NAZAIRE
Saint Nazaire Transatlantic Liners
At the start of the XXth century, between 3,000 and 6,000 people were working in the Loire and Penhoët yards. Between the wars, shipbuilding became Saint-Nazaire's main industry. At that time,... More info
INDUSTRIAL SITES : SAINT NAZAIRE
Harbour of Saint Nazaire
In Saint-Nazaire tourists have the unique opportunity of being admitted inside prestigious companies where industry is very spectacular : you can book guided tours of the shipyard Aker Yards, of... More info
SAINT NAZAIRE ECOMUSEUM
Saint Nazaire Ecomuseum
A JOURNEY THROUGH TIME : The environment, the people and the industries that built Saint-Nazaire
The Ecomuseum is a cultural centre for the study, preservation and promotion of various aspects of... More info
THE ESTUARY : SAINT NAZAIRE
The Loire river travels over 1,000 km across France before ending in a vast estuary which is 60 km long and over 3 km wide at its mouth. The estuary, with its innumerable sandy islets, salt marshes,... More info
SAINT NAZAIRE : EARLY PILOTS
At the beginning of the XIXth century, Saint Nazaire was a tiny community of 600 sailors, fishermen and farmers. The village was built on a rocky promontory, huddled around its little church. The... More info
THE BUILDING OF SAINT-NAZAIRE
In 1835, a breakwater with docking facilities was inaugurated. It marked the beginning of a long period of expansion for Saint-Nazaire, referred to for a time as the gold rush era.
In 1840,... More info
SAINT NAZAIRE : THE BOMBS FALL
During the XIXth century, Saint-Nazaire had beome a commercial port as well as one of the leading shipbuilding centres in Europe. During the Second World War, it became a naval port.
The... More info
SAINT NAZAIRE : REBUILDING A WAR-RAVAGED TOWN
On May 11th, 1945 only three days after Germany surrendered, Saint-Nazaire's residents returned to what was left of their homes. The bombing had reduced 85% of their town to rubble. Work on clearing... More info