Private tour in Nantes Sandrine L

Nantes Private Tour : slave trade, slavery and collective memory in an express 3 hours tour

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Hours icon 3 hours
Walking
Private tour for 1-5 people
Your party size

1

Tour date
Start time
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Hours icon 3 hours
Walking
Private tour for 1-5 people
Your party size

1

View our cancellation policiesUpgrade for total flexibility with Any Reason Cancellation
Book with a depositSecure your tour today and pay your balance later

Sandrine L.

5.0

Guide rating

5

Reviews

Tours delivered

29 hrs

Avg. response time

Hello, I am a licensed tour guide in Nantes and I can't wait to share my unique city with you. I have been a museum and art educator as well as a professional tour guide for more than 13 years. I've been delivering tours in cities (Nantes), historic monuments (Castle of the Dukes of Brittany, St Denis cathedral near Paris. . . ) and art museums (Nantes Art Museum, Art Gallery of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada, Giverny Museum of Impres­sionisms. . . ), as well as art programs for adults, school groups, businesses or families. Having lived in Nantes for 14 years, I'd love to share all the secrets and good tips about the city that I now call home and why its energy still thrills me. I believe in the fact that a smiling knowledgeable guide will never replace an audioguide, and that a guided tour is above all a human encounter. My goal is to connect people through art, heritage and local life by creating a friendly exchange during our private tour. A few words about me: Born in Northern France next to Lille and the Belgian border, I moved to Nantes 14 years ago to work as a tour guide at the newly restored Castle of the Dukes of Brittany, one of Nantes' highlights. I wouldn't move for anything in the world…except maybe to renew the amazing experience I had in 2012 when I left France to work and travel in Canada and the US for a year. I love travelling: I visited Japan, China, but also Italy, Portugal or Romania. One of the perks of being a tour guide is to experience different cultures without leaving your city! I'm a music enthusiast, so I will be able to recommend a favorite place to see a live rock band. But I also enjoy staying home to practise printmaking, yoga or meditation : in that sense, I may invite you to pay attention to details, and feel the city with all your senses! One of the things I love the most about Nantes is that it's a human-scale city compared to Paris, yet with still a million things to do when it comes to the cultural offer: concerts, exhibitions, performing arts… Nantes is also ideally located 2 hours away from Paris with high-speed train, and 1 hour away from the beaches of the Atlantic Ocean: I love being able to see the Ocean on a whim. During my tours, I will tell you more about the locals' habits, and all that makes Nantes such a lively and creative city to live in, where art and culture are part of everybody's life. My Nantes top 5: -Wandering on the Isle of Nantes to explore this ever-changing and innovative district from which artists and makers get inspiration. And hear our one-of-a-kind giant mechanical elephant trumpeting! -Spotting the flowers and trees blooming in Spring : daffodils in the Castle's moat, magnolias in the streets or camellias in the Botanical garden. -Sharing a Muscadet nantais (the local white wine) at a local café or at Stereolux, a concert venue, then having a picnic on the river banks -Hop on the river shuttle to visit Trentemoult, a picturesque former fishermen's village -Cross the Passage Pommeraye, a chic 19th century shopping arcade, early in the morning. • I hold a tour guide license. • I do have a license to give my own tours inside the Nantes Art Museum. • I graduated in Art history and Museum studies from the Ecole du Louvre in Paris, where I majored in 20th century art. . I am not a driver. . If you are traveling on a cruise, make sure where your ship is docking : please contact the cruise line or the tourist information centre in Nantes so that they can help you arrange transportation to meet me in the city centre.

Have a question or want to customize this tour? Message Sandrine L.

Overview of your Nantes tour

Nantes was in the 18th century the most important slave trading port in France. This trade left numerous traces in the city's architecture and layout, as well as in the collective memory. Seize the opportunity to learn more about slave trade and slavery as a global trade through Nantes' example with a knowledgeable tour guide. I worked for nearly 8 years at the Nantes History Museum, renowned for its slave-trade related collections and its innovative museum views on the subject. We will discover the facades of the luxurious mansions where shipowners used to live and enter one of the private courtyards together. These merchants were part of an elite who organized triangular trade between Europe, Africa and America. After showing you the former Stock Exchange, symbol of Nantes' wealth, I will lead you to the unique Memorial to the Abolition of Slavery. This meditative site pays tribute to all the people who fought against slave trade and slavery, as well as the citizens who stand for Human rights today.

Your Nantes tour itinerary

Our itinerary can be adapted as this private tour can be tailored according to your specific interests. Here are suggestions of Nantes mains sites to include in this highlights tour :  Nantes History Museum (additional fee and additional time - at least 1 hour - to discover slave-trade related collections at the museum)  Commerce area in the city-centre : former river crossroads and history of the port - 30 min  Feydeau Island (facades and inner courtyard of ship-owners' luxurious mansions from the 18th century) - 1 hour  Stock Exchange and former docks - 10 min  Quai de la Fosse (facades of ship-owners luxurious mansions from the 18th century) - 10 min  Memorial to the Abolition of Slavery on the river Loire banks - 45 min

Want to customize this tour?

Tell your guide which places matter to you, skip what doesn't, and tailor the experience for your group's needs. Not finding what you want? Message your guide to build something unique.

Transport details
Type: Walking

This is a walking tour around Nantes. We can hop on a tram if needed to avoid walking long distances.

What's included
Other
Private Guide
What's not included
Other: Personal expenses. Admission ticket to the Nantes History Museum.
Public Transportation
Food Drinks Snacks
Meeting location

Airport: ,Cruise: ,ByGuide: Place du Bouffay, next to the statue.

  • You can request a specific meeting location (for example, your hotel) during the checkout.
Other details
Tour categories
History
Off The Beaten Path
Tour reference number
829090
Languages
French
English
Activity level
Minimal
Accessibility
Kid Friendly
Wheelchair Accessible

FAQs

Who is this private tour in Nantes best suited for?

This private tour in Nantes is ideal for travellers interested in history, particularly those who want to learn about the city's role in the slave trade and its impact on collective memory. It's also perfect for those who prefer a personalized experience with a knowledgeable guide like Sandrine L., who has extensive experience working at the Nantes History Museum.

What should I bring or wear?

Can this private tour in Nantes be customized to focus on what I want to see and skip places I've already visited?

How long is the tour, and can the start time or duration be adjusted?

Where does the tour start and end?

Is transportation included?

How much walking is involved, and is it suitable for kids, seniors, or travellers with mobility concerns?

What languages is this tour offered in?

What's included in this private tour, and what should I budget for separately?

Is this a private tour? What is the maximum group size and the starting price?

AI-generated. Please confirm details with your guide

-
Hours icon 3 hours
Walking
Private tour for 1-5 people
Your party size

1

Tour date
Start time
View our cancellation policiesUpgrade for total flexibility with Any Reason Cancellation
Book with a depositSecure your tour today and pay your balance later
-
Hours icon 3 hours
Walking
Private tour for 1-5 people
Your party size

1

Tour date
Start time
View our cancellation policiesUpgrade for total flexibility with Any Reason Cancellation
Book with a depositSecure your tour today and pay your balance later
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