Arriving in Nantes, one of the first things we saw was a beautiful, ornate tower, just a short distance from our hotel and the train station. Here's a detail:

Detail of the LU tower, now the Lieu Unique.

When we asked about it at the Tourist Information Office, we were told it was Le Lieu Unique, or Unique Place. This didn't help us much, so we decided to explore more.

As we wandered in the neighborhood, we noticed a more modern building (Le Voyage à Nantes) across the street with a familiar image on it. Why, we wondered, was there a building with a Petit Beurre biscuit on its front? As we pondered this, we turned around and saw the large red and white LU sign.

And voila! Mystery solved! This was the site of the original LU biscuit factory, and the tower was one of two that originally comprised the entrance to the factory. Renamed to reuse the logo, the Lieu Unique was the 21st century reincarnation of LU.

With the full name of Lefèvre-Utile (after the owners, Jean-Romain Lefèvre and his business partner and wife, Pauline-Isabelle Utile), the company was founded in Nantes in 1846. In 1897 the Little Schoolboy (Petit Écolier) biscuits were added to the line (a Petit Beurre topped with chocolate, one of my favorites) and the initials LU were used to identify the brand.

In the 1910s, the LU factory in Nantes employed 1,200 workers and produced over 6,000 tons of biscuits.

After many years production at the original factory ceased, and operations were moved to another locale. In 2007 the company was bought by Mondelez International.

Meanwhile, demolition of the factory in Nantes started in 1974. Fortunately, one tower remained, and was bought by the city in 1995. The Lieu Unique, as it came to be called, was protected as a center for contemporary arts and music. The building has contained performance space, restaurants, bars, practice space, exhibit space, a hammam, a gift shop, and more.

Every year the Lieu Unique presents shows (theater, dance, circus, music, literary meetings, philosophical debates), exhibitions, recurring events and festivals, and workshops. It also supports artists's residencies. The goal is to create a center for the arts that is open to the public.

And meanwhile, travelers can still enjoy LU Petit Beurre biscuits.

Le Lieu Unique

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