Shopping in Nantes is centered around the Place Graslin, Place Royale, the Château, and the Cathedral. But I think the most interesting—and beautiful—is the Passage Pommeraye. Located between the Place Graslin and the Place Royale (map), the Passage Pommeraye occupies several levels, allowing you to navigate the hills of the center of town while exploring this wonderful gallery.

Like the wonderful passages of Paris, this was built in the mid 1800s. These glass-roofed passages provided shoppers a way to get out of the rain and mud, and allowed shop keepers to show their wares in elegant surroundings. Most Paris passages also include restaurants. More...

In Nantes, the Passage Pommeraye provides a feast of things to look at, from ornate staircases to statues to gracious light fixtures to the lovely glass roofs and decorated ceilings. As you wander through, you can take in the various shops and the decor.

The elegant Passage Pommeraye. Note the beautiful carvings between the glass panels of the roof.

We entered the Passage Pommeraye on the lower level off the Rue de la Fosse and gradually worked our way up, enjoying the delightful ambience throughout. And we were delighted to find that we didn't have to go back down, but we could exit near the Rue Santeuil, where we quickly found a place to sit and enjoy a beer before continuing our sightseeing. From here it was just a short walk to the Place Graslin, home of the lovely Opera House.

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