With their usual flair for artistic extravagance, the French are launching a massive summer art exhibition along the 25 miles of the banks of the Loire estuary between Nantes and St Nazaire this summer.
Although we tend to think of Nantes being at the mouth of the Loire (the longest river in France), there is another 40km until St Nazaire where the last bridge crosses the river before it enters the Atlantic.
From June to 1 September 2007 (and again in 2009 and 2011) the Loire Estuary Project 2007 will link St Nazaire and Nantes with a series of 40 art installations along the river bank (some even in the water) including a massive duck (25 metres high) experimental architecture, dramatic water features and a floating house, all of which can be viewed free of charge - or take to the river for a 3-hour boat cruise with audio tour.
Visit the website (below) for a good video of the stretch of river between these two locations.
LINKS
For more info see www.estuaire.info
Nantes Tourism
St Nazaire Tourist Office site for lots of maritime history
RECOMMENDED READING
Brittany Green Guide (Michelin Green Guides)
