Estuaire Nantes<>Saint-Nazaire – countryside, site specific art and the river. A permanent open-air collection of 33 original artworks.
While certain installations were in place for a fixed time or for an event (Estuaire 2007, 2009 and 2012), others have gone on to make up a collection open to visitors all year round.
From Nantes to Saint-Nazaire, this 60 km long trail along the Loire groups large scale installations, sculptures and amazing architecture from the hand of some of today’s great international artists.
Whether in Nantes or Saint-Nazaire, Estuaire provides you with the opportunity to stroll around and discover the historic and contemporary heritage of both cities. On the estuary, discover the beauty of the Loire river and the diversity of the surrounding landscapes. Rich wildlife preserves rub shoulders with gigantic industrial buildings and maritime heritage. Discovering the installations by the land will not only give you the opportunity to get a close look at the artworks, but also will make you feel the unique spirit of the estuary.
Created in situ, the pieces can be reached by river or land (on foot, by bike or car). They are freely on view throughout the year in some off-beat places (cement works for ‘Le pendule’ by Romain Signer, etc.) or in places of natural beauty (pastures and reed beds in Lavau-sur-Loire for «l’Observatoire» by Tadashi Kawamata), and by day or by night (‘The Rings’ by Daniel Buren and Patrick Bouchain).
From April to October, take advantage of a river cruise to reach the point where the Loire runs into the ocean and see the estuary from the unique viewpoint of the river.
Estuaire Nantes<>Saint-Nazaire, a project by Jean Blaise. Artistic programming: Estuaire 2007-2009: Jean Blaise, David Moinard and Virginie Pringuet / Conseiller artistique extérieur: Jean de Loisy Estuaire 2012: Jean Blaise and David Moinard.
LE VOYAGE à NANTES IS A LOCAL PUBLIC FUNDED COMPANY WHOSE MISSION IS TO PROMOTE THE CULTURAL ORGANISATION PUT IN PLACE BY THE CITY OF NANTES AND MORE GENERALLY THE GREATER NANTES AREA.