A French Symphony: From the Atlantic Shores to the Castles of the Loire. Day 2-5

Day 2: Saint-Nazaire and the ‘Serpent of the Ocean’

Saint-Nazaire is a small port city in western France, located on the northern (right) bank of the Loire. It is known for having the largest shipyard in Europe, where cruise liners are built and repaired. The city attracts tourists with its historic districts, waterfront promenades, and beaches that are perfect for relaxing by the Atlantic Ocean.

An impressive cable-stayed bridge over the Loire connects Saint-Nazaire with the southern coast. The Saint-Nazaire Bridge is notable for being the longest bridge in France, spanning a total length of 3,356 meters. This bridge leads to the town of Saint-Brévin-les-Pins, which is remarkable for one unique structure.

The absolutely stunning and endlessly mysterious structure, the “Serpent of the Ocean” (Serpent of the Ocean), is a massive sculpture emerging from the waters of the Bay of Biscay.

The “Serpent of the Ocean” sculpture was created by Chinese artist Huang Yong Ping

This artwork was installed in 2012 and represents a giant metallic structure symbolizing a serpent rising from the ocean.

Designed as an art installation, it resembles a massive snake winding through the sea. During low tide, visitors can walk underneath it and even touch the cold steel, while during high tide, adventurous tourists paddle up to it on boards. This place leaves an unforgettable impression and, despite its unusual appearance, has become a true symbol of the region. A must-visit!

Day 3: Nantes

Nantes is a city at the mouth of the Loire that is well worth a visit. For the convenience of tourists, a green line runs through the entire historic center, forming a closed loop. By following this line, visitors can see all the main attractions without missing anything important.

It is particularly amusing to watch some tourists take this concept literally, walking in single file directly along the painted line, as if afraid to stray from the route. Nantes is home to the Château des Ducs de Bretagne, a historic castle that served as the residence of the Dukes of Brittany from the 15th century. It features a fortress complex with a museum dedicated to the history of Nantes and Brittany. Surrounded by a moat and walls, it is one of the city’s main attractions.

Nantes is also home to the incredible technical museum “Les Machines de l’Île“. This unique museum is dedicated to mechanical structures and giant wooden sculptures. One of the most famous and impressive creations is the giant mechanical elephant, which stands in the square outside the museum and can move and carry passengers. This and other installations, inspired by the fantasies of Jules Verne, transform the city into a living work of art, blending engineering ingenuity with creativity.

Day 4 – 5: Dune du Pilat, Saint-Émilion, Camping Yelloh! Village, Saint-Émilion

Our next destination is this four-star campsite Yelloh! Village with a swimming pool, restaurant, and a small shop. It is conveniently located just a 30-minute walk from the center of Saint-Émilion—a cozy town that, despite the young age of the wine region, has already surpassed Bordeaux in popularity among wine lovers.

A stroll through evening Saint-Émilion is a fantastic idea that never fails to impress. Just a few narrow streets and the ruins of an ancient fortress, filled with carefree tourists, create an amazing atmosphere. And although this town is considered a tourist destination in France, you won’t find the usual souvenir shops here.

The only and main souvenir of Saint-Émilion is, of course, wine. Shops and wine boutiques offer wines for every taste and budget: from affordable bottles to collectible ones costing thousands of euros. In small boutique stores as well as in the surrounding châteaux, you can taste local wines, appreciate their flavor, hear about their production history, and take home a bottled memory. Many stores display prices for wines of different vintages, and sometimes these numbers are astonishing.

The commune has two appellations, geographically located in the same area—”Saint-Émilion” and “Saint-Émilion Grand Cru.” When choosing a wine, pay attention to the label. It will indicate the appellation to which the wine belongs, often helping you select an excellent wine without tasting it. As is customary in France, wine production in these two appellations is strictly regulated by law.

In France, wine is strongly tied to its region of origin, which fundamentally distinguishes its winemaking culture from, for example, Germany’s. French wines are classified primarily by terroir—a combination of natural factors (soil, climate, vineyard location) that give the wine its unique taste. Even wines made from the same grape variety grown in different regions (such as Bordeaux and Burgundy) will have completely different flavors and characters.

In Germany, however, the focus is not so much on the region as on the name of the producer (winemaker). The most important factor is the winemaker’s skill rather than the vineyard’s location. German winemakers pay more attention to production technology and the quality of a specific vintage (harvest year).

Thus, in France, wine is the history of the region, whereas in Germany, it is the art of the winemaker.

For a long time, the wines of Saint-Émilion remained unclassified, until 1934, when the Saint-Émilion Wine Trade Chamber decided to introduce a classification for local estates.

A walk through Saint-Émilion is just the beginning. The real pleasure lies beyond the town: walking through the surrounding vineyards, from château to château. Here, among the grapevines, you not only feel the spirit of the place but can also visit the châteaux, where the owners proudly offer their wines for tasting. Yes, there are plenty of wine boutiques in town with selections from all the surrounding estates. But only in a château can you not only taste but also buy wine directly from the producer—and sometimes even take a tour of the winery or ancient cellars. It’s not just a purchase; it’s a story told with a glass in hand.

Saint-Émilion will not leave true red wine lovers indifferent.

Dune du Pilat is a natural wonder with a centuries-old history. The tallest sand dune in Europe (about 120 meters high and over 3 kilometers long), it was created over thousands of years by the relentless work of winds that tirelessly carry grains of sand from the Atlantic shores inland. And the dune is still growing: every year it expands, slowly swallowing everything in its path. The only thing holding it back for now is the pine forest from the mainland side. The battle between the sandy force and the mighty trees is a mesmerizing sight, part of the eternal, unhurried work of nature.

When you walk a few hundred meters from the parking lot, the Dune suddenly reveals itself in all its power. It is impossible not to feel like a grain of sand before it, so tiny and insignificant. You can climb the dune via a wooden staircase provided for tourists, and the descent is a separate delight: the deep, soft sand pulls at your feet, and it feels like you’re flying down. From the top, there is a breathtaking view of the azure waters of the Atlantic on one side and the green forests on the other. It’s easy to understand why this place ranks second in popularity among tourists in France, second only to Mont-Saint-Michel.

But to truly experience the magic of this place, you must arrive early in the morning, before the tourist crowds fill the stairs and the top of the dune. Unfortunately, in 2022, intense forest fires caused by a car fire on a forest road destroyed a significant portion of the pine trees and also damaged nearby campsites. Thus, man, in his habit, intervened in the millennia-old struggle between sand and trees, removing the pines that had served as the dune’s natural barrier for centuries. Now, nothing holds back the sandy force from continuing its march inland.

A trip to the Dune du Pilat can easily be combined with a visit to the Arcachon Bay — a place famous for its superb oysters. Here, you can try the freshest seafood while enjoying the view of the calm waters of the bay, and visit the town of Arcachon itself, cozy with a waterfront full of restaurants and cafés, where a leisurely resort atmosphere reigns.

If time allows, it’s worth heading to Bordeaux — the majestic capital of the eponymous wine region. This city, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site, is known for its wide boulevards, elegant 18th-century architecture, cozy squares, and, of course, wine boutiques and bars where you can taste the famous Bordeaux wines. Bordeaux is not just a city, but a true symbol of the French art of living, harmoniously combining history, culture, and gastronomy.