The quirkiest sight in Nantes has to be Les Machines de l'Île de Nantes. Inside this fantasy world it's perfectly possible to prance around like a maharajah on the back of a 45-tonne mechanical elephant with a secret lounge inside its belly, or voyage on a boat through dangerous oceans where attacks from oversized squid and giant prawns are common. We can only think that Jules Verne would be smiling in his grave if he could see this lot!
The team behind Les Machines de l'Île de Nantes are constantly thinking up whacky new ideas and the latest, Le Carrousel des Mondes Marines ; is a 25m high, 22m wide funfair carousel like you've never seen before. In fact, in 2014 it won the Thea Award for the 'Most Original Attraction in the Word'. In the surrounding waterfront area there are children's playgrounds, an artificial beach and waterside walkways.
There's a virtual menu of opening times and entry fees that are far too long and complicated to list here, but essentially there's one ticket valid for either the workshop, where you can watch the fantastical contraptions being built, or for elephant rides. Tickets for Le Carrousel des Mondes Marines are bought separately (and cost the same), but there are combinations of tickets available. See the website for full details.
