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Visit Nantes - Nantes, no doubt the French city that has most changed in the past century, is in the spotlight now. Its chateau has just opened again and next summer you will discover 'machines on the island', the crazy project by the creators of the company Royal de Luxe, and also 'Estuaire 2007', an artistic enhancement of the Loire estuary imagined by Jean Blaise, director of the Lieu Unique.

The two most symbolic monuments of Nantes face one another in the town centre, a stone's throw from the station. The former LU biscuit factory, now dubbed Lieu Unique by Jean Blaise (creator of the Nuit blanche), has undeniably been one of the most active artistic centres in France since its opening in 2001. On the other side of the railway line, the Château des ducs de Bretagne, with its powerful ramparts and crenelated towers befitting a real fortress, has opened again at last to the public after several years' closure for restoration.

Brasserie du SNUC

This is the 'official' restaurant of the Stade Nantais UC Rugby, Nantes rugby club created in . 1904 ! Pascale Crimée is the proprietor and treats his regulars - tennismen, rugbymen, footballers, businessmen and gourmets - with delicious cuisine, a new version of luxury brasserie cuisine. Crete-style food as against the typical rugbyman's cassoulet: the dishes he lovingly prepares make broad use of olive oil and feature seafood. A warm ambience every day of the week. In the evening, it is also a bar.

• SNUC 'La Brasserie'
• 74, Bd des Anglais
• 441000 Nantes
• Tel.: 02 40.76 42 62
• Fax: 02 51 83 01 17

The Rugby World Cup 2007 in Nantes - Nantes is one of the twelve cities that will be the setting of the matches of the Rugby World Cup matches which will take place in France and the United Kingdom from 7 September to 20 October 2007.

Golf de Nantes, French Golf Course in Western Loire , Vigneux de Bretagne
This is a testing course, criss-crossed by the river Cens. It is in parkland around the Château de Buron and has generous fairways. A warm welcome will be received in the friendly clubhouse and there is a good restaurant which is very pleasant, overlooking the terrace. There is a £7 supplement to play on Sat/Sun from 1/4-31/10. Restaurant closed Mon.

Nantes experiences an oceanic climate, meaning that temperatures can be fairly mild in both the summer and the winter, with only occasional frosts occuring. Nantes and its surrounding regions are renowned for heavy rainfall throughout winter. Average summer temperatures reach 18°C and the average winter temperature is approximately 5°C.

Nantes can be very wet throughout the winter months. The rain however is often followed by clear skies and bright sunshine. The change in weather can happen suddenly and it is this changeability of Nantes’ weather that is more characteristic of the climate here than the frequent rain storms it experiences.

If you are looking for guaranteed sunshine, the best time to visit is during the summer months of June, July and August. However, these months are also the peak season and are therefore very busy with tourists. The weather in September and October is very mild, although you are not guaranteed sunshine. However, the autumn months are a lot less crowded and rates are often cheaper.