And while we believe nobody’s place on a pedestal is ever permanent let’s big up French public art and say mai oui Nantes is looking up.
The city we’re told has given carte blanche ‘to all manner of artists to reveal, interpret and transform the town.
Through 15 additional public art installations along the enriched permanent arts trail.
Defying gravity
Now as you will be we were stopped in our tracks especially by Ivan Argote’s Antipodos at each end of Rue Marechal-Joffre.
He says he was inspired by ‘archaic visions of people from the ends of the Earth’.
And we’re reminded here of Tomas Cerny’s iconic Babies climbing the Tower structure in Prague.
Two everyman defy gravity with one scaling a facade and another the Louis XVI column.
With the statue of Le Roi vanishing through a mirrored illusion that reflects the sky.
Prompting reflection on the presence of monarchic power in public space.
Not sure we quite understand what’s going on but we’re all for the intention behind it.
Best seen for yourself, as is the architecture for which Nantes is probably best known.
Flying Machines
Les Machines de l’ile is the western French city’s calling card.
This completely original artistic project sits at the crossroads of Jules Verne’s imagined universes, Leonardo da Vinci’s mechanical world and Nantes’ industrial history.
All on the site of the city’s former shipyards.
In the Galeries des Machines you’ll see a two-tonne Spider, a Heron with an eight-metre wingspan, a Giant Hummingbird , a Sloth, Lovebirds, a Chameleon and a Butterfly Warm all coming to life.
Then there’s the Great Elephant.
A 12 metre-tall mechanical pachyderm (no, us neither) connecting the Galerie des Machines to the Marine Worlds’ Carousel.
Which is a 360 degrees theatre and mechanical aquarium across three levels.
From the depths of the ocean to the surface of the sea.
Green for go
Now to enjoy the full city experience, and we’re noticing here too that it gives you access to the Nantes Vineyard Museum and all in its 50-site package, sign up for the Pass Nantes.
The Green Line is a 12-mile trail which can be accessed a pied, or on foot, by tramway and by bus and river ferry.
Le Voyage a Nantes runs until August 31 and Ryanair flies there from Manchester, Bournemouth and London from £14.99.
And, of course, Dublin from €50.
Bon Voyage et c’est vrai mais oui Nantes is looking up.