Nantes(Frenchpronunciation:[n t])(Breton:Naoned,Gallo:Naunnt)isacityinwesternFrance,located

ontheLoireRiver,50km(31mi)fromtheAtlanticcoast.[1]ThecityisthesixthlargestinFrance,witha
metropolitanareaofabout900,000inhabitants.[2]

NantesisthecapitalcityofthePaysdelaLoireregionandtheLoireAtlantiquedpartement,anditis
thelargestcityintraditionalBrittanyandinthewholeGrandOuest(northwesternFrance).Together
withVannes,RennesandCarhaix,itwasoneofthemajorcitiesofthehistoricprovinceofBrittanyand
theancientDuchyofBrittany.Nantesisstillwidelyregardedasitscapitalcity.[3]

TheNantesTramwayopenedin1985,areversalofthetrendoftramwayclosuresthathadbeengoing
onsincethemiddleofthe20thcentury.ThetramwaysystemisoneofthelargestandbusiestinFrance.
ThecityalsohasaBuswayline,aninnovativeandnotablebusrapidtransit.Nantesisservedbyan
internationalairport,NantesAtlantiqueAirportandamajorFrenchrailwaystation,theGaredeNantes.