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(S/E) From the North Station (or Orléans), cross the tram line to reach Rue Ecorchard. Immediately after, head to the Jardin des Plantes via its south-west entrance.
(1) Stroll around inside, then exit via the west entrance, opposite Rue Georges Clémenceau.
Take this street: on the left is the renowned Lycée Clémenceau, and on the right is the Musée des Beaux Arts (under renovation in 2012).
At the end of the street, cross Rue Henri IV to reach Cours Saint-Pierre opposite.
Turn left, cross Rue Premion a little further on and enter the courtyard of the Château des Ducs de Bretagne (you can walk along the ramparts, follow the moat and visit the castle).
(2) Exit via the west entrance (under the porch). Turn right onto Rue des Etats. Turn left onto Rue Mathelin Rodier.
(3) Go around the Gothic-style Saint-Vincent and Saint-Paul Cathedral on the left, then pass under the Porte Saint-Pierre (of the former bishop's palace) on Rue de l'Évêché nearby.
When you reach Place du Maréchal Foch, cross the street to reach Cours Saint-Pierre on the left. Head north. At the end, go down the stairs, cross Quai Ceyneray and walk along the Erdre (Rue Sully) opposite.
Leave Pont Saint-Mihiel on your left and continue along the Erdre river on Quai Henri Barbusse. Take the footbridge to reach Ile de Versailles and its Japanese garden.
(4) After strolling around, exit via the south entrance. Walk along the Erdre river on Quai de Versailles until you reach the northern end of Cours des Cinquante Otages (monument on your left).
(5) Turn right onto Rue Paul Bellamy. When you reach the double roundabout (La Friande sweet shop), cross Rue Paul Bellamy to reach the Talensac Market.
Walk along the building on Rue Basse, cross Rue de Bel Air to reach Rue Auguste Brizeux. At the top of this street, turn left and then immediately right to reach Place Viarme.
(6) Walk along the tram line that descends to the left towards the Tour de Bretagne. After the tower, turn left onto Rue Beaurepaire. You will come to Cours des Cinquante Otages. Cross it to reach the foot of the unusual Hotel La Pérouse.
At the end of Rue du Cheval Blanc, turn left onto Rue Saint-Léonard. When you reach Rue de l'Hôtel de Ville, turn right.
(7) Turn right again opposite the Hôtel de Ville, onto Rue du Moulin.
Continue straight ahead along the pedestrian street. At the crossroads where Galeries Lafayette is located, go straight ahead.
You will enter the medieval Bouffay district with its half-timbered houses (in Rue Sainte-Croix, Rue de la Juiverie, Rue de la Baclerie, etc.). At Place Sainte-Croix, take Rue Sainte-Croix, to the left of the church of the same name, then Rue de la Baclerie. (Passage Sainte-Croix, between Place Sainte-Croix and Rue de la Baclerie, south of the church: cultural events and exhibitions).
At the end of Rue de la Baclerie, you will come to Place du Bouffay.
Take the small street on the right (Rue du Bouffay). When you reach Rue de la Paix, turn right, then left onto Rue de Beauregard. This pedestrian street leads to Cours des Cinquante Otages. Cross it (tram line) and take Rue d'Orléans, a little further up. You will arrive at Place Royale.
(8) Take thesecond street on the left (rue de Gorges) to reach Place du Commerce.
Head towards Rue Thurot (between the cinema and FNAC) and immediately take the small alley on the right. At the end of this alley, you will arrive opposite Passage Pommeraye.
Take it to come out almost at Rue Crébillon. Go up it on the left. It leads to Place Graslin.
(9) From there, take thethird street on the left (Rue Piron), then cross Cours Cambronne on the right.
Continue straight on Rue Maurice Sibille, then Rue Bâtonnier Guinaudeau. Turn left onto Rue Verrerie, cross Quai de la Fosse and the Anne de Bretagne bridge over the Loire. At the end of the bridge, cross the street and head towards Les Machines de l'Île.
Then, pass in front of the Ateliers et Chantiers de Nantes, then leave the yellow Titan crane on your right to reach Quai des Antilles with the Buren rings. (Further along, you will find the hangar à bananes, a trendy nightspot in stream with bars, restaurants, etc.).
(10) From there, return to the end of the quay, heading north-east, and take the footbridge on the left to pass under the yellow Titan crane.
Immediately turn left to reach the quay where the restaurant-barge 'Le Nantilus' is located. Take another footbridge, walk up the quay, pass under the Anne de Bretagne bridge and walk up to the Fernand Crouan quay.
(11) Opposite the Palais de Justice designed by architect Jean Nouvel, take the Victor Schoelcher footbridge over the Loire. Cross Rue Gaston Michel and follow the footpath towards the tram line (Médiathèque stop). Follow the tram line, turning right. When you reach Rue Félix Eboué, cross it and walk along it, turning right and following a green space on your left. You will enter the Feydau district.
(12) Continue straight ahead on Quai de Turenne. Cross the tram line. At the end of Quai de Turenne, cross Cours Commandant d'Estienne d'Orves to reach Square Elisa Mercœur.
Stay on the almost straight path that leads to the other end of Allée des Commandants Patton et Wood. Turn right, go under the bridge and then take the stairs on the right. Take the bridge over the SNCF railway line and go down the stairs on the left.
You will then arrive at the 'Lieu Unique' (former LU biscuit factory, converted into an arts centre) and the LU Tower. Walk along the building to reach Quai Ferdinand Favre. Continue along the quay (pedestrian zone). Take the stairs on the right to reach the Pont de Tbilissi.
(13). Cross the bridge. At the roundabout, go anti-clockwise (on your left is the legendary Stade Marcel Saupin, the scene of many great victories for FC Nantes). Take Rue de Cornulier. Continue straight ahead to the south station. Take the underpass to return to the starting point (S/E).
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