5 place de la Duchesse Anne, 44000 Nantes

Hotel du Château

Name: Hotel du Château
Address: 5 place de la Duchesse Anne, Nantes, 44000, FR
Rating: 4.4

Hotel 2-star in Nantes

With parking
Farm stay

Presentation

The Hôtel du Château has occupied, since 1929, an Art Deco building standing opposite the Château des Ducs de Bretagne, on Place de la Duchesse-Anne. Its facade has just been renovated, and the ochre yellow that now covers it can be found nowhere else in central Nantes. A mosaic engraved with the name of the establishment sits above the entrance, a discreet remnant of a time when such details were still cared for.

You push open a modest door and come upon a narrow central staircase that serves the upper floors as it spirals upward. There are only twelve rooms, each different from the others, with its own furnishings and atmosphere. Some look directly out onto the castle towers, others face the city's rooftops. All have a private bathroom, a flat-screen TV, a desk, and Wi-Fi.

This tight staircase, inherited from the original building, also means there is no elevator and that the property remains difficult to access for people with reduced mobility. Those traveling with heavy luggage or a stroller would do well to call ahead before booking, so as to choose the most suitable floor.

In the morning, breakfast is served from 7:30 to 9:30 on weekdays, and a little later on weekends. Bread, pastries, and coffee are served in a room that retains the spirit of the building. The manager, who has been in post since 2010, personally handles the welcome and knows his regulars by name.

As for parking, you will have to make do with the neighborhood's public car parks: the hotel has no reserved space. In a historic city center, that is almost the norm, and several car parks are located just a few minutes' walk away, on the way to the train station or the tram.

The SNCF train station is a five-minute walk away, as is the Congress Center. The tram goes directly to the exhibition center, and a shuttle connects the airport to the city center within a few hundred meters of the hotel. Nearby, the cathedral, the Museum of Fine Arts, the Jardin des Plantes, and Place du Bouffay can all be explored on foot, by changing streets more than neighborhoods.

Pets are welcome, which is not so common for such a central address.

One final tip: book a room facing the castle if you can, and have breakfast early, around 7:45; the room is quiet and the light falls beautifully on the square at that time.

Summary of a few positive reviews read on the Web

The owner knows the neighborhood by heart. He recommended a wine bar two streets away without us asking anything.
Room on the second floor with a direct view of the castle. Small but clean shower, soap and shampoo provided.
Simple breakfast, French style. Fresh bread, jam, decent coffee. Enough to start the day.
Be careful with the central staircase; it is narrow and winds a lot. With a big suitcase, it takes a bit of organization. No elevator in this old building.
Located right opposite the castle, five minutes' walk from the train station. The fine arts museum and the botanical garden are also within walking distance.