PAIMBOEUF

Paimbœuf, a former outport of Nantes in the heart of the Loire estuary, is a town that is lived in the past, present and future. Stroll through it like an adventure book: its quays, lighthouse, narrow streets and passages, and magnificent mansions will reveal its maritime past, which is still omnipresent. Heritage lovers: don’t miss the neo-Byzantine-style Church of Saint-Louis, the Chapel of St Charles, built under Louis XIV and currently undergoing renovation, the Rue Pierre Jubeau and its imposing carriage gates, a symbol of past splendour, and the captains’ residences with their elaborate balconies. Paimbœuf is sure to delight. Discover Paimbœuf’s heritage on the heritage interpretation trail, right here. Art lovers: discover a town where creativity is in full swing: Jardin Étoilé (part of the Estuaire trail), colourful facades or artists’ facades, exhibition venues, street-art frescoes, artistic residences – one thing’s for sure, Paimbœuf inspires! Epicureans: The food shops in the Place du Marché will delight your taste buds and awaken all your senses! For the whole family: the Town Hall has put together two booklets of games for you to discover the Jardin Étoilé and Paimbœuf, côté nature. Let yourself be won over by the charm of the Loire landscape. History A major trading port in the kingdom in the last century of the Ancien Régime, Nantes was unable to accommodate ocean-going vessels. In the 17th century, the irregular course of the Loire led to the establishment of an outport as close to the sea as possible, at Paimboeuf on the left bank of the estuary. A roadstead known as the “Quatres amarres” soon welcomed ships at anchor between the shore and the channel. Paimbœuf then became Nantes’ main outer harbour, with bustling activity on the quays and more than a hundred ships moored in the Paimbœuf roads. The town continued to grow, becoming the second largest town in Loire-Inférieure (now Loire-Atlantique) and gaining the status of sub-prefecture… To find out more… Many thanks to Gilles Bruyelle for this magnificent presentation of the town through this short film “PROMENADE À PAIMBŒUF” : Synopsis: Discovering Paimbœuf. Paimbœuf was one of the four main towns in the Loire-Inférieure region in the 19th century, and in 1801 it was given the status of sub-prefecture, having been a district capital since 1790. Under the Second Empire, the decision to develop the port of Saint-Nazaire sounded the death knell for its maritime economy, which gradually went into decline. Discover the SAINT-LOUIS CHURCH, the JARDIN ÉTOILÉ (or Jardin Extraordinaire), the GRAND BASSIN DE CARÉNAGE, the FORMER UNLOADING Docks, the Lighthouse, the Town Hall and the CARRIÈRE de Saint-Viaud near Paimbœuf. 11 minutes of history and discovery… Gilles Bruyelle imagesetreportages@orange.fr – All rights reserved.