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Saint-Nazaire, France

Self-catering Saint-Nazaire holiday homes - Accommodation Saint-Nazaire

Saint-Nazaire is found in the Loire-Atlantique department in the Pays de la Loire region in western France. Most people stay in holiday rental accommodation in Saint Nazaire to view the town’s harbour, on the right bank of the Loire River estuary, near the Atlantic Ocean.  It’s no surprise then that Saint-Nazaire has a long tradition of fishing and is has been the home of France’s historic shipbuilding industry.

When you rent a holiday home in Saint-Nazaire you’ll be staying in France's premier shipbuilding centre since 1860.  The Queen Mary II and the Sovereign of the Seas are amongst the prestigious ocean liners built here.  Guided tours of the 'Aker Yards' shipyard give a fascinating insight into the world of ship making. 

Saint-Nazaire is also the home of the latest Airbus design - the ‘double-decker’ A380 (which is built in conjunction with Airbus in Toulouse).  When you stay in Saint Nazaire - a guided tour of the factory is not to be missed!  For submarine lovers – a visit to the Espadon is worth a trip - you can even climb aboard.

Saint-Nazaire also boasts 20 beaches. They start off flat and sandy and turn into rocky coves towards the headland.  The most popular beach is Saint-Marc-sur-Mer. There are also coastal paths between Villes-Martin and Les Jaunais – perfect for the energetically inclined when you stay in self-catering accommodation in Saint Nazaire! 

Not forgetting that when you stay in Saint-Nazaire you’ll be able to see the Loire estuary (France's largest river) and the bridge that crosses it – which is spectacular in terms of scale and elegance.  Saint Nazaire’s rich history and heritage means that you’ll also find megalithic dolmens, burial grounds that date back to 5000 BC and numerous parks, lakes and gardens.

Saint Nazaire is conveniently located on the route national N165/N161 (E60 route), gives motorway access to Nantes and Rennes via the Pont de Saint-Nazaire, which crosses the Loire. Paris is then accessed via the A10/A11 (in Nantes).

Saint-Nazaire railway station is served by both the TGV and the regional trains and buses of the TER Pays de la Loire. TGV (high speed train) connection to Paris, Lyon, Marseille, Lille, and Strasbourg, with trains to Paris via the LGV Atlantique taking just over 2 hours.

Travelling to your holiday property in Saint-Nazaire, France; The airport is located 5 km outside the town – although currently doesn’t offer direct flights to the UK. Nantes Atlantique Airport, the biggest airport in western France, welcomes Air France, easyJet, Ryanair, CityJet and Flybe. Check websites for seasonal timetables.

The climate is a maritime. The summers are warm but rarely too hot. The hours of sunshine are between seven and eight a day. The winters are mild with almost no frost or snow.