The Memorial to the Abolition of Slavery in Nantes
Nantes was France's leading slave port in the 18th and 19th centuries. This dark chapter in its history came to an end with the abolition of slavery in 1848.
In the heart of the city, the Slavery Memorial pays tribute to all those who fought against slavery, past, present and future.
Inaugurated in 2012, the Memorial to the Abolition of Slavery in Nantes is located on the banks of the Loire. It takes the form of a 400-metre-long, contemporary-style green promenade.
Along the promenade, you will see 2,000 glass plaques bearing the names of ships, ports of call and ports of sale in the West Indies and Africa. A second part of the memorial is located underground, almost at the level of the Loire.
Texts and a soundtrack accompany visitors. A visit to the Memorial to the Abolition of Slavery is part of a tour that starts at the Nantes History Museum. The two sites complement each other, with the museum providing a comprehensive historical overview in a permanent exhibition dedicated to slavery.
The tour is punctuated with explanatory panels, and you should allow an hour to walk from one point to the other.
The site is open every day for free visits:
Set down your bags at the Novella Carquefou hotel on the outskirts of Nantes.
Ideally located 20 minutes from the Slavery Memorial, Nantes city centre and Nantes Atlantique Airport, our hotel is the perfect starting point for exploring the city of Nantes and its cultural treasures.
Stay in one of our 88 comfortable and well-equipped rooms and enjoy a peaceful stay thanks to our free secure car park.
Start each day with a varied and delicious breakfast to recharge your batteries before your visits and explorations.
In the heart of the city, the Slavery Memorial pays tribute to all those who fought against slavery, past, present and future.
A piece of Nantes' history
A place of remembrance in the heart of the city
Inaugurated in 2012, the Memorial to the Abolition of Slavery in Nantes is located on the banks of the Loire. It takes the form of a 400-metre-long, contemporary-style green promenade.
Along the promenade, you will see 2,000 glass plaques bearing the names of ships, ports of call and ports of sale in the West Indies and Africa. A second part of the memorial is located underground, almost at the level of the Loire.
Texts and a soundtrack accompany visitors. A visit to the Memorial to the Abolition of Slavery is part of a tour that starts at the Nantes History Museum. The two sites complement each other, with the museum providing a comprehensive historical overview in a permanent exhibition dedicated to slavery.
The tour is punctuated with explanatory panels, and you should allow an hour to walk from one point to the other.
The Memorial to the Abolition of Slavery in Nantes in practice
The site is open every day for free visits:
- From 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. from 16 September to 14 May
- From 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. from 15 May to 15 September.
Your hotel in Nantes
Set down your bags at the Novella Carquefou hotel on the outskirts of Nantes.
Ideally located 20 minutes from the Slavery Memorial, Nantes city centre and Nantes Atlantique Airport, our hotel is the perfect starting point for exploring the city of Nantes and its cultural treasures.
Stay in one of our 88 comfortable and well-equipped rooms and enjoy a peaceful stay thanks to our free secure car park.
Start each day with a varied and delicious breakfast to recharge your batteries before your visits and explorations.
