Machines de l'île

Set in the former shipyards of Nantes, this artistic project builds enormous mechanical animals inspired by the imagination of a local novelist and the sketches of Leonardo. Its centrepiece is a walking mechanical elephant several storeys tall that carries passengers on its back through the surrounding esplanade. A workshop gallery lets visitors watch new creatures take shape, while a carousel of marine machines evokes an undersea world. The blend of engineering, theatre, and fantasy has made it a signature attraction of the city.