Chantiers de l’Atlantique
Jibi44, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
About this Site
Chantiers de l’Atlantique in Saint‑Nazaire is one of the world’s premier shipyards, with over 160 years of shipbuilding expertise. Its facilities include a nearly 900‑metre-long dry dock and gantry cranes capable of lifting blocks weighing over 1,400 tonnes. Renowned for constructing iconic vessels such as RMS France, Queen Mary 2, Harmony of the Seas, and MSC World‑class ships, the yard also fabricates offshore wind turbine substations. The site is a major centre for maritime industrial engineering, integrating heavy structural assembly with advanced modular construction and offshore infrastructure innovation.
Visitor Information
Tours are 2‑hour guided bus-and-walk visits departing from the Tourist Office at the submarine base. Operated in French and English, with audio guides available in eight languages, they cover the yard’s streets, workshops, and assembly docks. Booking is compulsory, requiring passport or EU ID and personal details; non‑EU visitors must book at least two days ahead. Children under seven are not recommended. Safety rules include closed-toe shoes, no photography, and possible exposure to noise or smells. Prices for 2025: €21 standard, €19 reduced, €10.50 (ages 4–17); as part of a PASS with Escal’Atlantic, combined tickets are €30 (full). Tours run mid‑July to mid‑November 2025.
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