an important commercial town of France, the seat of a bishop, and capital of the department of Loire-Inférieure, on the right bank of the Loire, about 30 miles from its mouth, 208 miles S.W. of Paris. N. Lat. 47° 13', and W. Long. 1° 32'. It stands partly on the mainland, intersected by the Erdre and Sèvre-Nantaise, and partly on three islands formed by the irregular course of the Loire. Thus situated, the town enjoys the advantages of water-communication between its various quarters. The old part of the town occupies the right bank of the river, and is divided into two portions by the Erdre, which forms the outlet of the Nantes and Brest Canal. Many of the houses here are antique and picturesque in appearance, but in the newer parts of the town the houses are generally elegant, and the streets spacious. The quays which line the river are extensive and commodious, and add much to the gay aspect of the town. But the most striking quarter of the city is that occupied by the boulevards of St Peter and St Andrew, and the Place Louis XVI. These, which are ornamented with rows of trees, stretch from the St Felix branch of the Loire to the Erdre, and form a delightful promenade. The islands of Feydeau and Gloirette, connected with the main and with each other by several bridges, are occupied by well built streets, while the latter has a dock and excellent quays. A larger island, in mid stream, is chiefly laid out in parks and private villas, and is also provided with a dock and quays. The chief public edifices are as follows:—St Peter's cathedral, commenced in 1434, is a plain though massive building near the centre of the town, and contains a very fine monument of Duke Francis II. of Brittany, and his spouse Margaret of Foix. This forms an altar tomb of marble, on which the effigies of the duke and duchess are recumbent, supported at each corner by statues of Power, Justice, Temperance, and Prudence. The castle, an old building of the fourteenth century, stands at the extremity of the boulevard of St Peter, close upon the river. It is still entire, is provided with a portcullis, and defended by a ditch. This fortress for long formed an occasional residence for the French kings, and it was here that the famous edict of Nantes was signed in 1598. The other buildings of note are—the gallery of paintings, the public library with 30,000 volumes, the natural history museum, and a new court-house. There is likewise a large new church called St Nicholas, in the Gothic style, which is nearly completed.

From its situation Nantes enjoys a large shipping trade, and ranks in importance as the fourth port in the empire. Manufactures have, from a like cause, much increased here, and comprise cotton yarn, refined sugar, serge, blankets, preserved provisions, &c. The imports include timber, pitch, raw cotton, iron, and coal; while the exports comprise corn and flour, wine, brandy, silk, paper, &c. Shipbuilding is likewise carried on to some extent, while several vessels are fitted out here for the whale and cod fisheries. From the numerous sandbanks which obstruct the Loire, vessels of more than about 300 tons burden must unload at Paimbouf, 24 miles lower down the stream.

In the year 1855, 278,168 tons entered, and 236,034 tons cleared at the port. Of these numbers 139,518 tons entered, and 121,632 tons cleared, coastwise; while eight vessels with 982 tons entered from, and seven vessels with 1628 tons cleared to, the cod fisheries during the same year. Engaged in foreign commerce in 1855, 1143 vessels with 137,658 tons entered, and 649 vessels with 112,774 tons cleared, at the port. During the same year there were registered at the port 593 sailing vessels, with 87,440 tonnage, and 20 steamers, with 4124 tonnage. The amount and value of various articles imported here in 1855 were 83,100 tons, of the aggregate value of L1,280,000. With the interior Nantes has abundant means of communication. The Loire is navigable for barges for many miles above the town, while a canal connects it with Brest on the one hand and St Malo on the other. A line of railway likewise brings the town within a few hours' distance of Paris. The city is governed by a civil tribunal, and the trade is regulated by a chamber of commerce.

The history of Nantes reaches back to the time of the Romans, when, under the name of Condicenium, it formed