a town of France, capital of an arrondissement of the same name, in the department of Loire-Inferieure, stands on the left bank of the Loire, here 3 miles broad, 24 miles W. of Nantes. The river is lined with quays; and the town contains dockyards, a customhouse, school of navigation, and has a convenient harbour for the largest vessels, formed by a mole 214 feet long. The people are employed in ship-building, making bricks, tiles, canvas, cordage, marine stores, and other articles; as well as in the fisheries and the coasting trade. Steamers ply daily to Nantes; and large vessels generally discharge their cargoes into lighters here. Pop. (1856) 4135.