In the city of Nantes in the Pays de la Loire region, western France

 You can take Nantes out of Brittany (as when regional boundaries were redrawn during the Second World War), but you can't take Brittany out of its long-time capital, Nantes ("Naoned," in Breton).

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(in the Loire River Valley, in western France) The city of Nantes in the Loire- Atlantique department of the Pays de la Loire region, is found at the head of the estuary of the Loire River, where it is joined by the Erdre and the Sèvre rivers, 35 miles (56 km) from the sea -- to the southwest of Paris. Spirited and innovative, this artsy city on the banks of the Loire has a history of reinventing itself. It was founded by Celts around 70 BCE and (some 1,000 years) later, it joined the duchy of Brittany. The Edict of Nantes, a landmark royal charter guaranteeing civil rights to France's Huguenots (Protestants), was signed in Nantes by Henri IV in 1598. By the 18th century Nantes was France's foremost port, and in the 19th century -- following the abolition of slavery -- it became an industrial center. The world's first public transport service, the omnibus, began here in 1826. Shipbuilding anchored the city's economy until the late 20th century, and when the shipyards relocated westwards to St-Nazaire, Nantes soon transformed itself into a thriving student and cultural hub. Reborn as one of France’s most dynamic and culturally progressive cities, Nantes is now a city that wears its innovation on its sleeve. Populated by artists, engineers, and students, its ever-changing skyline is anchored in medieval roots and quite a rich maritime heritage.

+ Provided here is a nocturnal view of Place Royale, in downtown Nantes, which was designed in 1786 by the local architect, Mathurin Crucy. Built in 1790 after the destruction of the medieval ramparts, it is the central element of a homogeneous set of buildings that reflect the classical architecture of that period. It has a monumental fountain inaugurated in 1865. Despite its name, the square has never housed a statue of a monarch, like other Royal Squares in France, yet it remains a popular focal point, especially for for artistic, festive, or political gatherings.