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Escal'Atlantic Travel on Great Liners

Escal’Atlantic, the Ocean Liner Experience, takes you on a transatlantic journey, as though you had embarked on an ocean liner. Explore the decks, cabins and lounges, see genuine artefacts from Normandie (1935), France (1962)… Escal’Atlantic holds many surprises and discoveries for all the family! Ready to set sail?

Welcome aboard Escal'Atlantic

Welcome on board!

Enter the submarine base of Saint-Nazaire and let yourself be transported back in time. Walk up the gangway, cross the huge hall which awaits you at the top… Welcome on board! Escal’Atlantic, a unique place in Europe, invites you to discover the fascinating history of the transatlantic liners.

The extensive artefact collection, the on-board atmosphere and the interactive features will make your journey like no other! Escal’Atlantic is a must-see attraction in Saint-Nazaire for the whole family.

 

A new visitor experience for the whole family

Visit at your own pace. You are free to stay as long as you wish, one hour or much more, it’s up to you. The tour has been designed for everyone, across the generations. Whether you visit alone, as a couple, with friends or family, a whole new visitor experience lies in store for you!

Three good reasons to visit Escal’Atlantic:

  • Immerse yourself in the world of legendary ocean liners, walking in the footsteps of yesterday’s travellers: decks, cabins, corridors…
  • Be surprised on every deck, behind every door: you will learn about the history of the transatlantic vessels, and what life and work onboard were like, thanks to interactive devices and games. Go through the doors and let your curiosity be your guide…
  • Admire some 200 artefacts from legendary cruise ships: a chandelier with pure lines from France (1962), the silverware of Normandie (1935) …

A visit full of surprises

Explore, participate, have fun, be amazed! Throughout the visit, Escal’Atlantic holds many surprises and discoveries for all the family.

The atmosphere and the magic of the place make you embark on the adventure of ocean liners. Now you are a “passenger for a day”!
Discover the cabins, lounge in a deckchair on the promenade deck, take a break in the bar or in the dining room, and revel in the beauty of the sea. The hidden side of the ship also reveals its secrets: the engine room, the wheelhouse and the cold-storage rooms are waiting for you.

Enjoy an even more exciting experience thanks to the interactive games. In the hold, around a big animated world map, you become a director of a shipping company. What line will you try? Saint-Nazaire – Veracruz ? Le Havre – New York ? You’ll soon find out that it was a very complex business: should you choose safety rather than commercial aspects, risk sailing near the icebergs or play it safe and arrive late in the harbour? The decision will be yours!

What our visitors think 

“The path through the ship-museum unfolded in a delightful set of scenes that left nothing out, even the engine room. We thoroughly enjoyed this museum.”

“This is the best museum of ocean liners that I have seen. It combines good historical coverage and excellent artefacts with an accessible and engaging approach to display.”

“We had not seen anything like this before, and my teenage son was very impressed. Interactive opportunities and interesting historical information. Highly recommended.”

Practical Information

Visitor Info:

  • Self-guided tour, approx. 1-1½ hours. Booking essential.
  • The printed texts are available in 4 languages: French, English, German and Spanish, as are the interactive games and some of the multimedia devices.
  • Pushchairs – other than lightweight buggies – are not recommended and remain your responsibility. Please be aware that the tour spreads over three levels with 134 steps overall.
  • Animals are not allowed, except guide dogs for the blind.
  • See booking terms and conditions for groups of 20 people and more or our small groups offers from 10 adults.

Prices – Escal’Atlantic

FullReducedChildren aged 4-17
€15€13€7.50

The more you see, the more you save!

#PassPort 4 sites
Escal’Atlantic + Espadon submarine + Écomusée + EOL Centre éolien
FullReducedChildren aged 4-17
€29€14,50
#PASS Embarquement
Escal’Atlantic + 1 industrial tour (Shipyard OR Airbus OR Harbour Terminals)
FullReducedChildren aged 4-17
€30€15
#PASS Transat’
Escal’Atlantic + Écomusée
FullReducedChildren aged 4-17
€16€8
  • Reduced price (on presentation of proof): students, job seekers, people with disabilities with one accompanying person, groups from 10 to 19 adults
  • Free admission for children under the age of 4 and annual PASS holders
  • Where can I buy tickets?
    • On this website
    • On site, 3 ticket offices: submarine base, fortified lock and Écomusée
  • Means of payment: cash, credit card (VISA and Mastercard)

Discover also our groups and small groups offers from 10 adults.


Last entrance 1h30 before closing time.

How to get here?

Escal’Atlantic is located inside the submarine base, Boulevard de la Légion d’Honneur, Saint-Nazaire.

There are several car parks close by. Bike stands and lockers are available on-site.

Public transportation:

  • Saint-Nazaire is served by both the TGV and the regional trains.
  • From the railway station, the nearest bus stops to Escal’Atlantic are:
    • ‘Rue de la Paix’ (Hélyce line, daily) + 7 minutes walk
    • ‘Ruban Bleu’ (U2 and U4 lines, from Monday to Saturday) + 4 minutes walk

Accessibility

  • Mobility impairment: the tour is fully accessible for mobility impaired visitors, in a slightly different order. Staff at Escal’Atlantic are available to assist them in getting from one floor to the other.
  • Deaf and hearing impaired visitors: no specific arrangement
  • Blind and visually impaired visitors: no specific arrangement
  • Mentally impaired visitors: presence of anxiety-inducing elements

For further clarification or information, please call +33 (0)2 28 540 640

We are committed to making sure our visitors have the most memorable experience possible. This also involves providing quality services to you.

Free services

  • Bottle warmer (available at the bar)
  • Baby changing facilities (available in the “Tweendeck hold” toilets)
  • Bicycle park
  • Bicycle repair kit (available on request at the shop)
  • Wi-Fi

Paid services

  • Beverage and confectionery dispenser (at the entrance of the shop)

Bar & Shop 

  • Bar

    Towards the end of the tour, the bar at Escal’Atlantic takes the whole family on a delicious journey of the senses in a remarkable setting, as if aboard France: the chandelier with pure lines as well as the tapestries « Orpheus’ Sun » graced the first class smoking room of the famous liner, which had a total of 7 bars on board. Everything will make you want that refreshing break to last a little longer… what about enjoying one of the signature cocktails created by our bartender?

    Bar Escal'Atlantic

  • Shop

    The Escal’Atlantic shop, through which you will exit, is accessible from the outside. Here you will find an extended range of goods.

    A wide selection of books about ocean liners, shipbuilding, Airbus, and the history of Saint-Nazaire, are available for purchase.

    As for foodies, the shop offers a large array of local and regional products, most of them containing Guérande salt. A special mention goes to the salted butter caramels, loved by young and old alike.

    You will also find DVDs, model building kits, sea-inspired decorative items, postcards, posters and various souvenirs, most of them at very reasonable prices. The most unusual object: silver plated tableware such as an ice cream cup, a soup tureen or cutlery from the liner Normandie (1935). These genuine artefacts are on sale thanks to a partnership with the association ‘French Lines’.

    Find out more about our gift shops

    Boutique Escal Atlantic Fevrier 2020 Jb 8

     

Find out more 

  • The Ocean Liners Adventure

    The great ocean liners made their mark on the history of the past two centuries. From the second half of the nineteenth century, we began to connect the continents on regular schedules, thanks to steam power which bypasses weather-related hazards. A structured intercontinental transport network is being put in place for the first time. Saint-Nazaire becomes a transatlantic port, a base for cruises to Central America.

    Rich businessmen but also millions of emigrants seeking a better life were writing the first pages of an opening up to the world, which has from then on intensified steadily. Until the middle of the twentieth century, only the seaway allows the transport of passengers, goods and mail from one continent to another.

    Escal’Atlantic offers several travel experiences, from the luxury of the first classes to the emigrants’ tween deck. A rich and authentic experience rooted in historical reality.

    Objets Malle Armoire

  • Liner Treasures

    The artefacts stemming from liners built in Saint-Nazaire have been brought together by the City over the past twenty years and are now the most important public collection in Europe. At Escal’Atlantic, you will discover some 200 pieces from this collection.

    These works were specially designed for the comfort of passengers, adding to the refined atmosphere on board. The glittering silverware that you can admire in the dining room of Escal’Atlantic was used in the first-class rooms of Normandie; the cabin furniture from Normandie or France has made a dozen North Atlantic round-trips; the music room of Liberté hosted musical evenings or dreamlike afternoons…

    A real staging of the history of ocean liners, based on authentic objects.

    Escal Vitrine Argenterie Normandie Klose 600x300

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