Chantiers de l’Atlantique is both one of the oldest and most innovative shipyards in the world. Everything is gigantic here: the assembly dock and the pre-assembly area are almost 3,000 feet long; the huge gantry crane can lift weights of up to 1,400 tons, i.e. ship sections that are as big as buildings. You might even be lucky enough to see it in action!
For more than a century and a half, ocean liners have been the most prestigious ambassadors of Saint-Nazaire, bearing witness to an extraordinary know-how. Saint-Nazaire’s shipyard, Chantiers de l’Atlantique, which is renowned all over the world, opens its doors and allows you to tour inside, as a privileged visitor.
We will take you by bus from the submarine base to the shipyard for a guided tour of a very dynamic and constantly evolving company. You will see the “streets” of the yard, the huge workshops and assembly docks, while high above you towers one of the most powerful gantry cranes in Europe. Join a shipyard tour and see the industry becoming spectacular!
Join a guided tour and enjoy stunning views of the ships under construction! The site spreads over more than 250 acres of land (100 hectares), and its facilities are among the largest and most innovative in the world. You will also be amazed by the giant facilities involved in the diversification towards marine renewable energy (the yard builds turbine parts and other elements for offshore wind farms).
The tour provides a very comprehensive overview of this industrial site and covers all the aspects of the shipbuilding process. From a pedestrian gallery that overlooks the assembly dock, you will have a privileged view of the yard’s activity. You will also visit a huge workshop where steel plates are welded together.
Please note that routes and areas to be visited may be subject to change due to the shipyard’s activities and constraints.
Prices – Chantiers de l’Atlantique
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| Full | Reduced* | Children aged 4-17 |
| €17 | €15 | €8.50 |
The more you see, the more you save!#Forfait Escal’ |
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| Full | Reduced* | Children aged 4-17 |
| €25 | – | €12.50 |
*Reduced price (on presentation of proof): students, job seekers, people with disabilities with one accompanying person
Free admission for children under the age of 4 and annual PASS holders
Where can I buy tickets?
Means of payment: cash, credit card (VISA and Mastercard)
Departure by bus from the submarine base, Boulevard de la Légion d’Honneur, Saint-Nazaire – near the ticket office.
There are several car parks close by.
Public transportation:
For further clarification or information, please call +33 (0)2 28 540 640
In Saint-Nazaire, ships –yesterday transatlantic liners, now cruise liners– have been built for a century and a half. More than 120 liners were born here, and records are part of this history! Among these giants of the seas, many were the biggest vessels in the world at their time: Normandie in 1935, France in 1962, Queen Mary 2 in 2013. The ships that currently hold every record, Harmony of the Seas, and her sister-ship Symphony of the Seas, have also been built in Saint-Nazaire. They were delivered to their owner, the American company Royal Caribbean International, in 2016 and 2018 respectively.
The Italian shipowner MSC Cruises had almost all of its fleet built in Saint-Nazaire and has ordered several new ships. The latest one: MSC Grandiosa. This huge ship is 1,087-feet long and 141-feet wide, accommodating a total of 6,334 passengers along with 1,704 crew members. Delivered in late October 2019, she is the largest ship ever built for a European owner. In late 2020, a new vessel will be delivered to MSC Cruises: MSC Virtuosa.
After the four Millenium-class ships in the early 2000s, the American cruise line Celebrity Cruises tasked Chantiers de l’Atlantique with the construction of five of its luxurious and innovative Edge-class cruise ships. The first ship of the series, Celebrity Edge, was delivered in early November 2018. Her sister-ship, Celebrity Apex, will be delivered in early 2020.
“This visit is a must if you go to Saint-Nazaire – very instructive, the guide was excellent, she was very knowledgeable. We could see two huge ships under construction close-up.” – baboeni
“We had a lovely English-speaking guide who was very knowledgeable. It was very interesting to see the dry dock so closely.” – trescomania
“There were three mega-cruise ships in various stages of completion, and the tour bus took us through the shipyards and let us out on a viewing platform to watch the men working on the ships. Just the vast size of the work was overwhelming. If you are in or near Nantes, it’s definitely worth a trip.” – LVSteven
