The Machines of the Island

Installed on the site of the former Nantes shipyards, Les Machines de l'Île is the brainchild of François Delarozière and Pierre Orefice. This extraordinary artistic project lies at the crossroads of the invented worlds of Jules Verne, the mechanical ingenuity of Leonardo da Vinci and the industrial history of Nantes.

The tour invites visitors to enter a world populated by mechanical creatures in motion. The Grand Elephant, the site's emblematic figure, transports visitors several meters into the air, offering a spectacular journey through the district. In the Galerie des Machines, visitors discover the living workshop where prototypes, mechanical animals and large animated structures take shape.

You can also observe the flight of the Heron, the Great Spider or the sea creatures that evolve in the Carrousel des Mondes Marins, a monumental multi-level attraction. Each machine is at once a work of art, a technical feat and a sensitive experience, inviting us to watch, listen and feel the movement.

The Galerie des Machines evolves with the seasons. New elements are regularly presented, such as the first components of the future Heron Tree: a giant hummingbird, a flight of wild geese or a model of the trunk. These creations showcase a project in the making, combining collective dream and innovation.

Accessible to all, Les Machines de l'Île offers a range of visit options: boarding the Grand Éléphant, exploring the Galerie or exploring the Carrousel. Family rates are available, for a convivial, shared experience.

This artistic and urban experience is the perfect complement to a stay in Pornichet. It offers a creative and spectacular getaway, less than two hours from the coast, and a chance to discover Nantes through an emblematic project, where the imaginary dialogues with history and mechanics.