As the sixth largest city in France, the historical port of Nantes has all the amenities one would expect from a big, modern city: world-class museums, breathtaking cathedrals, a great public transport system, and a marvelous Chateau, which now serves as a museum showcasing the region's fascinating history. What was once a sleepy provincial town is now a thriving cosmopolitan city due largely to the Nantes renaissance which included the redevelopment of the city’s three-mile-long island in the Loire River into an exciting urban playground. Despite these concessions to modernity, the compact, pedestrianised historical centre has retained much of its old-world charm. Throw in one of France's top symphony orchestras and a fine opera company, and you will soon see why Nantes has long been rated one France’s finest and most livable cities.