Editing Nantes (section)

==Geography==

===Location===
[[File:Nantes SPOT 1247.jpg|thumb|alt=Satellite image of Nantes|Nantes as seen by [[SPOT (satellite)|SPOT]] in 2004]]
Nantes is in northwestern France, near the [[Atlantic Ocean]] and {{convert|340|km|abbr=off}} southwest of [[Paris]]. [[Bordeaux]], the other major metropolis of western France, is {{convert|275|km|abbr=off}} south. Nantes and Bordeaux share positions at the mouth of an estuary, and Nantes is on the [[Loire]] estuary.{{sfn|Pétré-Grenouilleau|2008|p=12}}

The city is at a natural crossroads between the ocean in the west, the centre of France (towards [[Orléans]]) in the east, [[Brittany]] in the north and [[Vendée]] (on the way to Bordeaux) in the south.{{sfn|Lelièvre|2000|p=15}} It is an architectural junction; northern French houses with [[slate]] roofs are north of the Loire, and [[Mediterranean]] dwellings with low [[terracotta]] roofs dominate the south bank.{{sfn|Lelièvre|2000|p=14}}{{sfn|Bois|1977|p=9}} The Loire is also the northern limit of grape culture. 

Land north of Nantes is dominated by [[bocage]] and dedicated to [[polyculture]] and [[animal husbandry]], and the south is renowned for its [[Muscadet]] vineyards and market gardens.{{sfn|Pétré-Grenouilleau|2008|p=15}} The city is near the geographical centre of the [[land and water hemispheres|land hemisphere]], identified in 1945 by Samuel Boggs as near the main railway station (around {{coord|47|13|N|1|32|W}}).{{sfn|Boggs|1945|pp=345–355}}

===Hydrology===
[[File:Nantes - Erdre.jpg|thumb|alt=Photo of the Erdre in Nantes|The Erdre (a tributary of the Loire), with the [[Tour Bretagne|Brittany Tower]] in the background]]
The Loire is about {{convert|1000|km|abbr=off}} long and its estuary, beginning in Nantes, is {{convert|60|km|abbr=off}} in length.{{sfn|Lelièvre|2000|p=15}} The river's bed and banks have changed considerably over a period of centuries. In Nantes the Loire had divided into a number of channels, creating a dozen islands and sand ridges. They facilitated crossing the river, contributing to the city's growth. Most of the islands were protected with [[levee]]s during the [[modern era]], and they disappeared in the 1920s and 1930s when the smallest waterways were filled in. The Loire in Nantes now has only two branches, one on either side of the Isle of Nantes.{{sfn|Lelièvre|2000|p=14}}

The river is [[Tidal river|tidal]] in the city, and tides are observed about {{convert|30|km|abbr=off}} further east.{{sfn|Lelièvre|2000|p=15}} The tidal range can reach {{convert|6|m|abbr=off}} in Nantes, larger than at the mouth of the estuary.{{sfn|Les amplitudes de|2013}} This is the result of 20th-century dredging to make Nantes accessible by large ships; tides were originally much weaker. Nantes was at the point where the river current and the tides cancelled each other out, resulting in siltation and the formation of the original islands.{{sfn|Decours|2006|p=7}}{{sfn|Rééquilibrage du lit}}{{sfn|Dictionnaire de Nantes|2013|p=989}}

The city is at the confluence of two tributaries. The [[Erdre]] flows into the Loire from its north bank, and the [[Sèvre Nantaise]] flows into the Loire from its south bank. These two rivers initially provided natural links with the hinterland. When the channels of the Loire were filled, the Erdre was diverted in central Nantes and its confluence with the Loire was moved further east. The Erdre includes Versailles Island, which became a Japanese garden during the 1980s. It was created in the 19th century with fill from construction of the [[Nantes–Brest canal]].{{sfn|Corbé|2003|pp=26–28}}

===Geology===
[[File:Plan relief Nantes.svg|thumb|upright=1.5|alt=Map showing the elevation and rivers in Nantes|Elevation and hydrology map of Nantes]]
Nantes is built on the [[Armorican Massif]], a range of weathered mountains which may be considered the backbone of Brittany. The mountains, stretching from the end of the Breton peninsula to the outskirts of the [[Sedimentary basin|sedimentary]] [[Paris Basin]], are composed of several parallel ridges of [[Ordovician]] and [[Cadomian Orogeny|Cadomian]] rocks. Nantes is where one of these ridges, the Sillon de Bretagne, meets the Loire. It passes through the western end of the old town, forming a series of cliffs above the quays.{{sfn|M. Ters|J. Marchand|G. Weecksteen|1970}} The end of the ridge, the Butte Sainte-Anne, is a natural landmark {{convert|38|m|abbr=off}} [[above sea level]]; its [[foothills]] are at an elevation of {{convert|15|m|abbr=off}}.{{sfn|D. Janjou|avec collaboration de M. Gruet et C. Penecki|1998}}

The Sillon de Bretagne is composed of [[granite]]; the rest of the region is a series of low [[plateau]]s covered with [[silt]] and [[clay]], with [[mica]] [[schist]] and sediments found in lower areas. Much of the old town and all of the Isle of Nantes consist of backfill.{{sfn|M. Ters|J. Marchand|G. Weecksteen|1970}} Elevations in Nantes are generally higher in the western neighbourhoods on the Sillon, reaching {{convert|52|m|abbr=off}} in the north-west.{{sfn|D. Janjou|avec collaboration de M. Gruet et C. Penecki|1998}} The [[Erdre]] flows through a slate fault.{{sfn|Lelièvre|2000|p=14}} Eastern Nantes is flatter, with a few hills reaching {{convert|30|m|abbr=off}}.{{sfn|D. Janjou|avec collaboration de M. Gruet et C. Penecki|1998}} The city's lowest points, along the Loire, are {{convert|2|m|abbr=off|ft}} above sea level.{{sfn|D. Janjou|avec collaboration de M. Gruet et C. Penecki|1998}}

===Climate===
Nantes has an [[oceanic climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]]: ''Cfb'')<ref>{{Cite book |last=Muller |first=M. J. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=az3qCAAAQBAJ&q=koppen+cfb+nantes&pg=PA31 |title=Selected climatic data for a global set of standard stations for vegetation science |date=6 December 2012 |publisher=Springer Science & Business Media |isbn=9789400980402 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Bonnefoy |first1=C. |last2=Quenol |first2=H. |last3=Bonnardot |first3=V. |last4=Barbeau |first4=G. |last5=Madelin |first5=M. |last6=Planchon |first6=O. |last7=Neethling |first7=E. |year=2013 |title=Temporal and spatial analyses of temperature in a French wine-producing area: the Loire Valley |journal=International Journal of Climatology |language=en |volume=33 |issue=8 |pages=1849–1862 |bibcode=2013IJCli..33.1849B |doi=10.1002/joc.3552 |s2cid=129475783 |issn=1097-0088}}</ref> influenced by its proximity to the [[Atlantic Ocean]]. [[West wind]]s produced by cyclonic depressions in the Atlantic dominate, and north and north-west winds are also common.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Westerlies {{!}} meteorology |url=https://www.britannica.com/science/westerlies |access-date=31 March 2019 |website=Encyclopædia Britannica |language=en}}</ref> Slight variations in elevation make fog common in valleys, and slopes oriented south and south-west have good [[Solar irradiance|insolation]]. Winters are cool and rainy, with an average temperature of {{cvt|6|C}}; snow is rare. Summers are warm, with an average temperature of {{cvt|20|C}}. Rain is abundant throughout the year, with an annual average of {{convert|820|mm|abbr=off}}. The climate in Nantes is suitable for growing a variety of plants, from temperate vegetables to exotic trees and flowers imported during the colonial era.{{sfn|Pétré-Grenouilleau|2008|p=15}}{{sfn|Géographie}}

{{Weather box
| collapsed = 
| location = Nantes-[[Bouguenais]] ([[Nantes Atlantique Airport]]), elevation: {{cvt|27|m|disp=or}}, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1945–present
| metric first = Y
| single line = Y
| Jan record high C = 18.2
| Feb record high C = 22.6
| Mar record high C = 24.2
| Apr record high C = 28.3
| May record high C = 32.8
| Jun record high C = 39.1
| Jul record high C = 42.0
| Aug record high C = 39.6
| Sep record high C = 34.3
| Oct record high C = 30.2
| Nov record high C = 21.8
| Dec record high C = 18.4
| year record high C = 42.0
| Jan avg record high C = 14.3
| Feb avg record high C = 15.9
| Mar avg record high C = 19.9
| Apr avg record high C = 23.4
| May avg record high C = 27.7
| Jun avg record high C = 31.7
| Jul avg record high C = 33.1
| Aug avg record high C = 33.0
| Sep avg record high C = 29.0
| Oct avg record high C = 23.3
| Nov avg record high C = 18.0
| Dec avg record high C = 14.5
| year avg record high C = 35.0
| Jan high C = 9.3
| Feb high C = 10.5
| Mar high C = 13.5
| Apr high C = 16.2
| May high C = 19.6
| Jun high C = 23.0
| Jul high C = 25.1
| Aug high C = 25.4
| Sep high C = 22.4
| Oct high C = 17.6
| Nov high C = 12.9
| Dec high C = 9.8
| year high C = 17.1
| Jan mean C = 6.4
| Feb mean C = 6.7
| Mar mean C = 9.2
| Apr mean C = 11.4
| May mean C = 14.7
| Jun mean C = 17.8
| Jul mean C = 19.7
| Aug mean C = 19.8
| Sep mean C = 17.1
| Oct mean C = 13.5
| Nov mean C = 9.4
| Dec mean C = 6.7
| year mean C = 12.7
| Jan low C = 3.4
| Feb low C = 3.0
| Mar low C = 4.9
| Apr low C = 6.6
| May low C = 9.8
| Jun low C = 12.7
| Jul low C = 14.3
| Aug low C = 14.2
| Sep low C = 11.8
| Oct low C = 9.5
| Nov low C = 5.9
| Dec low C = 3.7
| year low C = 8.3
| Jan avg record low C = -4.3
| Feb avg record low C = -3.6
| Mar avg record low C = -1.3
| Apr avg record low C = 0.3
| May avg record low C = 3.7
| Jun avg record low C = 7.1
| Jul avg record low C = 9.6
| Aug avg record low C = 8.9
| Sep avg record low C = 5.9
| Oct avg record low C = 2.3
| Nov avg record low C = -1.3
| Dec avg record low C = -3.7
| year avg record low C = -6.0
| Jan record low C = -13.0
| Feb record low C = -15.6
| Mar record low C = -9.6
| Apr record low C = -2.8
| May record low C = -1.5
| Jun record low C = 3.8
| Jul record low C = 5.8
| Aug record low C = 5.6
| Sep record low C = 2.8
| Oct record low C = -3.3
| Nov record low C = -6.8
| Dec record low C = -10.8
| year record low C = -15.6
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation mm = 87.9
| Feb precipitation mm = 67.5
| Mar precipitation mm = 58.4
| Apr precipitation mm = 58.3
| May precipitation mm = 61.0
| Jun precipitation mm = 48.5
| Jul precipitation mm = 44.2
| Aug precipitation mm = 50.3
| Sep precipitation mm = 59.5
| Oct precipitation mm = 88.8
| Nov precipitation mm = 94.1
| Dec precipitation mm = 101.0
| year precipitation mm = 819.5
| unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
| Jan precipitation days = 12.5
| Feb precipitation days = 10.6
| Mar precipitation days = 9.4
| Apr precipitation days = 9.7
| May precipitation days = 9.6
| Jun precipitation days = 7.6
| Jul precipitation days = 7.1
| Aug precipitation days = 7.2
| Sep precipitation days = 7.8
| Oct precipitation days = 11.8
| Nov precipitation days = 13.0
| Dec precipitation days = 13.5
| year precipitation days = 119.7
| Jan snow days = 1.3
| Feb snow days = 2.0
| Mar snow days = 0.3
| Apr snow days = 0.0
| May snow days = 0.0
| Jun snow days = 0.0
| Jul snow days = 0.0
| Aug snow days = 0.0
| Sep snow days = 0.0
| Oct snow days = 0.0
| Nov snow days = 0.3
| Dec snow days = 0.9
| year snow days = 4.7
| Jan humidity = 88
| Feb humidity = 84
| Mar humidity = 80
| Apr humidity = 77
| May humidity = 78
| Jun humidity = 76
| Jul humidity = 75
| Aug humidity = 76
| Sep humidity = 80
| Oct humidity = 86
| Nov humidity = 88
| Dec humidity = 89
| Jan sun = 72.6
| Feb sun = 102.3
| Mar sun = 147.3
| Apr sun = 182.7
| May sun = 203.4
| Jun sun = 213.1
| Jul sun = 229.0
| Aug sun = 232.6
| Sep sun = 198.7
| Oct sun = 122.7
| Nov sun = 91.3
| Dec sun = 77.6
| year sun = 1873.3
| source 1 = [[Meteo France]]<ref name="mf">
{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220124140329/https://donneespubliques.meteofrance.fr/FichesClim/FICHECLIM_44020001.pdf
| archive-date = 24 January 2022
| url = https://donneespubliques.meteofrance.fr/FichesClim/FICHECLIM_44020001.pdf
| title = Nantes–Bouguenais (44)
| work = Fiche Climatologique: Statistiques 1991–2020 et records
| publisher = Meteo France
| language = fr
| access-date = 14 July 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
| url = https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/2.2/data/0-data/Region-6-WMO-Normals-9120/France/CSV/NANTES_BOUGUENAIS_07222.csv
| title = World Meteorological Organization Climate Normals for 1991–2020
| publisher = World Meteorological Organization
| access-date = 2 August 2023}}</ref> Infoclimat (relative humidity 1961-1990)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.infoclimat.fr/climatologie/annee/1991/nantes-atlantique/valeurs/07222.html|title=Climatologie de l'année à Nantes-Atlantique|publisher=Infoclimat|language=fr|accessdate=12 September 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Normes et records 1961–1990: Nantes-Atlantique (44) – altitude {{convert|26|m|abbr=off}} |url=http://www.infoclimat.fr/climatologie-07222-nantes-atlantique.html |access-date=10 December 2014 |publisher=Infoclimat |language=fr}}</ref>
}}

{{Weather box
| width = 100% <!-- 77% if there is a template or image next to it -->
| collapsed = y <!-- y, if you have normal updates -->
| open = 
| metric first = y <!-- always, except UK or US cities -->
| single line = y
| location = Nantes-[[Bouguenais]] ([[Nantes Atlantique Airport]]), elevation: {{cvt|27|m|disp=or}}, 1961–1990 normals and extremes
<!--in the order as it appears in the table, not all of the following data may be available, especially records and days of precipitation -->
| Jan mean C = 6.0
| Feb mean C = 6.5
| Mar mean C = 8.2
| Apr mean C = 10.3
| May mean C = 13.5
| Jun mean C = 16.8
| Jul mean C = 18.9
| Aug mean C = 18.5
| Sep mean C = 16.9
| Oct mean C = 13.3
| Nov mean C = 8.5
| Dec mean C = 6.3
| Jan high C = 9.2
| Feb high C = 9.8
| Mar high C = 12.4
| Apr high C = 14.8
| May high C = 17.9
| Jun high C = 21.6
| Jul high C = 24.1
| Aug high C = 23.8
| Sep high C = 21.8
| Oct high C = 17.0
| Nov high C = 12.1
| Dec high C = 9.5
| Jan record high C = 17.6
| Feb record high C = 19.5
| Mar record high C = 23.2
| Apr record high C = 27.4
| May record high C = 30.3
| Jun record high C = 36.7
| Jul record high C = 36.3
| Aug record high C = 37.4
| Sep record high C = 34.3
| Oct record high C = 27.0
| Nov record high C = 20.9
| Dec record high C = 18.2
| Jan avg record high C = 11.3
| Feb avg record high C = 13.8
| Mar avg record high C = 15.4
| Apr avg record high C = 17.7
| May avg record high C = 23.5
| Jun avg record high C = 28.6
| Jul avg record high C = 28.5
| Aug avg record high C = 28.0
| Sep avg record high C = 24.6
| Oct avg record high C = 20.7
| Nov avg record high C = 14.6
| Dec avg record high C = 11.6
| Jan low C = 2.9
| Feb low C = 3.2
| Mar low C = 4.2
| Apr low C = 5.8
| May low C = 8.8
| Jun low C = 11.8
| Jul low C = 13.6
| Aug low C = 13.3
| Sep low C = 12.1
| Oct low C = 9.1
| Nov low C = 5.1
| Dec low C = 3.4
| Jan record low C = -13.0
| Feb record low C = -12.3
| Mar record low C = -7.0
| Apr record low C = -2.6
| May record low C = -0.9
| Jun record low C = 3.8
| Jul record low C = 6.1
| Aug record low C = 5.8
| Sep record low C = 2.9
| Oct record low C = -0.2
| Nov record low C = -5.9
| Dec record low C = -10.2
| Jan avg record low C = -3.6
| Feb avg record low C = -3.4
| Mar avg record low C = 1.2
| Apr avg record low C = 4.0
| May avg record low C = 7.4
| Jun avg record low C = 9.4
| Jul avg record low C = 11.5
| Aug avg record low C = 11.8
| Sep avg record low C = 9.4
| Oct avg record low C = 5.1
| Nov avg record low C = 2.7
| Dec avg record low C = -0.3
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation mm = 90.7
| Feb precipitation mm = 59.9
| Mar precipitation mm = 73.6
| Apr precipitation mm = 44.7
| May precipitation mm = 60.7
| Jun precipitation mm = 37.8
| Jul precipitation mm = 39.1
| Aug precipitation mm = 35.5
| Sep precipitation mm = 65.1
| Oct precipitation mm = 66.0
| Nov precipitation mm = 84.4
| Dec precipitation mm = 77.0
| Jan percentsun = 27.0
| Feb percentsun = 35.0
| Mar percentsun = 41.0
| Apr percentsun = 46.0
| May percentsun = 46.0
| Jun percentsun = 51.0
| Jul percentsun = 56.0
| Aug percentsun = 55.0
| Sep percentsun = 51.0
| Oct percentsun = 42.0
| Nov percentsun = 33.0
| Dec percentsun = 27.0
| Jan sun = 72.2
| Feb sun = 99.3
| Mar sun = 148.4
| Apr sun = 187.0
| May sun = 211.3
| Jun sun = 239.5
| Jul sun = 266.8
| Aug sun = 238.9
| Sep sun = 191.3
| Oct sun = 140.5
| Nov sun = 91.2
| Dec sun = 69.9
| Jan snow days = 1.0
| Feb snow days = trace
| Mar snow days = trace
| Apr snow days = 0
| May snow days = 0
| Jun snow days = 0
| Jul snow days = 0
| Aug snow days = 0
| Sep snow days = 0
| Oct snow days = 0
| Nov snow days = trace
| Dec snow days = 1.0
| unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
| Jan precipitation days = 13.0
| Feb precipitation days = 11.0
| Mar precipitation days = 11.5
| Apr precipitation days = 9.5
| May precipitation days = 10.5
| Jun precipitation days = 7.5
| Jul precipitation days = 6.5
| Aug precipitation days = 6.0
| Sep precipitation days = 8.0
| Oct precipitation days = 10.5
| Nov precipitation days = 10.5
| Dec precipitation days = 11.5
| Jan humidity = 88
| Feb humidity = 84
| Mar humidity = 80
| Apr humidity = 77
| May humidity = 78
| Jun humidity = 76
| Jul humidity = 75
| Aug humidity = 76
| Sep humidity = 80
| Oct humidity = 86
| Nov humidity = 88
| Dec humidity = 89
| source = [[NOAA]]<ref name="noaa">{{Cite web |title=Nantes-Bouguenais (07222) - WMO Weather Station |url=ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/TABLES/REG_VI/FR/07222.TXT |access-date=31 March 2019 |publisher=[[NOAA]]}} [https://archive.org/details/19611990NormalsNOAANantesBouguenais Archived] 31 March 2019, at the [[Wayback Machine]].</ref>
| source 2 = Infoclimat.fr (humidity)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Normes et records 1961–1990: Nantes-Atlantique (44) – altitude {{convert|26|m|abbr=off}} |url=http://www.infoclimat.fr/climatologie-07222-nantes-atlantique.html |access-date=10 December 2014 |publisher=Infoclimat |language=fr}}</ref>
}}

==={{anchor|Urban morphology}}Urban layout===
[[File:Boulevard de Launay (Nantes) 1.JPG|thumb|alt=Photo of Boulevard de Launay|Boulevard de Launay, west of the city centre]]
Nantes's layout is typical of French towns and cities. It has a historical centre with old monuments, administrative buildings and small shops, surrounded by 19th-century [[faubourg]]s surrounded by newer suburban houses and [[Public housing in France|public housing]]. The city centre has a medieval core (corresponding to the former walled town) and 18th-century extensions running west and east. The northern extension, Marchix, was considered squalid and nearly disappeared during the 20th century. The old town did not extend south before the 19th century, since it would have meant building on the unsteady islands in the Loire.{{sfn|Plan local d'urbanisme|2007}}

The medieval core has narrow streets and a mixture of half-timbered buildings, more recent sandstone buildings, post-[[World War II]] reconstruction and modern redevelopment. It is primarily a student neighbourhood, with many bars and small shops. The eastern extension (behind [[Nantes Cathedral]]) was traditionally inhabited by the [[aristocracy]], and the larger western extension along the Loire was built for the [[bourgeoisie]]. It is Nantes's most-expensive area, with wide avenues, squares such as the [[Place Saint-Pierre, Nantes|Place Saint-Pierre]] and ''[[hôtel particulier|hôtels particuliers]]''.{{sfn|Pierre Falga|2007}} The area was extended towards the Parc de Procé during the 19th century. The other faubourgs were built along the main boulevards and the plateaus, turning the valleys into parks.{{sfn|Dictionnaire de Nantes|2013|p=991}} Outside central Nantes several villages, including Chantenay, Doulon, L'Eraudière and Saint-Joseph-de-Porterie, were absorbed by urbanisation.{{sfn|Dictionnaire de Nantes|2013|p=83}}

[[File:Nantes 2005 7.jpg|thumb|alt=Apartment blocks photographed across the Erdre|Port-Boyer and the Erdre]]
After [[World War II]], several [[housing project]]s were built to accommodate Nantes's growing population. The oldest, Les Dervallières, was developed in 1956 and was followed by Bellevue in 1959 and Le Breil and Malakoff in 1971.{{sfn|Dictionnaire de Nantes|2013|p=83}} Once areas of poverty, they are experiencing regeneration since the 2000s.{{sfn|Julie Urbach|2016}} The northern outskirts of the city, along the [[Erdre]], include the main campus of the [[University of Nantes]] and other institutes of higher education. During the second half of the 20th century, Nantes expanded south into the [[Communes of France|communes]] of [[Rezé]], [[Vertou]] and [[Saint-Sébastien-sur-Loire]] (across the Loire but near the city centre) and north-bank communes including [[Saint-Herblain]], [[Orvault]] and [[Sainte-Luce-sur-Loire]].{{sfn|Dictionnaire de Nantes|2013|p=83}}

The {{convert|4.6|km2|adj=on}} Isle of Nantes is divided between former shipyards on the west, an old faubourg in its centre and modern housing estates on the east. Since the 2000s, it has been subject to the conversion of former industrial areas into office space, housing and leisure facilities. Local authorities intend to make it an extension of the city centre. Further development is also planned on the north bank along an axis linking the train station and the Loire.{{sfn|Plan local d'urbanisme|2007}}

===Parks and environment===
[[File:Jardin des plantes Nantes-serre.JPG|thumb|alt=Photo of an old greenhouse in Nantes|A 19th-century greenhouse in the Jardin des Plantes]]
Nantes has 100 public parks, gardens and squares covering {{convert|218|ha|abbr=off}}.{{sfn|Les parcs et}} The oldest is the [[Jardin des plantes de Nantes|Jardin des Plantes]], a botanical garden created in 1807. It has a large collection of exotic plants, including a 200-year-old ''[[Magnolia grandiflora]]'' and the national collection of ''[[camellia]]''.{{sfn|Jardin des plantes}} Other large parks include the Parc de Procé, Parc du Grand Blottereau and Parc de la Gaudinière, the former gardens of country houses built outside the old town. Natural areas, an additional {{convert|180|ha|abbr=off}}, include the Petite Amazonie (a [[Natura 2000]] protected forest) and several woods, meadows and marshes. Green space (public and private) makes up 41 percent of Nantes's area.{{sfn|Les parcs et}}

The city adopted an ecological framework in 2007 to reduce [[greenhouse gas]]es and promote [[energy transition]].{{sfn|La qualité de|2014}} Nantes has three [[ecodistrict]]s (one on the Isle of Nantes, one near the train station and the third in the north-east of the city), which aim to provide affordable, ecological housing and counter [[urban sprawl]] by redeveloping neglected areas of the city.{{sfn|Les nouveaux quartiers|2010}}