La Cigale Brewery, Nantes
La Cigale is a celebrated brewery, housed in a stunning Art Nouveau building that has been a listed historic monument since 1964. Designed by architect and ceramicist 脡mile Libaudi猫re and adorned by sculptor 脡mile Gaucher and painter Georges Levreau, it first opened its doors on April 1, 1895. From its inception, La Cigale attracted the city鈥檚 bourgeoisie and artists from the nearby Graslin Theatre, eventually becoming a favorite haunt of surrealists like Jacques Pr茅vert and Andr茅 Breton. Over the decades, it has also featured in French cinema, with notable appearances in Jacques Demy鈥檚 Lola and Agn猫s Varda鈥檚 Jacquot de Nantes.
Though transformed into a self-service restaurant in the 1960s and threatened with closure in the 1970s, La Cigale was saved by its protected status and returned to its original function as a brasserie in 1982. Its richly ornate d茅cor鈥攆eaturing intricate ceramics, gilded mirrors, and sculptural flourishes鈥攔emains a dazzling example of 19th-century French opulence. The ambiance alone makes it one of Nantes鈥� most iconic cultural landmarks, where visitors can enjoy not only a meal but a sense of historical continuity and artistic grandeur.
Today, La Cigale continues to offer a full brewery experience from breakfast through dinner. The menu features refined classics such as oysters, skate wing with Espelette butter, and hand-cut beef tartare, complemented by fresh juices, signature cocktails, and fine wines. Whether as a brasserie, caf茅, or tea room, La Cigale remains a beloved meeting place for locals and travelers alike鈥攁 place where one can savor French cuisine in an unforgettable setting.
Though transformed into a self-service restaurant in the 1960s and threatened with closure in the 1970s, La Cigale was saved by its protected status and returned to its original function as a brasserie in 1982. Its richly ornate d茅cor鈥攆eaturing intricate ceramics, gilded mirrors, and sculptural flourishes鈥攔emains a dazzling example of 19th-century French opulence. The ambiance alone makes it one of Nantes鈥� most iconic cultural landmarks, where visitors can enjoy not only a meal but a sense of historical continuity and artistic grandeur.
Today, La Cigale continues to offer a full brewery experience from breakfast through dinner. The menu features refined classics such as oysters, skate wing with Espelette butter, and hand-cut beef tartare, complemented by fresh juices, signature cocktails, and fine wines. Whether as a brasserie, caf茅, or tea room, La Cigale remains a beloved meeting place for locals and travelers alike鈥攁 place where one can savor French cuisine in an unforgettable setting.
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La Cigale Brewery on Map
Sight Name: La Cigale Brewery
Sight Location: Nantes, France (See walking tours in Nantes)
Sight Type: Shopping
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Nantes, France (See walking tours in Nantes)
Sight Type: Shopping
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Nantes, France
Create Your Own Walk in Nantes
Creating your own self-guided walk in Nantes is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Nantes Introduction Walking Tour
Dubbed 鈥淭he Sleeping Beauty of France,鈥� Nantes is a city that found rebirth through culture and creativity. Straddling the Loire River in western France, its history stretches across two millennia. The city's name comes from the Namnetes, a Celtic tribe that made their home here before the Romans arrived. The latter incorporated the settlement into their empire in the 1st century BC,... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles