Ort-Kategorie: Attractions
Right next to the submarine Espadon, also sheltered within the massive halls of Saint-Nazaire’s historic submarine base, another absolute highlight awaits you. Escal’Atlantic is no ordinary maritime museum—it is a vast, immersive experience that takes you on a journey through time into the golden age of transatlantic liners. Surrounded by a meticulously detailed setting, you become a passenger stepping into the footsteps of famous floating palaces like the „Normandie“ or the „France,“ which were once built right here in the shipyards of Saint-Nazaire.
A Journey Back to the Luxury of Bygone Days
The entrance alone is spectacular: you board the museum via a classic passenger gangway and check in just like a traveler from the 1930s or 1960s. Across an area of over 3,500 square meters, the decks, corridors, and salons of the great ocean liners have been faithfully reconstructed.
The tour leads you through magnificent first-class lounges with glittering chandeliers, fine wood paneling, and original Art Deco furniture salvaged from actual ships. You can peer into the luxurious first-class cabins and compare them directly with the spartan accommodations of the emigrants and steerage passengers. Interactive stations, historic documentary footage, and original menus bring the glamorous daily life on the Atlantic back to life.
Behind the Scenes of the Floating Giant
Escal’Atlantic does not just showcase the glamour on deck; it also leads you deep into the belly of the ship. You walk through the monumental engine room, past massive drive shafts and boilers, where a soundscape of hissing steam and roaring engines makes the hard work of the stokers and engineers palpable.
The ship’s galley, the wheelhouse with its historic navigation instruments, and the cargo hold are also open to explore. For a playful touch, interactive touchscreens allow you to try your hand at calculating how much provisions had to be loaded for a week-long Atlantic crossing, or how to safely maneuver a massive liner through a storm. The absolute highlight for kids (and adults) is the evacuation simulation at the end, where you leave the „ship“ via a lifeboat station.
My Tip: Just like the submarine Espadon, Escal’Atlantic is located entirely inside the old submarine base. It is the perfect all-weather activity, and you should allow at least two to three hours to explore it fully. Since the museum is one of the region’s most popular attractions, I highly recommend booking your tickets online in advance here as well. If you plan to visit both museums (Espadon and Escal’Atlantic) on the same day, look for combined tickets on the official website—this will save you some extra spending money for your holiday!
