The port, the very reason for Saint-Nazaire’s existence, recalls the town’s exceptional history. Nothing, though, remains of the pre-war structures built for transatlantic liner travel, when Saint-Nazaire was the main French harbour serving Cuba, Mexico, Panama and more. Between 1940 and 1942, the port was shockingly transformed by the construction of a German submarine base, where the cruise liner terminal previously stood. Now, around the docks, visitors can make the most of several unique, powerful tourist and cultural sights.
