NANTES - 2000 ans d'histoire. Du port Romain au centre industriel de la France

Welcome to a fascinating journey through the history of one of France's most unique cities. Nantes is a paradoxical city, situated at the crossroads of the Atlantic Ocean and the majestic Loire River. In this documentary, we will travel through two thousand years of history: from the first Celtic settlements of the Namnetes tribe to the cultural capital it is today. We will explore the Gallo-Roman era of Portus Namnetum and discover how the city became the "gateway to Brittany." You will admire the grandeur of the Château des Ducs de Bretagne (Castle of the Dukes of Brittany) and learn about the tragic fate of Anne of Brittany, the woman whose life sealed the union of the duchy with the French crown. We will return to the 16th century: why was it in this fiercely Catholic city that Henry IV signed the famous Edict of Nantes, the foundation of religious tolerance? Nantes' history isn't all glory; it also has its darker sides. We'll delve into the "Ebony Century," when Nantes was France's leading slave-trading port, as well as the Reign of Terror under Jean-Baptiste Carrier, who transformed the Loire River into a "national bathtub." Nantes is also a cradle of imagination. Discover how the 19th-century port atmosphere shaped the young Jules Verne, inspiring him to create the "Nautilus." We'll journey through the industrial golden age, from LU biscuits to the legendary shipyards where France's steel fleet was forged. You'll relive the dramatic moments of the Second World War and the rebellious spirit of May '68, when the city became a laboratory for self-management. Finally, we'll witness the incredible cultural renaissance of Nantes: how a declining industrial site became home to the famous Machines of the Isle and its giant elephant, making the city the "Green Capital of Europe." It's the story of a city that knows how to fall, rise again, and reinvent itself, true to its motto: "Favet Neptunus eunti" (Neptune favors those who dare). Subscribe to the channel so you don't miss any of our upcoming historical explorations! 00:00 - Origins and Gallo-Roman city 03:07 - Viking invasions and the duchy 06:23 - Anne and the ducal castle 09:24 - Signing of the Edict of 1598 12:27 - Nantes and the Atlantic slave trade 15:29 - Revolutionary terror and drownings 18:41 - Jules Verne's childhood 21:37 - LU biscuits and industry 24:43 - Shipbuilding on the island 27:28 - Bombings and Nazi occupation 30:23 - Strikes and the Paris Commune of 1968 33:11 - Closure of the major shipyards 36:13 - Renaissance through culture 39:10 - Brittany and its ecological future