Post by ronturner on Oct 11, 2009 9:23:51 GMT 1
I have just returned from a very good day out at St Nazaire.
Started with a tour of the shipyard, one of the biggest in Europe with three ships in production. Two of them big cruise liners. (By the way the yard is Korean owned and staffed mainly by tradesmen for Eastern Europe.) A very interesting tour, especially the technique of how they get a ship made in huge factory, into the water.
Next a visit to a mock up of a classic transatlantic liner, post war vintage. This is installed inside one of the submarine pens built by the Germans in the war, interesting in themselves. For those Liverpudlians who are too young to have ever experienced the atmosphere of one of the classic ships, believe me, its pretty close to how it was.
Followed a visit to the ECOMUSEUM, which traces the history of St Nazaire commerce, mainly the shipyards, the transatlantic shipping traffic and aviation. (Large sections of Airbus are still made there.)
Finally, located inside one of the previously mentioned submarine pens. a tour of a retired French submarine. Excellent
A day of unexpected pleasures in St Nazaire, at very low entry prices, and thoroughly recommended.
As an option, you can join a tour of the Airbus factory at the airport, but I've seen plenty of that for the time being, so passed. In any case we ran out of time.
No photos to show. Its prohibited for most of the visits
RT
Started with a tour of the shipyard, one of the biggest in Europe with three ships in production. Two of them big cruise liners. (By the way the yard is Korean owned and staffed mainly by tradesmen for Eastern Europe.) A very interesting tour, especially the technique of how they get a ship made in huge factory, into the water.
Next a visit to a mock up of a classic transatlantic liner, post war vintage. This is installed inside one of the submarine pens built by the Germans in the war, interesting in themselves. For those Liverpudlians who are too young to have ever experienced the atmosphere of one of the classic ships, believe me, its pretty close to how it was.
Followed a visit to the ECOMUSEUM, which traces the history of St Nazaire commerce, mainly the shipyards, the transatlantic shipping traffic and aviation. (Large sections of Airbus are still made there.)
Finally, located inside one of the previously mentioned submarine pens. a tour of a retired French submarine. Excellent
A day of unexpected pleasures in St Nazaire, at very low entry prices, and thoroughly recommended.
As an option, you can join a tour of the Airbus factory at the airport, but I've seen plenty of that for the time being, so passed. In any case we ran out of time.
No photos to show. Its prohibited for most of the visits
RT