Bouguenais Summer Festivities
In summer the town offers outdoor sports, open-air cinema, street performances and concerts at the Roche Ballue natural site.
Plizio Visual Lab
Bouguenais
Plizio editorial teamData Sources
City
ℹ️Practical info — Bouguenais
▾
🌤 Weather — 5 days
📍 Nearby
Sights nearby
💡 Tips
- Despite hosting the airport, Bouguenais has vast natural areas; don't miss the Loire riverbanks to the north.
- If flying out of Nantes, consider staying here for a stress-free morning commute to the terminal.
- Public transport into Nantes city center is efficient; park your car at a 'P+R' (Park and Ride) facility to avoid traffic.
- A walk in the 'Les Couëts' neighborhood has a welcoming village-like atmosphere completely different from the airport area.
🍽 Food
🍽
Muscadet Wine
Enjoy a glass of local Muscadet wine at a traditional brasserie in the town center.
🍽
Seafood Platter
Thanks to the proximity to the ocean, local restaurants often serve excellent fresh seafood dishes.
🍽
Nantes Gâteau
Look for a local bakery offering the famous 'Gâteau nantais', an almond and rum cake.
🛍 Shopping · 🧘 Quiet spots
🛍
Bouguenais Markets
Visit the weekly markets in the Bourg or Les Couëts areas for fresh local produce and regional specialties.
🛍
Local Vineyards
Purchase Muscadet wine directly from wine estates located just outside the urban area.
🧘
La Roche Ballue
A beautiful natural and recreational park situated in a former stone quarry, complete with a lake.
🧘
Bords de Loire
Take a tranquil walk along the banks of the Loire river to enjoy nature and bird watching.
Water temperature…
Bouguenais is a key municipality in the Loire-Atlantique department, situated on the southern banks of the Loire river and forming part of the Nantes metropolitan area. The town's modern identity is largely defined by the presence of the Nantes Atlantique Airport, which serves as a major gateway to western France. This proximity has fostered a thriving aerospace sector, most notably with the Airbus production facilities located within the city limits. Despite its industrial significance, Bouguenais maintains a strong commitment to environmental preservation, exemplified by the Roche-Ballue site, a reclaimed quarry that has become a premier destination for biodiversity and outdoor recreation. The town also is home to several historic manor houses and an appealing town center that reflects its long history as a rural settlement. With its excellent public transport links, including the Nantes tramway, Bouguenais gives a well-suited blend of economic opportunity and a high quality of suburban life, characterized by its riverside landscapes and community spirit.
- Location: Pays de la Loire, France
- Top sights: Saint-Pierre Church · La Roche Ballue Leisure Site · Loire Riverbanks
- Nearby: Saint-Herblain (4 km)
- Population: ~20.590
Best time to visit & climate
The most pleasant time to visit is Jun–Aug.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg °C | 5 | 5 | 8 | 11 | 14 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 16 | 13 | 9 | 6 |
| Rain mm | 84 | 65 | 69 | 54 | 65 | 52 | 52 | 52 | 45 | 83 | 88 | 92 |
Geography
Facts
- Population: 20,590 (2021 census)
- Postal code: 44340
- Home to Nantes Atlantique Airport
- Major Airbus manufacturing site
- Total area: 43.5 square km
- Served by Nantes Tramway Line 3
Explore nearby
Notable places around
Route planner — Car & Motorhome
Where do you start? We build the route here, with stops and country notes along the way.
Vehicle
Only stops with (optional):
© OpenStreetMap contributors · OpenRouteService
Sights in the town Bouguenais (6)
Frequently asked questions
Is Bouguenais close to Nantes Airport?
Yes, Nantes Atlantique Airport is located directly within the municipality of Bouguenais. The terminals are reachable in just a few minutes.
How far is the Planète Sauvage safari park?
The famous Planète Sauvage safari park in Port-Saint-Père is only about a 15-minute drive (15 km) from Bouguenais.
Are there natural swimming spots in Bouguenais?
The La Roche Ballue site provides a former quarry transformed into a leisure park with a supervised natural swimming area and climbing walls.
How do I get to Nantes city center from Bouguenais?
You can use bus line 36 or tram line 3 (Neustrie station). The trip to the heart of Nantes takes about 20 minutes.
What local specialty should I try?
Try the Muscadet wine from the surrounding Loire vineyards, which pairs perfectly with the region's fresh seafood.
Bouguenais: where is it located?
Bouguenais is located in Pays de la Loire, France.
Bouguenais: what is there to see?
Highlights include Saint-Pierre Church, La Roche Ballue Leisure Site, Loire Riverbanks.
Bouguenais: when is the best time to visit?
The most pleasant time to visit is Jun, Aug.
Bouguenais: why is it worth visiting?
Bouguenais is a key municipality in the Loire-Atlantique department, situated on the southern banks of the Loire river and forming part of the Nantes metropolitan area.
Explore with Plizio
Discover more places in Europe
More places in France →
Nearby cities
Nantes
Nantes, the capital of the Pays de la Loire region, is a dynamic city on the banks of the Loire River.
Nantes-Nord
Nantes-Nord is a growing area of the city with modern residential complexes and educational centers.
Angers-Centre
Angers-Centre is the historic center next to the Maine river.
Angers
Angers is a green city on the Maine River, famous for its castle, gardens, and cider tradition.
Saint-Nazaire
Saint-Nazaire is a major Atlantic port with shipbuilding, dry docks, and a strong maritime economy.
La Roche-sur-Yon
A modern planned city in the heart of Vendée, founded by Napoleon Bonaparte, famous for its pentagonal layout and mechanical animals.
Cholet
Cholet is a western French city known for textiles, trade, and its role in Vendée history.
Saint-Herblain
The largest suburb of Nantes, known for significant commercial zones and a rich cultural offering.
Nantes-Sud
The southern area of Nantes offers access to riverbanks and modern residential complexes.
Orvault
Orvault is a green suburb of Nantes in the Loire Valley, known for its picturesque nature in the Cens Valley and the Gobinière Castle.
Vertou
An elegant city on the Sèvre Nantaise river, celebrated for its vineyards and the historic Chaussée des Moines dam.
Couëron
A historic city on the banks of the Loire near Nantes, known for its industrial heritage and the iconic 'La Maison dans la Loire' artwork.
La Chapelle-sur-Erdre
La Chapelle-sur-Erdre is a green residential city north of Nantes, famous for its numerous châteaux along the Erdre river.
Carquefou
A thriving city northeast of Nantes, known for its numerous chateaux and its dynamic economic zone.
La Baule-Escoublac
A sophisticated seaside resort on the Atlantic coast, famous for its miles-long bay, elegant villas, and pine forest.