Introduction
In the world, a few cities may remind us of Paris (Im not talking about a Paris replica such as the Chinese Tianducheng).
Some parts of Buenos Aires or Bucharest may look like Paris, for instance.
In France, some neighborhoods in Bordeaux, Lyon or Marseille, among others, may look Haussmannian as well. However, the city that most closely resembles Paris may be Nantes, the 6th largest city in France, located on the Loire River, 50 km (31 mi) from the Atlantic coast. This is what were going to see here.
Disclaimer
That said, Im not as familiar with Nantes as I am with Paris, so this thread is not supposed to be exhaustive. Nor is it meant to suggest that Nantes would have copied Paris or that Paris would be some kind of a greater Nantes. Both cities may -or may not- have inspired each other. I dont know.
After visiting Nantes a few times this year, I just find it amusing to see two different cities have so many similarities. I counted more than 30 and I guess that we could find some more. See for yourself :)
1. Basilica of Saint Donatien (Nantes) similar to Cathedral Notre Dame de Paris (Paris)
Nantes : Basilica of Saint Donatien and Saint Rogatien
![]()
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/46146413?tag=Nantes
Paris: Cathedral Notre Dame de Paris
![]()
http://aqua-permanens.blogspot.fr/20...e-paris-0.html
Nantes : Basilica of Saint Donatien and Saint Rogatien
![]()
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/41366749?tag=2010
Paris: Cathedral Notre Dame de Paris
![]()
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/63176730
Nantes : Basilica of Saint Donatien and Saint Rogatien
![]()
http://www.flickr.com/photos/yopethop/4972443138/
Paris: Cathedral Notre Dame de Paris
![]()
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...Notre_Dame.JPG
In the world, a few cities may remind us of Paris (Im not talking about a Paris replica such as the Chinese Tianducheng).
Some parts of Buenos Aires or Bucharest may look like Paris, for instance.
In France, some neighborhoods in Bordeaux, Lyon or Marseille, among others, may look Haussmannian as well. However, the city that most closely resembles Paris may be Nantes, the 6th largest city in France, located on the Loire River, 50 km (31 mi) from the Atlantic coast. This is what were going to see here.
Disclaimer
That said, Im not as familiar with Nantes as I am with Paris, so this thread is not supposed to be exhaustive. Nor is it meant to suggest that Nantes would have copied Paris or that Paris would be some kind of a greater Nantes. Both cities may -or may not- have inspired each other. I dont know.
After visiting Nantes a few times this year, I just find it amusing to see two different cities have so many similarities. I counted more than 30 and I guess that we could find some more. See for yourself :)
1. Basilica of Saint Donatien (Nantes) similar to Cathedral Notre Dame de Paris (Paris)
Nantes : Basilica of Saint Donatien and Saint Rogatien
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/46146413?tag=Nantes
Paris: Cathedral Notre Dame de Paris
http://aqua-permanens.blogspot.fr/20...e-paris-0.html
Nantes : Basilica of Saint Donatien and Saint Rogatien
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/41366749?tag=2010 Paris: Cathedral Notre Dame de Paris
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/63176730 Nantes : Basilica of Saint Donatien and Saint Rogatien
http://www.flickr.com/photos/yopethop/4972443138/ Paris: Cathedral Notre Dame de Paris
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...Notre_Dame.JPG