Gay Guide to Nantes
France decriminalized same-sex relations in 1791 and legalized marriage equality in 2013. Nantes, a creative, liveable city on the Loire in western France, has a compact and varied LGBTQ+ scene.
The oldest gay bar, Le Plein Sud, is on a pedestrian street beside the Château des Ducs de Bretagne, at the edge of the medieval Bouffay quarter, and Night L, the lesbian bar open since 2012, is close by on allée du Port Maillard. Le Montecito on allée Duquesne does drag shows, open-stage nights and DJ evenings.
Down by the river on the quai de la Fosse, CO2 Club Origin is the city's main gay club, open late on weekends, and L'Autre Quai is the cruising bar. The Steamer on rue Baron is the sauna, with a pool and jacuzzi.
Nantes's Marche des Fiertés is held each June, and in 2025 it set off from the cours Saint-André.