I spend my time crossing bridges in Nantes.

Across the Loire River, for a start. Passerelle Victor-Schoelcher or the Pont Anne de Bretagne to go to the Île de Nantes, Pont de la Rotonde and Pont Aristide-Briand when I go shop at Carrefour in Beaulieu.

We also cross the Erdre when we walk along the river, usually at Pont de la Tortière or Pont Général de la Motte Rouge.

“Mommy! This bridge’s name is ‘pont’!”

“… ‘Pont’ is ‘bridge’ in French, Mark.”

But the most scenic way to cross the Loire River is by boat, on the Navibus. The water boat operates as part of the Tan urban transit network that also includes buses and trams so the ride is cheap and convenient.

The Navibus Loire leaves from the Gare Maritime, on the north bank close to the city centre and Tramway de Nantes line 1, to the fishing village of Trentemoult on the south bank of the river.

Trentemoult is cute and very much hippie chic. Even though you can see Nantes’ industrial past and present from the bank of the town, it doesn’t feel like you’re in the city.