In the nave of the former Nantes shipyards, strange and fantastical animals slumber. An 8-meter wingspan heron coexists with a giant ant, a retro-propelled squid, and even a manta ray. Although they appear lifeless, these astonishing creatures sometimes awaken to amaze visitors to the Île de Nantes. While these articulated creations recall the sketches of Leonardo da Vinci, they also reference the industrial history of Nantes and, above all, the imagination of Jules Verne. From his dystopian universe was born a veritable "Workshop," a creative space conceived by François Delarozière and Pierre Oréfice, where, across more than 3,000 square meters, engineers and technicians continue to work with materials. As for the public, they observe from the elevated terraces these sorts of Victor Frankensteins seeking to animate wood and steel. Their most beautiful creation? The Great Elephant, weighing nearly 50 tons, allows visitors to climb onto its metal frame, and the Marine Worlds Carousel is a giant ride composed of 36 moving elements that seem to have emerged straight from the abyss.

Go without hesitation with the whole family to take a ride on the elephant's back, climb the Heron Tree, and watch the technicians wield their unparalleled expertise in this former industrial site that could have remained abandoned but is now an integral part of the Nantes landscape.

In pictures, Gi[Ant], the giant ant: