Surprenantes - Voyage Désirable

It was with Jules Verne that I began to read in French, his fascinating stories wove a tale of never ending, exciting dream worlds in bright and vivid colours which irresistibly drew me in further and further. So when my husband and I came across Suprenantes, we were pleasantly surprised! The apartment on offer was “La Pecherie” (“The Fishery”), an apartment that spectacularly symbolised Nantes’ link with water. We viewed the photos of the apartment before we set off, cobalt blue walls, wooden fixings, fishnets and other quirky, innovative touches that didn’t put fashion over function, but rather mixed the two in equality. However, when we arrived, we were again, pleasantly surprised with an upgrade to the “Voyage Extraordinaire” apartment, part of the Jules Verne Refuge, so we could feel we were embarking upon an extraordinary voyage of our own!

A curious man in half-moon spectacles greeted us with a warm welcome and instantly we felt like we had embarked upon an adventure, we were walking into a novel of our own. He explained to us the idea of the creative apartments that were quirky yet still elegant and functional.

The large apartment was kitted out like a ship’s cabin, only we felt we were the ship’s rather honoured guests receiving breakfast every morning and having access to such a large space and comfortable furniture. The works of Jules Verne were dotted about the place, and we felt like him, in the beginnings of Nantes city, the innovative city that invented the world’s first public transport; the omnibus. We climbed the stairs to a small bridge that guided us to our bedroom. The bridge sat in the top part of the apartment, and walking along it you could observe was what happening in the living room below giving the apartment the feel of really being inside a ship. My niece and nephew would have loved such an experience!

Our double bed comfortably cocooned us in rustic wood. Our sleek bathroom was down the stairs; here we were honoured shipmen not scallywags! Inside there were sweet smelling toiletries and a comfortable walk in shower. Downstairs was a cosy living room and big doors that resembled the thick iron doors one finds on ships, which led into the dining room. The kitchen had a cheeky ship window that allowed anyone at the sink to look out over the living room and yet with all its characteristic fittings it still felt sleek and modern. It was great to have a fully equipped kitchen and eat on our clock or when we decided not to eat in at all we tried one of Nantes’ great restaurants.

Before we left we asked for a peak into the connecting apartment to ours: “De la terre à la lune” (“From the Earth to the Moon”), in case my sister and her family wanted to join us for our next trip. It was another delightful world from Jules Verne. Step into the kitchen and you were in your own rocket to space, the shower was your spaceship and above sat the child’s bed which looked out over the apartment. The master bedroom was down the mysterious steps, which gave you access to what one could imagine as Jules Verne’s basement, all around were curious artefacts and items from stories that have been told and retold. The bed sat cushioned by all this surrounded by glass so you wouldn’t have to worry about dislodging the artefacts.

Our adventure in Nantes was a unique and cherished experience and I am sure we’d be back for another voyage extraordinaire!