Although Nantes was once the most important city of medieval Brittany, today it is officially located in the department of Loire-Atlantique. Nantes was founded in the year 70 BC and conquered by Julius Caesar only 14 years later. The following centuries saw a series of successive invasions, first by the Saxons in 285, then the Franks in 500, the Britons in the 6th and 7th centuries and the Normans in 843. Finally, the Bretons arrived in 937 and founded the duchy of Brittany, which lasted until the annexation of Brittany by France in 1532. Nantes also holds the dubious distinction of being the slave trade capital of France during the 18th century. Today, Nantes is a pleasant city known for its temperate climate, peaceful atmosphere, and active cultural and artistic scene.
