Destinations
Avant-garde literary fantasy meets industrial-chic loft. High ceilings, exposed stone, wide-plank floors, vintage curiosities, and immersive themed interiors — all inside a registered French historical monument.
Book Le Plateau Jules Verne (from €385/night) to get all three Hôtel Durbé apartments together — ideal for a family group or celebration trip with 3 double beds and 100+ sqm
Why It Matters
The only Tablet Hotels-listed property in Nantes, housed in a listed 18th-century mansion. Each apartment is a fully realized set piece from Jules Verne's novels, and one of them is literally a 1930s bateau-mouche moored on the river. Gault & Millau listed. Directly across the street from Les Machines de l'Île.
Surprenantes Destinations is a literary-themed aparthotel occupying the historic Hôtel Durbé, an 18th-century shipowner's mansion on the banks of the Loire. Each suite is inspired by a different Jules Verne novel — think suspended beds accessed by wrought-iron ladders, kitchens built inside rocket shells, and a 1930s riverboat moored on the Erdre. It's self-catering and self-check-in, so don't expect hotel-style service; what you get instead is sheer inventive design.
Where You'll Stay
9 room types available
De la Terre à la Lune
Space travel, Verne-style. The kitchen is built inside a rocket, the shower is a spaceship, and the children sleep on a 'lunar platform'. The main living room soars to 3.5m ceilings and serves as the writer's cave. One important caveat: the double bedroom is in the basement with no windows. That's not a bug per the designers — it's part of the underground mission theme — but light-sensitive guests should check the floor plan. Suitable for 2 adults and 2 children under 12.
Double bed
L'Île Mystérieuse
A 75 sqm standalone house with a tree growing through the living room — one of the two bedrooms has a nest-style bed perched in the branches. The kitchen sits under a glass roof. Two full double bedrooms make this one the best pick for two couples or families who want more space than the Voyage Extraordinaire offers. Has a washing machine and dishwasher, which the Durbé apartments lack.
Double beds (x2) · 75 sqm
La Maison à Vapeur
The newest addition to the Surprenantes collection, recently opened and listed as 'New!' on the official site. Details are limited online but the floor plan shows a multi-room layout. The Steam House name references Verne's 1880 novel of the same name.
La Nuit
A romantic suite with a double bed, a deep standalone bathtub, and an imposing writing desk where previous guests have left written notes — there is an ongoing collective story you can add to. Less theatrical than the other units, La Nuit leans more into poetic atmosphere. A 'travel wardrobe' and welcoming tray with coffee machine and kettle are included. Can be rented alongside Le Voyage Extraordinaire and De la Terre à la Lune as part of Le Plateau Jules Verne.
Double bedLe D'Ô (AMOURS)
A 1930s bateau-mouche moored on the Erdre river at Quai Henri Barbusse, transformed into an artistic suite by French painter Karina Bisch in 2019. The boat's exterior is a riot of geometric shapes and colour — a living painting on the water. Inside: a double bed, sitting area with large windows looking onto the river, equipped kitchen, and shower room. At 45 sqm it makes clever use of every inch. No children allowed on board. Can also be hired for private or professional events.
Double bed · 45 sqm
Le Nautilus
Inspired by Captain Nemo's submarine from Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea. A recently added unit (listed as 'New!' on the website) set in a converted conciergerie. Has one double bedroom plus a sofa bed in the living room, making it one of the more flexible options for small groups or families. Equipped kitchen, shower bathroom, TV, and Wi-Fi included.
Double bed + sofa bedLe Plateau Jules Verne
The whole Hôtel Durbé floor rented as one: La Nuit, Le Voyage Extraordinaire, and De la Terre à la Lune combined into 100+ sqm with 3 double bedrooms, 2 sleeping areas for children, and 2 full kitchens. The go-to for large families, multi-couple trips, or group celebrations. Also works for business meetings — the property can configure it for working sessions.
3 x double beds · 100 sqmLe Voyage Extraordinaire
Built inside a converted 18th-century shipowner's storeroom, the living spaces are literally constructed out of wooden and steel shipping containers. The bedroom is inside a cargo crate, the kitchen is in another, and a 3.5m-high living room with a footbridge connects them. Faces the Loire river and the former naval shipyard site. Takes up to 2 adults and 2 children under 12. Can be combined with the adjacent La Nuit and De la Terre à la Lune suites.
Double bed · 50 sqmVoyage en Ballon
The smallest unit in the collection at just 17 sqm, but it earns every euro. The centrepiece is a suspended double bed inside a replica of the Victoria gondola from Jules Verne's Five Weeks in a Balloon — you sleep as if floating. Equipped kitchen, shower room, Wi-Fi, TV, and coffee machine all fit in. No washing machine, but dry-cleaning can be arranged.
Suspended double bed · 17 sqmThe Property
Spa & Wellness
Treatment Menu
On Property
How you'll actually spend your days.
Dedicated museum at 3 rue de l'Hermitage, on the Butte Sainte-Anne, covering the life and work of Nantes-born Jules Verne. Open 10am–12pm and 2pm–6pm except Tuesdays, Sunday mornings, and public holidays. Extended hours in July/August (10am–7pm daily). A 5-minute walk or bike ride from the apartments.
The famous mechanical creature art installation — including the 12-metre, 48-tonne mechanical elephant — is directly across the river from the Hôtel Durbé apartments. A genuinely unmissable attraction and a natural extension of the Verne theme.
City pass offering free access to 30 top Nantes attractions and unlimited public transport for 1, 2, or 3 days — covering the petit train, tourist bus, Bateaux Nantais boat tours, Château des Ducs de Bretagne, Machines de l'Île, and guided walking tours.
Multiple Naolib bike-share stations within metres of the property (Brunelière #41, René Bouhier #76, Gare Maritime #42, Machine de l'Île #43). The most practical way to explore Nantes without a car.
Several suites, including Le D'Ô and Le Plateau Jules Verne, can be hired for private events, team seminars, or business meetings. A dedicated 'Events' section (pro.surprenantes.com) handles professional enquiries.
Amenities & Practical Info
The details that matter for planning.
Free Wi-Fi available in all apartments.
All nightly rates include Malongo coffee, tea, and powdered chocolate — enough to get your morning started. Not a full breakfast.
Gift certificates for stays are available to purchase directly via the official website.
Only available in L'Île Mystérieuse. Other apartments offer a dry-cleaning service on request but have no on-site washing machine.
Most suites include a fully equipped self-catering kitchen with microwave/oven, refrigerator, coffee machine (Malongo), and kettle. The Voyage en Ballon and La Nuit have kitchenettes or welcome trays rather than full kitchens.
Flat-screen TV in all units. Some units also include DVD players and iPod docking stations.
Check-in is fully self-service via access codes. Guests must contact the property in advance to receive their codes. No on-site reception. Check-in from 16:00; checkout by 11:00.
No on-site parking. Public parking available nearby at approximately €2 per hour (no reservation needed).
BUILD YOUR SURPRENANTES DESTINATIONS PLAN
Rooms, dining, spa, and resort experiences — organized into one trip plan.
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