Memorial to the Abolition of Slavery

The Memorial to the Abolition of Slavery in Nantes is a subterranean monument dedicated to the memory of the victims of the transatlantic slave trade and the struggle for its abolition. Located along the Loire River, the site occupies the former quays from which many slave ships departed during the 18th century, when Nantes served as France's primary slave-trading port.

The memorial features a long, glass-encased underground passage that connects the city to the river. The walls are inscribed with the names of slave ships, the dates of their voyages, and texts related to human rights and the history of abolition, creating a somber, reflective space that forces a confrontation with the city's historical complicity in the trade.