Urban and coastal, large-scale and intimate, historic and innovative, industrial and scenic—Saint-Nazaire is all of these at once.
A concentrate of innovation and nature, this mid-sized city boasts exceptional advantages.
With shipbuilding, aeronautics, and a booming industrial decarbonisation strategy, the Saint-Nazaire area is experiencing spectacular momentum, attracting increasing attention.
Saint-Nazaire, a garden city by the ocean
Saint-Nazaire is a seaside city par excellence, where city life meets ocean life, and locals mix with tourists daily.
Its calm atmosphere and natural surroundings promote a relaxed, year-round “slow life”.
From the famous Place du Commando, you can sip a drink facing the ocean, just a few steps away from beaches and waterfront promenades.
Located just 2h40 from Paris, 35 minutes by train from Nantes, and minutes from Pornichet and La Baule, Saint-Nazaire bridges land and sea, with the Brière marshlands—one of France’s most beautiful natural areas—only 5 minutes away.
Working here means enjoying an exceptional quality of life, combining office time with seaside evenings, in a vibrant yet peaceful environment.
Exciting urban transformations are underway, with 10 new areas being redeveloped, including Petit Maroc, which is set to become a hub for marine leisure activities.
Ideal for families
Saint-Nazaire is a perfect city for families, offering a unique blend of quality of life, excellent amenities, and year-round dynamism.
Human-sized and peaceful, it allows people to easily balance professional and personal life.
Recently named the best city to live in Loire-Atlantique (2024 ranking), Saint-Nazaire promotes soft mobility and hosts numerous free outdoor events throughout the year.
Recreational facilities abound: skateparks, water sports, swimming pools, basketball courts, and 20 beaches to enjoy fresh sea air.
Well connected between the Atlantic and Brittany, it’s the ideal location to work while enjoying an exceptional living environment.
Culturally, the city offers rich tourism, a dynamic cultural life, and thriving industrial tourism through Saint-Nazaire Renversante, attracting thousands of visitors every year.
A strong industrial advantage
Saint-Nazaire is an industrial powerhouse, hosting major players like Chantiers de l’Atlantique, Airbus, GE, IDEA, Arquus, and many more.
These industry giants are not only shaping the future of industry, but also leading ecological transitions, with projects on LNG propulsion and renewable marine energy (EMR).
The Grand Port Maritime of Nantes Saint-Nazaire spearheaded France’s first offshore wind farm, and the city is gearing up for the construction of the next-generation aircraft carrier (PANG), creating 2,000 jobs.
Certified “Territoires d’industrie”, Saint-Nazaire is actively decarbonising industry and driving local industrial growth, with 30+ targeted development initiatives, including the Fab’Academy, designed to train and recruit industrial talent.
5%
unemployment rate (vs. 6.9% national average)
3rd
largest engineering hub in Western France
15
higher education and research institutions
1st
France’s first offshore wind farm
4 200
students
Betting on tech
At the crossroads of industry and digital, a tech ecosystem is growing around the French Tech Saint-Nazaire La Baule (SNLBP), fostering cooperation between startups and major industrial groups.
Opened in 2022, the Spi Numérique et Innovation serves as both an incubator and coworking space, facilitating connections between tech professionals.
The Maison de l’Entreprise (MDE), near the train station, houses business support services and innovation hubs, where networking events and project development support are regularly held.
Despite being a mid-sized city, Saint-Nazaire is home to more than 15 higher education and research institutions, offering 60 programs for over 3,500 students.
Recently, top engineering schools like EPF and CESI have joined, helping to train the next generation of industrial talent.
A city of opportunities and social commitment
Saint-Nazaire offers strong professional opportunities, with career prospects in both industry and the services sector, particularly in corporate support roles for large groups.
The city is known for fostering strong professional networks, with iconic venues like Le Paquebot (digital hub) and the MDE, as well as events like the “Audacity Awards”, which reward innovative projects every year.
With +25% industrial job growth between 2015 and 2024, and an unemployment rate of just 5%, the city enjoys robust employment prospects.
Gender equality is visible, with women in strategic roles at MAN Energy, Airbus, and other industrial leaders.
Saint-Nazaire’s strong social commitment is reflected in its vibrant non-profit sector, collaborative spirit, and culture of solidarity.
