Branche de l'Arbre aux Hérons, Tourist attraction in Nantes, France
The Branche de l'Arbre aux Hérons is a walkable steel sculpture in the Jardin Extraordinaire in Nantes, shaped like a giant tree with branching hanging terraces and gardens. The structure stands about 115 feet (35 meters) tall and carries two moving herons at the top that take visitors on rides above the ground.
The project grew out of the renewal of the former quarry Misery in Chantenay, an industrial area that had been abandoned for decades. The creator François Delaroziere, known for his work with La Machine, developed the idea of placing fantastical structures into the urban fabric of Nantes.
The Branche de l'Arbre aux Hérons sits in the Chantenay district, on the site of the former quarry Misery, where visitors can walk through hanging gardens made of steel and plants. The two large herons at the top of the structure, each able to carry up to twelve people on a ride, take their name from the birds commonly seen along the Loire.
The site is in the Jardin Extraordinaire in the Chantenay district, close to the Loire, and easy to reach on foot or by bike from the city center. Access to the hanging gardens along the branches and rides on the herons use different entry points, so plan accordingly before you arrive.
The total length of the branches adds up to about 0.9 miles (1.4 kilometers), meaning a full walk through all the terraces covers a real distance even though you never leave the sculpture. The steel structure weighs around 1,700 tons, making it one of the heaviest works of public sculpture built in France.
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