Stade Marcel Saupin, Football stadium in downtown Nantes, France
Stade Marcel Saupin is a football stadium in central Nantes, close to the Loire River, with a natural grass pitch and a covered north stand. The rest of the site has been converted into a mix of sports facilities and offices, so the playing field now sits within a broader urban complex.
The ground opened in 1937 as Stade Malakoff and remained FC Nantes' main home until 1984, when the club moved to a larger venue. It was later renamed after Marcel Saupin, a local sports official, and was significantly redeveloped in 2006.
The ground is home to FC Nantes reserve and women's teams, and its small size puts fans very close to the pitch. Watching a match here feels more personal than at a large stadium, and many supporters come specifically to follow young players making their way through the club.
The stadium sits in central Nantes near the Loire, and public transport makes it easy to reach from most parts of the city. Because the site is now part of a mixed complex, it is worth identifying the entrance in advance so you can find your way in without confusion.
The north stand is the only part of the original 1937 structure that was kept during the 2006 redevelopment, and it is now listed as a protected building. This makes it the most direct physical link to the ground's earliest days, still visible from inside the stadium.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
