The City of Nantes, 50 km/31m inland on the mighty River Loire, has been around a long time - since at least Antiquity and it was a Bishopric before the Roman Empire collapsed. Breton since 851, it soon became the main residence of the Dukes of Brittany although it continued to be disputed with the French Kings due to the City’s strategic importance.

It was here in the Cathedral that the Edict of Nantes, which gave equal rights to Catholics and Protestants, was signed in 1598 by King Henri IV. Less than 100 years later however, in 1685 the Edict was revoked by Louis XIV which led to massive emigration by the so-called Huguenots to more tolerant countries such as Holland and England. Since these migrants included large numbers of skilled tradesmen this resulted in significant labour shortages.