Île de Versailles
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Native name: Île de Versailles | |
|---|---|
 The pedestrian bridge to the island and moored vessels | |
 Interactive map of Versailles Island | |
| Geography | |
| Area | 1.7 ha (4.2 acres) |
| Administration | |
France | |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 0 |
Versailles Island or Île de Versailles is an artificial island located on the River Erdre in Nantes, which was partially created from soil excavated during earthworks and dredging for the construction of the Nantes-Brest Canal.
This place was successively called: "Barbin Marsh" (the name of the village that was on the right bank), "Le Gall Island", then "Monkey Island", before taking its name from the Quai de Versailles, which runs along its eastern side[1]. The name "Versailles", which was assigned in 1878, refers to a large estate called "petit Versailles" (Little Versailles), appearing on the 1756 Cacault plan, which stretched from the road to Rennes (the current Rue Paul-Bellamy) to the streets of Châteaubriant and Adolphe-Moitié[2].
Geography
With an area of 1.7 hectares (4.2 acres), it is the furthest downstream island on the course of the Erdre, about 400 metres (1,300 ft) from quai Ceineray, where the northern entrance of the Saint-Félix tunnel opens. Located in the Hauts-Pavés - Saint-Félix district, the island is also geographically slightly closer to the right bank and the Quai de Versailles than to its left bank and the quai Henri-Barbusse.
It is accessed via a stone bridge located at the southern end, built around 1845, and two metal footbridges, one to the south-east and the other to the north-west, installed around 1988[3].