Nantes

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Nantes City in w France, at the mouth of the River Loire; capital of Loire-Atlantique department. France's sixth-largest city, it has been a trading centre since Roman times. In the 10th century, it was captured from Norse invaders by the Duke of Brittany. Nantes remained a residence of the Dukes until 1524. The city developed around its port and the trade in sugar and ebony. By the 18th century, it was France's largest port. During World War II, it was a centre of the resistance movement. Industries: shipbuilding, sugar refining. Pop. (1999) 277,728.

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