This monument is one of the most important in the world dedicated to the Atlantic slave trade, slavery and its abolition. The Memorial solemnly acknowledges Nantes’ relationship with its past as the French leading port for the human slave trade in the 18th and 19th centuries. It also pays tributes to those who fought and those who continue to fight against slavery throughout the world. The artists behind the project, Krzysztof Wodiczko - plastic artist - and Julian Bonder - architect - imagined the place as a “metaphorical and emotional evocation of the struggle, mainly historical but still relevant today regarding the abolition of slavery”. Nothing is left to chance : the light, the reflections of the river, the choice of materials combining stone from the old quay, the use of wood and raw concrete… This subtle immersion beneath the docks carries an universal message of solidarity and fraternity for future generations, asserting the value of human rights. As an extension of the underground route, a dedicated area puts the Atlantic slave trade in context: there are historical and geographical landmarks but also maps, figures and a chronology which highlight the scope of what happened as well as the struggle against enslavement in the past and nowadays.

Notice : © Château des ducs de Bretagne – Musée d’histoire de Nantes