A unique elephant encounter in Nantes Jun 13, 2019

A unique elephant encounter in Nantes

Created by François Delarozière, Pierre Orefice, and their team of artists and engineers at La Machine Company workshop, the Grand Éléphant was the first of three artworks/attractions constructed for the Machines de l’île (Machines of the Isle) in Nantes. The elephant is a mechanical sculpture that’s so big it can take up to 49 passengers for a 45-minute walk. After unveiling the elephant in 2007 and the Carrousel des Mondes Marins (Marine World Carousel) in 2012, they"re now working on an ambitious third project, L’Arbre aux Hérons (Tree of Herons), scheduled for 2022. The efforts of these visionary creators have turned a shuttered industrial shipyard on the Loire River into a unique place where art, architecture, tourism, and urban planning come together to delight all who visit.

© Dutourdumonde Photography/Shutterstock

palette

Today in History

Jun 13, 2020A gorge-ous mill in the Causses
Jun 13, 2021Bear watching in the Finnish forest
Jun 13, 2022Okavango Delta, Botswana
Jun 13, 2023Okefenokee Swamp
Jun 13, 2024Registan Square, Samarkand, Uzbekistan
Jun 13, 2025Vila Franca Islet, São Miguel Island, Azores, Portugal

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Jul 9, 2018Gauchos showcase Argentina’s independent spirit
Apr 28, 2021Coming home to roost
Aug 8, 2022Pantaleu
Apr 30, 2020What kind of bird laid these eggs?
Feb 26, 2024Grand Canyon National Park turns 105
Aug 29, 2023American bison, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
Oct 17, 2020Fog above the forest
Apr 24, 2023Old underground cellar, Bavaria, Germany
Dec 9, 2021Glowworm caves in Australia
Dec 10, 2021Arctic fox in Norway
Dec 24, 2019Dashing through the snow
Dec 20, 2024Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi, Lapland, Finland
Feb 18, 2024World Whale Day
Jan 19, 2020Ready. Set. Snow.
Feb 21, 2024Yosemite National Park, California
Mar 28, 2025Black-naped monarch
Apr 17, 2021A river runs through it
Mar 30, 2024Brown-throated three-toed sloth in cecropia tree, Costa Rica
Jan 21, 2021The tale of squirrels like Nutkin
Nov 28, 2023Giving Tuesday
Oct 25, 2022 Park of the Monsters, Bomarzo, Italy
Feb 18, 2018Great horned owl near Lake Tohopekaliga, Florida
Jan 4, 2021Sparkling ice diamonds on a black sandy beach
Feb 7, 2023Village of Labro, Italy
Sep 29, 2024West Cornwall Covered Bridge, Connecticut
Aug 2, 2019An uncommon look at an American icon
Mar 2, 2019You won’t see this on Mulberry Street
Dec 11, 2021Everest s shadow on the Himalayas
Oct 15, 2019The globe skimmers return
Jan 7, 2023Yarn for Distaff Day