All stages on Nantes by bike
Estuary by bike from Nantes to Cordemais
Tatzu Nishi, Villa Cheminée, Cordemais, création pérenne Estuaire 2009 Gino Maccarinelli/LVAN. 
Croisière Estuaire Nantes Saint-Nazaire Franck Tomps LVAN 
Jimmie Durham, Serpentine Rouge, Indre, création pérenne Estuaire 2009 Gino Maccarinelli/LVAN. 
From Nantes, this cycling trip leads you along the Loire’s north bank to explore Audubon Marsh. Atop the chimney-villa at Cordemais, the wide-angle panorama you can get over the Loire Estuary is memorable. A lovely cycle path takes you via reedbeds and creeks, past birds dear to the creator of the book Birds of America, naturalist and painter John James Audubon. The possibility of extending this outing as far as the port of St-Nazaire is under consideration.
The route
Starting point: Nantes Tourisme, opposite the Château de Nantes. Follow signposts for La Loire à Vélo up to Couëron, then follow the cycle route Vélo Détours up to Cordemais. Beyond Cordemais, a possible extension is under consideration.
Gradients and elevation
Ascents: 10m
Descents: 20m
Lowest point: 0m
Highest point: 17m
Road types
34km (80%) By road
8km (20%) Cycle path
0.54km (1%) Provisional itinerary
Surface
41km (96%) Smooth
2km (4%) Rough
Don't miss
- Nantes: the Mémorial de l’Abolition de l’Esclavage (recalling the city’s links with slavery); De Temps en temps by François Morellet (an Estuaire contemporary art installation), Lunar Tree by Mrzyk and Moriceau (an Estuaire contemporary art installation)
- Couëron: La Maison dans la Loire by Jean-Luc Courcoult (an Estuaire contemporary art installation); the quays and marshes
- Cordemais: Villa Cheminée by Tatzu Nishi (an Estuaire contemporary art installation that doubling as a holiday rental!), tours possible Sunday 2pm to 4pm
- Just off the route: Lavau-sur-Loire: the river port and L’Observatoire by Tadashi Kawabata (an Estuaire contemporary art installation)
