La côte d'Emeraude et le Mont-Saint-Michel

D. Darrault - La Véloscénie

CRT Bretagne - A. Lamoureux

J. Damase - Mayenne

D. Darrault - La Véloscénie

J. Damase

Boucle entre Loire et Mont-Saint-Michel

750 km dans le Grand Ouest de la France

Cette grande boucle à vélo offre un bel aperçu de la diversité de paysage du Grand Ouest de la France. Avec Nantes comme suggestion de point de départ, partez pour un périple de 760 kilomètres sur les chemins de halage du canal de Nantes à Brest et d'Ille-et-Rance, le long des belles et discrètes rivières de La Vilaine et la Mayenne sans oublier l'imposante Loire entre Angers et Nantes. Cette boucle offre une parenthèse maritime sur la côte bretonne entre Saint-Malo et le Mont-Saint-Michel avant de prolonger l'aventure à travers la campagne normande. C'est aussi l'occasion de découvrir les villes de Nantes, Rennes, Laval ou Angers mais aussi des lieux au riche patrimoine comme Dinan, Dinard, Saint-Malo, Mayenne...

Départ : Ville au choix sur la boucle (Nantes, Rennes, Angers, Laval ...)
Distance : ~ 750 kilomètres
Balisage : boucle vélo 100% balisée dans les 2 sens / empruntant plusieurs itinéraires
- La Vélodyssée - itinéraire certifié EuroVelo (Nantes - Redon)
- Voie 2 Bretagne (Redon - Saint-Malo)
- La Vélomaritime (Saint-Malo - Mont-Saint-Michel)
- La Véloscénie (Mont-Saint-Michel - Angers)
- La Vélo Francette (Domfront - Angers)
- La Loire à Vélo (Angers - Nantes)

Musarder sur le canal de Nantes à Brest

Depuis le centre de Nantes, on remonte la Vallée de l'Erdre pour rejoindre la confluence du Canal de Nantes à Brest à proximité de Nort-sur-Erdre.

Le chemin de halage du canal de Nantes à Brest est votre compagnon de route jusqu'à Redon où alternent écluses en reconversion et petits villages.

France Vélo Tourisme

Remonter le cours de La Vilaine

Vous continuez votre traversée de la Bretagne intérieure à vélo le long de ses voies d'eau avec La Vilaine. La rivière canalisée est entrecoupée de petits ports, moulins, écluses et villages de caractères. Vous "remontez" la Vilaine à vélo grâce à son chemin de halage en croisant sur votre route péniches et bateaux de tourisme.

Alexandre Lamoureux

Au fil du Canal d'Ille et Rance

On quitte la capitale Bretonne pour suivre un nouveau guide : le canal d’Ile et Rance et ses méandres, le long de l’ancien chemin de halage du canal, rythmé de haltes et découvertes. À Hédé-Bazouges, l'enchaînement impressionnant des 11 écluses réparties sur 2 kilomètres étonne. S'annonce ensuite la charmante cité médiévale de Dinan, avec ses maisons à pans de bois, niché au pied de la Rance. Enfin, Saint-Malo, son port et ses remparts, protégeant la cité du flot des vagues.

Briller sur la Côte d'Emeraude et au Mont-St-Michel

Façade maritime de cette grande boucle, vous ferez le plein d'embruns et de produits de la mer. Ne manquez pas la vue depuis la pointe du Grouin puis une dégustation d'huîtres fraîches sur le port de Cancale. Point d'orgue en vue, le Mont-Saint-Michel se dresse fièrement au-dessus de la baie...

Se détendre en vallée de Mayenne

Après une excursion à travers la campagne Normande sur l'itinéraire de La Véloscénie, vous rejoignez un nouveau cours d'eau : la Mayenne. Véritable condensé des rives fluviales de l’ouest, les écluses qui ponctuent la rivière seront des haltes accueillantes. Les belles demeures qui dominent la rivière nous rappellent que ce territoire a un riche passé industriel. Sur votre route ne manquez pas une visite approfondie de Domfront, Ambrières-les-Vallées, Mayenne, Laval.

Escorter le plus grand fleuve de France

Cette section vous offre un condensé du dernier fleuve sauvage d'Europe jusqu'à Nantes. Sur votre route la Loire réserve de nombreuses pépites qui ralentiront à coup sûr votre progression : l'île de béhuard, le vignoble et les petites villes en bord de Loire de Saint-Florent, Ingrandes-sur-Loire, Oudon... La découverte de Nantes et ses environs à vélo pourra également justifier un prolongement de votre séjour.

Côté pratique :

Accès en train :

Depuis Bordeaux en Intercités avec emplacement vélo payant
Depuis Paris en TGV Inoui avec emplacement vélo payant
Voir autres possibilités d'accès en train

Tailor-made itineraries

11 Nort-sur-Erdre / Nantes

35 km

2 h 20 min

I cycle often

Quiheix’s second lock marks the end of the Nantes to Brest canal towpath. Gradually you return to the hustle and bustle of urban life during this stage of La Vélodyssée, alternating rural routes with sections of the greenway and the charming Sucé-sur-Erdre crossing - a very comfortable stopping point.

10 Blain / Nort-sur-Erdre

24 km

1 h 34 min

I begin

This is the last, very easy going and enjoyable stage of La Vélodyssée along the Nantes to Brest canal. The Bout-de-Bois Pond or the Chevallerais woods make two very timely stops for weary cyclists.

9 Redon / Blain

45 km

3 h 00 min

I begin

Staying close to the Brière and the confluence of the Isac and the Vilaine, this stage of La Vélodyssée follows the river at water level. Keep your ears and eyes open for the host of different animal species which populate the surrounding marshes.A magnificent section which alternately twists and turns, with hedgerows, hillsides and copses to each side - sometimes even little pine forests - before reaching Barel Lock. Following cycle paths right to the heart of Blain.

5 Messac / Redon

41 km

2 h 45 min

I begin

At Guipry-Messac, historically a significant port for transporting salt (once a precious commodity) inland, admire the imposing central mill on its island before continuing along the former towpath by the Vilaine. One highlight is Les Corbinières, a remarkable natural site with steep wooded sides. There are several river ports at which to enjoy a break along the Vilaine. The stage ends at Redon, an historic town at the confluence of the Vilaine and the Canal de Nantes à Brest.

4 Rennes / Guipry-Messac

48 km

3 h 12 min

I begin

After enjoying a tour of Rennes, the lively Breton capital, head out of town to follow the route along the Vilaine River. The way out of Rennes is gentle, taking you close to Apigné’s recreational lakes. Then, passing through Pont-Réan and Le Boël you can fully appreciate the charms of the Vilaine Valley, with its former mills, its locks and its attractive villages. The route is still being completed at time of writing, but is easy to follow.

3 Montreuil-sur-Ille / Rennes

32 km

2 h 14 min

I begin

This stage meanders along the Ille’s east bank up to St-Grégoire. The canalized river is ideal for waterways tourism, fishing and jogging. Arrival in Rennes, Brittany’s capital, is easy – the cycle track along the canal towpath takes you right into the centre to discover Rennes’s rich heritage and culture (hence its designation as a Métropole d’Art et d’Histoire). This stage is suitable for all cyclists.

2 Evran / Montreuil-sur-Ille

35 km

2 h 18 min

I begin

Leave Evran along the north bank of the Canal d’Ille et Rance. Two authentic, historic stops are Tinténiac, with its museum dedicated to old crafts and tools, and Hédé, with its remarkable 11 locks in a row. This stage is entirely along greenways, so it’s ideal for family outings.

1 St-Malo / Evran

37 km

2 h 24 min

I cycle often

From the salty corsair city of St-Malo, a sea bus takes you across to the resort of Dinard. Then a greenway leads you south past villas, on to Dinan, a mighty medieval hilltop town. Next, follow the towpath beside the Canal d’Ille-et-Rance as far as Evran, with its charming port at the junction of various waterways. This stage takes you mostly along greenways suitable for all cyclists.

14 Saint-Malo / Cancale

18 km

1 h 14 min

I cycle a lot

Leaving the corsair city of St-Malo, the Vélomaritime leads you towards a port renowned for producing high-quality oysters, Cancale. Beyond St-Malo's great beach, seek out the carved rocks of Rothéneuf, the startling sculptures here executed by an abbot turned hermit. Midway along the stage, explore the peaceful village of Saint-Coulomb and La Ville Bague, a malouinière, or typical Ancien Régime manor built for a wealthy St-Malo merchant. Your reward at the end of the day's cycling is a tasting of oysters in the very pretty port of Cancale.

15 Cancale / Le Vivier-sur-Mer

21 km

1 h 21 min

I cycle often

Welcome to a culinary stage to savour! Between Cancale and Le Vivier-sur-Mer, you ride past one of the Bay of the Mont Saint-Michel's major areas for mussel cultivation, reputed for its high-quality moules de bouchot (grown on posts and granted AOP status).

16 Le Vivier-sur-Mer / Mont-Saint-Michel

29 km

1 h 54 min

I begin

There it is, in front of you, drawing closer with each turn of the pedals – the magical Mont Saint-Michel! Heading for Normandy's medieval marvel by bike is surely the best way to approach the great abbey-topped island rising so startlingly out of the sea. A feast for the eyes, this stage also allows you to take in the charming bay-side village of Cherrueix with its windmills, St Anne's Chapel, the local marshes and polders, and the Couesnon River.

25 Ducey / Mont-Saint-Michel

23 km

2 h 03 min

I begin

The final stage of la Véloscénie and a spectacular resting point on the Tour de Manche, where the greenway rolls all the way to the mouth of the Sélune. From there on, as you travel on shared roads, you can indulge in a feast for the eyes: Mont-Saint-Michel rises up, a colourful panorama, set like a jewel in the circle of the bay.

24 St-Hilaire-du-Harcouët / Ducey

19 km

1 h 15 min

I begin

Stronghold between Brittany, Cotentin and the Loire country, St Hilaire du Harcouët offers many activities during the summer around the Prieuré lakes. This stage of la Véloscénie and the Petit Tour de Manche, travelling along a greenway, is full of life.

23 Mortain / St-Hilaire-du-Harcouët

11 km

43 min

I begin

The enchanting Cance waterfalls are a focal point of the powerful local terrain, carving between steep hills, an untamed heart of ‘Armorican Normandy’. The greenway then heads towards St-Hilaire which precedes your arrival in the Bay of Mont Saint-Michel.

22 Barenton / Mortain

10 km

41 min

I begin

The village of Mortain stands out on its hillside at the heart of the green Bocage Normand area. It also stands at the crossroads of La Véloscénie and Le Tour de Manche cycle routes. This stage of La Véloscénie is almost entirely on greenways, except for the unavoidable link to Mortain.

21 Domfront / Barenton

17 km

1 h 07 min

I begin

The exit from Domfront isn't easy, with a steep slope and a lot of traffic. However, La Véloscénie then joins a greenway, allowing you to enjoy the beautiful, typical Bocage Normand countryside, particularly beside the Sélune River.

7 Domfront / Mayenne

50 km

2 h 58 min

I cycle often

The route leaves the southern Norman hilltop town of Domfront, taking you on a long stage going via roads and greenways beside the Varenne River up to the Mayenne River and on to Mayenne-town. Three remarkable sights on the Varenne are the mills of Moulin de Varenne, Moulin d’Ambloux and Pont des Planches. The village of Ambrières-les-Vallées offers a last view of the Varenne before you join the banks of the Mayenne. Works are in progress, but the signposts will guide you throughout the deviation.

8 Mayenne / Laval

36 km

2 h 24 min

I begin

After visiting the historic town of Mayenne, with its castle dating back in part to Carolingian times, head south via the Mayenne Valley. This La Vélo Francette stage is well suited to families, following the riverside towpath in a lovely natural setting punctuated by lock-keepers’ houses and beautiful old homes. The town of Laval is a delight to walk around.

9 Laval / Château-Gontier

35 km

2 h 19 min

I begin

The start of this stage affords fine views of the town of Laval and its two châteaux. The nine-arched railway viaduct here also has a footbridge open to cyclists, and links the Mayenne River’s east bank to Laval’s town centre and its river port. South of Laval, admire the well-known Abbaye du Port Salut (historically connected with popular Port-Salut cheese) before discovering more of the natural beauty of the Mayenne River.

10 Château-Gontier / Le Lion-d'Angers

34 km

2 h 17 min

I begin

Travelling along the Mayenne Valley, each meander reveals new delights to spur you on, with a château here and a mill there, or then a waterside village with a river port. Before the town of Le Lion-d’Angers, you’ll get a notion of the importance of the equestrian professions around here as you pass the Domaine de l’Isle-Briand, home to a world-class national stud farm that hosts equestrian events.

11 Le Lion-d'Angers / Angers

29 km

2 h 01 min

I begin

After the picture-postcard equestrian grounds at L’Isle Briand, with its château and national stud farm, plus the Mayenne and Oudon confluence, you cross the low-lying ends of several river valleys that form one of the most exceptional areas of wetland in Europe, going right up to Angers, a famed historic Plantagenet city. Up to that town’s Pont Jean Moulin bridge, the rural atmosphere remains almost untouched.

29 Angers / Bouchemaine

9 km

38 min

I begin

In the heart of Anjou, this Loire à Vélo stage goes from opposite Angers’s central castle out via the green setting of the Lac de Maine. This urban stage is startling, avoiding motorized traffic, taking you through parkland and alongside the Maine River. Bouchemaine is great for a stop, for its typical quayside restaurants or a picnic beside the Loire.

30 Bouchemaine / Chalonnes-sur-Loire

20 km

1 h 18 min

I begin

Start at La Pointe, in a tremendous setting in the heart of Anjou, where the Maine River joins the Loire. A bit west, this magical Loire à Vélo stage allows you glimpses of the prestigious vine-covered slopes of Savennières. You follow the wild Loire closely here. Don’t miss Béhuard Island before going on to cross Chalonnes’s island.

31 Chalonnes-sur-Loire / St-Florent-le-Vieil

23 km

1 h 38 min

I cycle often

This Loire à Vélo stage in Anjou crosses the startling island of Chalonnes, one of the largest on the Loire. Nearby, along the south bank, are the celebrated Coteaux du Layon vineyards, then the pretty perched villages of Montjean-sur-Loire and St-Florent-le-Vieil. The route is along quiet roads, cyclists able to make the most of the raised Loire-side levées and views across the islands.

32 St-Florent-le-Vieil / Champtoceaux

26 km

1 h 35 min

From Mont Glonne, at the top of St-Florent-le-Vieil, with its great views of the Loire Valley, this Loire à Vélo stage goes on to Champtoceaux, an historic fortified site with further tremendous river views, standing on Anjou’s frontier with the Pays d’Ancenis on the north bank. It’s worth conquering the heights of St-Florent and Champtoceaux for the panoramas! The route is along quiet roads and greenways.

33 Champtoceaux / Mauves-sur-Loire

12 km

49 min

I begin

Welcome to the Basse-Loire, or Lower Loire and the county of Loire Atlantique. The importance of the Atlantic begins to be felt on this Loire à Vélo stage, as the ocean starts to exert more of an influence. The Loire islands, vine-covered slopes producing Muscadet wine and flat, very fertile market-gardening fields on the way to Nantes provide pleasingly varied landscapes. This Loire à Vélo stage proves interesting as well as easy.

34 Mauves-sur-Loire / Nantes

18 km

1 h 11 min

I begin

Designated European Green Capital in 2013, the city of Nantes comes into view, a shaded towpath offering a gentle way into town. The new Tabarly Bridge leads over to L’île de Nantes, home to extraordinary outsized machines you can ride on, and to the Malakoff Quarter, being completely renovated. This island makes for a great introduction to the joyous tumult of the largest city along the Loire à Vélo cycle route.