6. Nantes to Nort-sur-Erdre
From the square in front of Nantes Cathedral, we will quickly reach the banks of the Erdre river which we will follow for a long time to leave Nantes sheltered from all traffic. We will then move away from it to cross the peripheral urbanised areas and join the canal from Nantes to Brest before its junction with the Erdre downstream from Nort-sur-Erdre.
5 points of interest
- Historical
St Peter's Gate
The first ramparts protecting Condevicnum, capital of the city of Namnètes, date back to 270. The stones visible on either side of the passage are the remains of the gate that then controlled the way to Juliomagus (Angers).
A new enclosure was built in the 13th century. It was reinforced at the end of the 15th century. Each time, St Peter's Gate is modified or even rebuilt. - Historical
The Nantes fillings
Urban development in Nantes between 1926 and 1946 led to the filling in of two branches of the Loire (the branch of La Bourse and the branch of the Hospital). This led to the diversion of the Erdre, which joined the Loire through what became the Cours des 50 Otages. A tunnel was dug between 1930 and 1934 under the Cours St Pierre and St André and the St Félix canal was built with a lock to join the Loire.
To find out more... - Tourist
Versailles Island
This 1.7 hectare artificial island, created in 1831 and originally occupied by tanners and marine carpenters, was transformed into a Japanese garden in 1983. The composition of the rock gardens and waterfalls is based around 3 buildings inspired by traditional Japanese habitat. Among them, the Maison de l'Erdre, which is surrounded by a Zen garden, serves as a setting for exhibitions devoted to the river and its aquatic environment.
- Tourist
La Desnerie Castle
Numerous castles are located along the Erdre river. They are visible when you go up the river by boat.
The castle of La Desnerie, is also built on the banks of the Erdre. It is mentioned as early as 1371. It is then the property of a companion of Du Guesclin and Olivier de Clisson. It has a private chapel dated 1624. It is registered as a historical monument since 1985.
The wood of 15ha which surrounds it was acquired by the department in 2001 and has become a place of walk for the people of Nantes. - Cultural
Nort-sur-Erdre Church
The church of Nort-sur-Erdre, was built at the beginning of the 20th century. It is remarkable for its stained glass windows. For budgetary reasons, it was not completed. Thus remains, isolated from the building, the bell tower of the previous church built in 1833.
Description
Leave the square in front of the cathedral by walking along the left side of the cathedral on the rue de l'Evéché and pass the St Peter's gate. Turn left and go down the rue Tournefort until you reach the quai Ceineray de l'Erdre. Turn right, then left to go along the Erdre by the rue Sully and the quai Henri Barbusse.
- Pass under the Motte Rouge bridge and continue along the bank of the river Erdre on the road to the next bridge (Pont de la Tortière). Cross the bridge and go down the stairs on the path on the right bank of the river Erdre. Follow this path along the university, under the four-lane bridge, along the sports complex of La Jonelière to the Plein-Air area of Port Barbe.
- After Port Barbe, continue along the river and, at the fork after passing the sign indicating the promenade de l'Erdre, take the path on the right towards the Bois de la Desnerie (yellow markings). Follow the path to the castle park. Then go up on the left and take the main path to leave the estate and join the railway. Turn right to go along the railroad tracks via Allée de la Desnerie and Rue de la Gourmière.
- Pass under the railway bridge, and after a few meters, take the track on the right. Follow it up to the industrial zone. Then turn right, cross the railway track at the level of the "Erdre Active" railway station. Turn left onto the path along the railway line. Follow this path until you reach the chemin de la Châtaigneraie, then the chemin du Bourbon, the rue Jean V and the rue du Bois Fleuri.
- At the cemetery, turn left and cross the railway. Go up, opposite, the rue de l'Erdre. At its end, turn right and join the church of La Chapelle-sur-Erdre by the Martin Luther King street. After the church square, go down the Rue Louise Michel and the Rue de Sucé after the roundabout. At the next large roundabout, follow Rue des Réfractaires au STO, then the bicycle path that extends it. Continue on this bike path until you reach the entrance to Succé-sur-Erdre.
- Turn right on rue des coteaux de La Turbalière, then take the second street on the left (rue des Ecureuils) (signposted bicycle lane) and the path that extends it. Turn left on rue de La Bretonnière and then on rue du Pin. At the end of this street, turn right onto rue du Port. Turn left along Quai Bliesranbach. At the end of the quay, turn left into rue de la Mairie and go to the church.
- After the church, continue on Rue Descartes, cross the railway. At the roundabout, take the rue de Nort-sur-Erdre (D69 towards Nort). After the "Sésame Autisme 44" hostel, take the road on the left, then, at the fork, the road on the right. At the end of the road, continue straight on the rue du Closeau and then take the path again.
- At the crossroads of the "Exploitation de la Cornerais", take the road on the left, pass the "Champ de la Haie" and take the track on the right. Follow it through the hamlets of La Chauvelière, Les Prouveries, up to Pas Chevalier. Then take the D26 opposite, cross the bridge over the gully and turn right on the path that runs along the gully.
- At the junction with the D69, turn left on the D69 and follow it up to the canal. Pass the bridge and take the towpath on the left. Go along the canal up to the lock of La Tindière. Opposite the lock, turn right on the path which goes up towards the hamlet of La Tindière. At the crossroads of the hamlet, turn left and follow the path. After the second crossroads (with a farm shed), turn right onto the path and join the D26. Turn left on the D26 and join the church of Nort-sur-Erdre.
- Departure : St Peter and St Paul's Cathedral, St Peter's Square, 44000, Nantes
- Arrival : Eglise St Christophe, Rue de la Paix, 44390, Nort-sur-Erdre
- Towns crossed : Pays de la Loire
Altimetric profile
Transport
The cathedral is located near the Nantes train station.
Nort-sur-Erdre has an SNCF train station - Nantes/Châteaubriant line.
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