1. from Blain to Nort-sur-Erdre
Route along the Canal de Nantes à Brest or its feeding gullies. The locks will punctuate the journey. Birds will accompany us. No problems of unevenness only the pleasure of walking in the middle of nature.
3 points of interest
L’Arche , épicentre des galeries - Amis Bretons de Colomban HistoricalBlain's Acoustic Galleries
In the 6th century, a whole network of galleries linking different points of the town started from the arch located on the site of the latter. By speaking through an opening in the arch, the voice was propagated through the galleries and came out at the different listening points. Unfortunately, these galleries were drowned when the canal was dug in the 19th century. At the beginning of the 20th century, Émile Mouette, known as "the whisperer", replaced the network and transmitted the information entrusted to him. At the same time he tried to restore the network.
An identical network exists in Koblenz (Germany).
Canal de Nantes à Brest - Amis Bretons de Colomban TouristThe canal from Nantes to Brest
The Nantes to Brest canal is 360km long and crosses the whole of Brittany. The decision to build it was taken by Napoleon I in 1804. The aim was to link the military ports of the West (Nantes, Brest Lorient and St Malo) and bypass the English naval blockade. It connects 8 rivers (including the Isac here) and is punctuated by 236 locks.
We are here on the Bief de partage, the high point between the Erdre and Isac rivers. The canal is fed by the gullies connecting the reservoirs to the canal.
Rigole d’alimentation - Amis Bretons de Colomban TouristThe food channel of the canal
At each lock passage, a barge moves 300m3 of water. To compensate for this, the canal is fed by gullies connecting reservoirs located at a higher altitude to the canal.
This 22km long gully connects the Grand réservoir de Vioreau to the canal. It includes viaducts or underpasses. The constant slope is 14cm/km and the speed of the water is 1Km/hour.
Description
From the church square, take the street on the right, and to the right of the apse, turn right into the allée des Tilleuls. Cross the Avenue de la République and continue opposite by the allée Jacques Prévert. Cross Boulevard de la Résistance and continue on Rue Lucie Aubrac, the road that extends it. Turn right on Rue Jean Moulin and the road that extends it. When you reach rue de la Petite Arche, take the chemin des Mariniers across the street to reach the port.
- On the Surcouf quay, turn left to go along the canal. At the end of the quay, take the towpath. Pass the lock of La Prée, cross the D164, pass the lock of Le Terrier, the lock of Gué de l'Atelier, cross the D132, pass the lock of La Remaudais,
- Cross the Route de la Minoterie at the Renaud Bridge and continue along the canal. Pass under the four-voice (recognizable by the sound level...) and cross the bridge of the D537, to follow the towpath on the right.
- At the junction with the D39, at pas d'Héric, cross the bridge again and go along the canal on the left, and pass the lock of the same name. At the next bridge, leave the canal by taking the road on the right and join the canal supply channel. Take the path on the right that follows this gully. Join the village of La Dubertière. At the crossroads, take the road on the right and cross the villages of Marcore and La Rabinière.
- In sight of the village of La Bricaudière, take the road on the left. At the end of this one take the road on the right. Turn right at the next crossroads and at the Calvary, take the road on the left. Follow this path and the road that continues it to the cemetery, at the entrance of Nort-sur-Erdre.
- At the crossroads turn left on the D164, then right, cross the railway and join the church.
- Departure : Laurent-Place Jean Guihard Church, 44130, Blain
- Arrival : St Christopher Church, Rue de la Paix, 44390, Nort-sur-Erdre
- Towns crossed : Pays de la Loire
Altimetric profile
Recommandations
The route follows the route of the Ways of Compostela (Capitals Way).
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