From Nantes and in only 26 km, the Erdre puts on all the clothes. It is of first a urban canal that borders a neighborhood living then widens into a river at the dock s lined with houseboats. Then the vast spaces lakeside offer the people of Nantes of stage s nautical s of first choice. Upstream from Sucé-sur-Erdre, the Mazerolles plain forms a paradise for wildlife and waterfowl until the river become again more narrow and winding as you approach Nort-sur-Erdre.
The Erdre, bourgeois and rural
This variety of profiles owes much to the hydraulic work carried out in the 6 century by Saint Felix, then bishop of Nantes. For to rehabilitate the area of unhealthy marshes that bordered this meagre watercourse he in drowned the plain and the marshes under 2 meters of water. Fifteen centuries later, the banks of the Erdre form a paradise that is all the more attractive because the shipowners of Nantes have staked out its banks with "follies", castles whose parks slope gently down to the water. L he bridge of Sucé-sur-Erdre marks the transition between the two faces of the Erdre: a side bourgeois and Nantes downstream, a other to the tones breton nes and rural es as we approach from Nort-sur-Erdre.
U port in the middle of the city
The Saint-Félix basin marks the confluence with the Loire and form the first link of u Nantes to Brest Canal. An alternating tunnel allows to reach the Bassin Ceineray then the port of the Ile de Versailles. The c apitainerie on stilts is connected to the shore by a beautiful footbridge metallic in a dome. L he arm behind the island receives the small boats, while visitors find a place to moor at the pontoon opposite the Capitainerie. L es quai s upstream are lined with colorful housing boats. One may know Nantes, discover a city by its nautical backstage is an experience to live!
D he Nantes with sea legs
On the water, the he traffic is heavy: sailing, rowing, paddle, but also outboard or electric boats. L he people of Nantes love water sports, as evidenced by nt the s number ous clubs located there! One of the most emblematic, the SNO has brought together and trained many sailors since 1882, including Lomane Valade, the Optimist world champion. To make matters worse, this section of the Erdre is the one with the most spectacular castles. The map of the navigable Erdre lists no less than 16 of them, which give an additional flavour to the navigation, even if one remains conscious of what these buildings owe to the triangular trade.
A false air of Shannon
With its moorings and pontoons, the port of Sucé-sur-Erdre seems maritime, almost seaside and it is very pleasant! Upstream of the bridge, we then goes on to in the he plain of Mazerolles at false airs of Irish Shannon. The peat-laden waters are all as dark and fishy ! A sign indicates the branching off to the canal from Nantes to Brest. From e there, the course of the Erdre is punctuated with small ports, but also beautiful landscaped gardens on narrow strips of land between peat bogs . U n environment too beautiful that little accessible by land! Those who l' dare to sneak in have in the arm that leads to Port la Rivière, a charming bypass which passes at the foot of the park of the castle of Pont-Hus.
A showcase for jazz and fine yachting
A old mill dominates the port of Nort-sur-Erdre which seems quite calm for those who knew it during the es Rendez-vous de l'Erdre ! This nautical and musical event mixes jazz and "belle plaisance". Each last weekend of August, concerts are held at the waterfront, wherever possible, while d t the same time, some 230 boats are descending ent the Erdre de Nort- sur-Erdre in Nantes. C and this fleet whose only criterion is to meet the name "beautiful yacht" finds here a setting to its measure. Traditional sail, steam, rowing or paddle, c ' is a great moment to live, from the water or the shore.
L art for all
M etter thus art within the reach of ome of them has become one of the specialties of the region. L he Journey to Nantes is a path that guides the visitor through the works of art sown at random of the streets and sometimes until the river . Thus all summer 2021, a huge color bubble, Otto II , a tourno yé on the water near the bridge of Sucé-sur-Erdre , offering its transparencies to the sight of the passers-by as well as the navigators.
L erdre is so beautiful and the navigation so pleasant that it is terribly difficult to leave the boat to go behind the tree curtain and get out of the postcard. From water, we feels without a blow the privilege of being part of this landscape, of this nautical world both alive and preserved.
Local tips and tricks
The Saint-Félix tunnel in Nantes is open by default to downstream boats, i.e. the light is green on the Ceineray basin side, except if a boat is engaged in the other direction.
The port of the island of Versailles is perfectly equipped. The island is laid out as a garden which creates a very pleasant link with the nearby city center.
The channel is perfect, but the uncertain bottom means that the only possible stops for a river boat are in Nantes, Sucé and Nort-sur-Erdre.
The professional fishing gear of AB Pêcheries de Loire is anchored in several points of the river. Please respect carefully the signs in place.
The terraces of the restaurants of Sucé-sur-Erdre allow to enjoy a very beautiful light at sunset.
A bicycle rental company, Cycl'Yo, is located in the Nort-sur-Erdre train station. It is a good way to explore the region, even if the bicycle path does not border the river.
Ouest Nautic Service in Nort-sur-Erdre is both competent and helpful. A very good address!
The Erdre in brief:
- Length 26 km
- A lock (Saint-Félix, access from the Loire)
- Speed limit of 6 to 15 km/h, indicated by signs
- Vignette and navigation tax: no
- Management body : Entente pour le Développement de l'Erdre Navigable et Naturelle (EDENN)
- Template : 40,00 x 6,20 m
- Minimum air draft : 3,80 m
- Minimum draft : 1,20 m
- Renter : Bretagne fluviale (Nicols)
- Navigation guide : Editions du Breil N°01-Bretagne
