Whether the water is staked with hundreds of sails of the "Belle plaisance" during the Rendez-vous de l'Erdre, or finely nimbed with a mist of good weather, the Erdre offers a face with multiple expressions from the quays of Sucé-sur-Erdre. An irrepressible desire to embark inevitably seizes any sensitive being. Sailing, paddling, riverboat, everything is good, as long as it is on the water and you can go further in the discovery of one of the most beautiful river landscapes in France.
A bridge, a border
In fact, the Erdre does not form one body of water but several, created by a water reservoir that drowned the plain centuries ago. The bridge at Sucé-sur-Erdre marks the border between the gentrified Erdre of Nantes and the more rural upstream area bordered by the marshes of the Mazerolles plain. This arch bridge is one of the only ones to cross the river between Nantes and Nort-sur-Erdre. It forces sailboats to dismast, or rather to lower their masts while crossing it.
A classic pleasure boat
This constraint means that many classic boats adapted to freshwater navigation can still be found here: Belugas, Corsairs and other small cruisers take advantage of their simple rigging and shallow draught to perpetuate a form of fine yachting, which adds to the charm of the place. They share the water with some Dutch tjalks, sailing-rowing boats, but also dinghies, some of which have made the beautiful hours of competition sailing.
A port with two faces
The small city offers two well-equipped stopover areas. Downstream from the bridge, docks and pontoons offer the possibility to stay a few meters from lively bars and restaurants. Upstream, one of the pontoons is accessible to visitors, the other is occupied by the rental fleet of Bretagne fluviale. A space of mooring extends the capacity of reception. Between the two pontoons, the slipway is one of the best spots for launching a transportable boat.
Masterpieces in miniature
The city is not very big but has all the necessary shops to supply before joining the Canal de Nantes à Brest, whose junction is located a few kilometers upstream. Before that, you should not miss to go and admire the "Snow White's house". A former Compagnon du Devoir devoted his life to creating a miniature world in his garden, made of as many technical "masterpieces", whether or not you are sensitive to the baroque universe of the tales popularized by Disney.
The privilege of pleasure
The marshes and the parks of the castles forbid to go along the banks of the Erdre by land, and it is a real privilege to access it by water. The plain of Mazerolles, in particular, is as wild as it is not very accessible to pedestrians. On the water, the channel is perfectly marked. Unless you have a dinghy, you should avoid straying from it, at the risk of running aground.
The beautiful yacht in music
One of the best times to come to Sucé-sur-Erdre is at the end of August, during the Rendez-vous de l'Erdre, an event that mixes jazz and beautiful boating. On the bank, multiple concerts, on the water a nautical excursion of several days between Nort-sur-Erdre and Nantes. Up to two hundred and thirty classic sailing, steam or muscle-powered boats will sail down the river. The stopover in Sucé is always a great moment that lovers of varnished wood and colored sails will not miss.
Whether you are aboard a riverboat, a sailing-rowing boat, on a paddle board or simply sitting on the quay, Sucé-sur-Erdre is a special place to stop. It is a site with a half-lacustrine, half-river charm that deserves a page of its own in the logbook of any nautical stroller.
