south

The artistic route along the Loire

By the water

Short trip (3 to 5 days)

I begin / Family

Cultural activities on the Loire area

Take your kids to discover Nantes, with its vibrant culture and fascinating neighbourhoods, then show them the River Loire and its unique bird sanctuary dotted with original and amusing artworks. And finally reward them with the Atlantic Ocean and its array of large and small sandy beaches!

Highlight of the route: Les Machines de l’Ile artistic project
Explore the magical world of the 'Ile de Nantes’ housed on the site of former industrial shipyards.
Climb the 12 m high Grand Elephant and explore the Galerie des Machines or take a voyage on the Marine World Carrousel.
This is an Accueil Vélo accredited site.

Add to a roadbook

Day 1 - Nantes > St-Jean de Boiseau (15 km)

Welcome to Nantes ! You can leave your vehicle outside the city centre in a free car park (eg. Quai de la Jonelière) and follow the La Vélodyssée signs to the city centre. Or arrive directly in the centre by train and hire a bike upon arrival.

Don’t miss the Château des ducs de Bretagne which can store your bags while you visit. After lunch in the Bouffay district, head off for the Ile de Nantes to discover the River Loire and the mechanical elephant at the Machines de l’Ile !

Leave the Ile from the south, following either the La Vélodyssée or Loire à Vélo signage – both these cycle paths take the same route. Stop off at the picturesque village of Trentemoult with its brightly coloured houses.

Go on for 15km to Saint-Jean de Boiseau and spend the night in one of our Accueil Vélo accredited accommodation spots.

Day 2 - St-Jean de Boiseau > Paimboeuf (28 km)

Back in the saddle, set off for the canal de la Martinière which runs alongside the River Loire! This unusual itinerary combines a bird sanctuary with the Estuary Trail artworks such as the tilting yacht, the Misconceivable, at Le Pellerin!

The Quai Vert in Frossay is the perfect place for a picnic, or you can paddle around in a canoe or go on a nature walk with a guide!

Join the banks of the Loire again at Paimboeuf and spend the night at the Camping l’Estuaire camp site which offers a number of bike-friendly facilities.

Day 3 - Paimboeuf > St-Brevin-les-Pins (18.4 km)

Start the day with a stroll round the village of Paimboeuf to discover the lighthouse and the brightly coloured facades clustered around this former outer harbour of Nantes. Pedalling alongside the River Loire, you’ll then come to the Jardin étoilé, an Estuary Trail artwork by Kinya Maruyama based on the Ursa Major star constellation.

Set off from the Paimboeuf fishing village towards the sea. A temporary route along country roads leads to Saint Nazaire. In Saint-Brevin lies the vast Loire Estuary where the Saint-Nazaire bridge heralds the entrance to the Atlantic Ocean! Pause to observe the strange Serpent d’Océan hidden behind the Marime Museum (in bad weather, possibility of an afternoon visit).

After so much effort, what could be nicer than a picnic on the beach overlooking the sea? Enjoy an afternoon walk amidst the shady pine trees, have a go at sand yachting with the family, or take a dip in the ocean (lifeguard-supervised beach).
Spend the night in Accueil Vélo accredited accommodation spots.

favorite

Nantes / Le Pellerin

23,85 Km

1 h 38 min

Nantes

favorite

Le Pellerin / St-Brevin-les-Pins

37,37 Km

2 h 29 min

Le Pellerin

favorite

St-Brevin-les-Pins / Pornic

40,11 Km

2 h 38 min

St-Brevin-les-Pins

The artistic route along the Loire

Cultural activities on the Loire area

Tailor-made itineraries

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