France » Canal de Nantes à Brest | Canal in France

The waterway from Nantes to the Finistère

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Canal de Nantes à Brest | Canal in France: Characteristics & Overview

Rating of waterway

Degree of difficulty:
Some experience is an advantage

Requirements:
No license asked for hired boats

Character of waterway:
back to nature

Profile of waterway:
Used by tourists only

Facilities groundside:
Sufficiant

Boathirers on this waterway:

Locaboat

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Canal de Nantes à Brest | Canal in France: Tips & Detailed information

Wharfs, Marinas, Harbors, Facilities, Houseboat hirers, Restaurants and Shops.

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» Legend

Facts to this waterway:

Length of waterway: 199 km
Lock dimensions: 26.00 x 4.50 m
Number of locks: 105
Max. depth: 1.10 m
Max. headroom: 2.40 m

Waterway has access to:
River Blavet - Brittany | France, River Vilaine | France

Canal de Nantes à Brest / Bretagne, France
The Canal and its history
It is a sad story which might have a happy end finally. Already its name is a lie. There is no possibility to get from Nantes to Brest on this waterway. In 1926 a local electrical company got permission for a dam on condition that the necessary constructions for navigation would be made too. In 1946, the dam went to the state (EDF). They too dishonored the promise. (There was probably no deadline given!)
If the responsible people might one day go as far as to find realistically solutions (like Arzviller for example) instead of adventurous projects, the way from the inland waterways to the end of the world (Finistère) might finally be navigable again.

Tourism
At the moment, Nantes à Brest exists in three parts.

Part 1: From the "Rade de Brest" at the most north western end of France, the "interrupted" goes first over the navigable Aulne until km 209. As from the lock of Pont Triffen, one is on the canal. Navigation ends at km 192.
Part 2: Bikers might enjoy the possibility to take the next 85 kilometres on the well looked after tridle path. (Those who don't want to miss water can hire a pedalo on the reservoir of Guerlédan).
Part 3: This one leads finally from Pontivy to Nantes and is navigable all through. This stretch really is an insider's tip. With it’s very well looked after locks and the many castles and churches, it is one of the nicest waterways of France.