Cruising Brittany Anjou
⬤ LeBoat ~ ⬤ France Afloat + Linssen (‘L’)
⬤ Locaboat + Linssen (‘L’) ~ ⬤ Nicols
The western corner of France – the Celtic Nation of Brittany (not part of France until 1532 and culturally very independent) and Royal Duchy of Anjou – has hundreds of kilometres of distinctively beautiful waterways, devoted purely to pleasure cruising. It boasts one of the best-equipped river and canal networks in France with many moorings, ports and locks operated by lock-keepers. This network converges on Breton Nantes, denoted as ‘The Most Liveable City in Europe’ by Time magazine, but also designated by the E.U as the clean-air European Green Capital.
East from Nantes, the waterways of the Loire, the Mayenne and the calm Sarthe pass through lovely countryside and the towns of Angers, Le Mans and Laval – a very special itinerary, with few locks. North-west from Nantes, the quiet and memorable Nantes-Brest Canal goes through the heart of Brittany, replete with granite buildings, slate roofs, turreted castles and half-timbered houses. Many towns and villages display the coveted “ville fleurie” award for their floral displays and gardens. It is, of course, also a land of crepes (pancakes) and cider.
Bisecting these, between Brittany and Anjou, the River Vilaine is continued by the Ille et Rance Canal to create a cross-country North-South link between the English Channel (‘La Manche’) and the Atlantic, passing through the Breton capital, historic Rennes (currently France’s second fastest-growing city).
Regional highlights
– [below] In the region: Canal Nantes-Brest, Josselin, Redon, Rennes, Nantes, Rochefort-en-Terre, La Gacilly, Dinan –
A selection of boats in the region
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Primary French international airports are at Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Bordeaux; and there are European-flight airports at Rennes and Nantes. There are also TGV express train stations at Rennes, Redon and Nantes; and some other towns in the region also have railway connections.
