Summary
Information about the 21.5km long river Sèvre Nantaise
The Sèvre Nantaise, a part-tidal, part-canalised river, is navigable over a distance of 21.5km from its confluence with the Loire at Pont-Rousseau (a suburb of Nantes) to Monnières bridge. Together with its tributary, the Petite Maine, which is navigable over a distance of 6 km up to the first (disused) lock at Pont Caffino, in the village of Chateauthébaud, the Sèvre Nantaise is a most attractive navigation, especially in the upper reaches beyond Vertou lock. It offers many attractive moorings in the heart of the Muscadet wine-growing area. For convenience, the distance table is presented working upstream from its confluence.
Essentials
Key Waterway Dimensions
- Max Beam: 5.50m
- Max Height: 4.00m
- Max Draught: 1.20m
Navigation
Delightful navigation, once through the restricted entrance from the river Loire. Access to the Sèvre Nantaise is via a half-tide sluice 200m in from the confluence (Pont-Rousseau), which is open from one hour before to one hour after high tide.
Locks – On the Sèvre there is just one lock, situated at Vertou, with a length of 31.50m and a width of 5.50m.
Draught – From the confluence with the Loire to Vertou lock the river is tidal, but the depth ranges only slightly following construction of the Pont-Rousseau tide-sluice at the confluence. Depths are generous compared to the maximum authorised draught of 1.20m. On the Petite-Maine the maximum authorised draught is 0.90m. Headroom – There are several fixed bridges. The lowest headroom is at the Pont-Rousseau sluice structure, which limits access to boats with an air draught of 4.00m. Towpath – There is no towpath. Authority – Syndicat de rivière Sèvre aval (manages the waterway on behalf of the Conseil départemental Loire-Atlantique)Moulin de Nid d’Oie – 10bis route de Nid d’Oie – CS 49405, 44194 Clisson Cedex
Details+Map
Route description
PK 0.0 Confluence with the Loire (PK 85.3)PK 0.2 Rézé tidal sluice The sluice (central passage) is to be passed between 1hr before and 1hr after high tide. There is a 12m long waiting pontoon on the left bank just inside from the confluence, 130m before the sluice gates (see photo). PK 0.2 Pont-Rousseau quay l/b
PK 0.3 New bridge (Pont-Rousseau)
PK 0.3 Old bridge (Pont-Rousseau), tram lines 2 and 3, moorings u/s l/b, trip boat
PK 2.0 Bridge (La Morinière)
PK 2.1 Port des Lys pontoon moorings l/b
PK 2.5 Bridge (des Bourdonnières)
PK 2.8 Overhead power lines
PK 3.1 Bridge (motorway spur to Nantes town centre)
PK 3.5 Beautour quay r/b
PK 4.1 Bridge (N844, Nantes ring road)
PK 4.5 Overhead power lines
PK 5.2 Château (Portereau), l/b
PK 6.7 Vertou lock and weir (lock in r/b arm)
PK 4.5 Portillon bridge, moorings u/s l/b
more ford than weir during the summer. © Luminem
PK 11.1 Confluence of Petite-Maine l/b, navigable upstream 6.0km to Chateau-Thébaud
PK 11.6 Bridge (Ramée), D59
PK 15.0 La Cantrie moorings l/b
PK 16.1 La Haie Fouassière bridge, moorings d/s r/b, water, village 1000m
PK 21.0 Port Domino quay r/b
PK 21.5 Monnières bridge, head of navigation
The stone bridge marks the end of the waterway.
Petite-MainePK 0.0 Confluence with Sèvre Nantaise
PK 0.3 Château (Le Coin), r/b
PK 4.3 Saint-Fiacre-sur-Maine bridge, moorings u/s r/b
PK 5.9 Château-Thébaud bridge (Pont Caffino), quay d/s r/b, village 500m l/b
PK 6.0 Disused lock (Pont Caffino), head of navigation
Guides+Downloads
Getting Full Details – Downloads, Navigation Guides, IWF Book and Map
PDF Downloads – with additional detail
Download this waterway’s information (including extra detail) as a PDF document (click lefthand icon) or download it included in a complete set of all the waterways in this region (click righthand icon).
