France » Canal de Nantes à Brest

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French water way:
Canal de Nantes à Brest

Suitability for house boating & canal holiday: *****
Length: 199 km, Looks: 105

The canal from Nantes to Brest/Brittany, France - and its history:
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 dishonoured 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, the castles and churches, it is one of the nicest waterways of France. 







Vine and dine
Brittany is definitely not known for vines but for its cider and everything else made out of apples. And they have something in common with Aquitaine; plums! They are an important ingredient of "Far Breton".
And, not to forget about the "crêpes" - with sea food, cheese, herbs, Pastis etc., accompanied with beer or cider.
Of course sea food and fish is served very often and the long coast of Brittany makes a speciality possible; Gigot pré-salé. For this, lambs are grown up on feedlots watered by the flood.

  

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