From Nantes to Saint-Nazaire by bike: art and the Loire on freewheel
Between majestic river and impatient ocean, the Loire winds its way to the Atlantic in a sinuous 60-kilometer dance. From Nantes to Saint-Nazaire, the estuary is transformed into an open-air museum, where works of art emerge at the bend of a meander: here a house in the water, there a giant snake rising from the waves, further on a starry garden on the river's edge. In this little world between the Loire and the Atlantic, adventure doesn't need miles to be great. It nestles in the changing light on the water, in the breeze that turns to sea breeze, in the villages that emerge like islands from the estuary.
You'll love
Get lost in the colorful streets of Trentemoult
Surprising a soft sailboat that seems to melt into the water
Cycling between contemporary artworks and wild landscapes
Feel the iodized air caress your face as you arrive at the ocean.
Day 1 : From Nantes to Le Pellerin, from urban quays to wild riverbanks
The journey begins in the heart of Nantes, near the Château des Ducs de Bretagne. The first turns of the wheel take you to theIle de Nantes, a former industrial wasteland transformed into an urban laboratory. Take time to stop off at the Machines de l'Île, where the Great Mechanical Elephant roams the esplanade in a concert of pistons and water jets.
Then walk along the quays to Quai des Antilles, where the emblematic Anneaux de Buren draw their perfect circle. Then set course for Trentemoult. The village is like a painter's palette in the water. Old fishermen's dwellings in bold colors - solar ochre, maritime indigo, passionate vermilion - play at who will be the most noticed. At their foot, terraces have planted their tables almost in the current, inviting you to stop and listen to the lapping of the water and the clinking of glasses.
Reconnected to La Loire à Vélo, the route lets the hustle and bustle of the city fade away to flirt with the banks of the Loire. The odometer reads just a few kilometers, and yet your eyes have already traveled between a thousand paintings. Stay on the lookout: between two bends in the road, contemporary art plays hide-and-seek with nature, or mischievously slips into the shadow of an industrial workshop.
The day comes to an end in Le Pellerin, a quiet little town where it's good to have a foothold. A bed & breakfast with the "Accueil Vélo" label welcomes you for the night, promising a well-deserved rest.
Day 2 : From Pellerin to Saint-Nazaire, the Loire opens onto the ocean
With the first rays of sunshine, get back on the road. If you feel like it, cross over to the other bank on the ferry at Le Pellerin. A few pedal strokes towards Couëron and you'll catch a glimpse of the astonishing Maison dans la Loire, a dwelling that seems to float on the water, a poetic testimony to floods and the passing of time.
Back on the south bank, the path stretches peacefully towards Paimbœuf. In Frossay, escape the map to admire the Villa Cheminée, a curious house perched on a high industrial chimney, rising up from the other side of the river. In Paimbœuf, at the Jardin Étoilé, children run between the poetic wooden structures, inventing games inspired by this magical place where nature and art merge.
The afternoon takes you to Saint-Brevin-les-Pins. The air is gradually filled with the scent of iodine: the ocean is not far away. To your right, the Loire spreads out in a wide estuary where fresh and salt water mingle in a thousand-year-old dance.
Once you reach Saint-Brevin, the reward is there: the ocean unfolds in its infinite majesty. On the beach, look for the famous Serpent d'Océan, a 130-metre-long metal structure whose vertebrae emerge from the waves to the rhythm of the tides like a sea monster rising from the depths.
Take time for a swim if you feel like it, or simply soak your feet in the cool Atlantic water.
For the last leg of your journey, take the shuttle across the Saint-Nazaire bridge. The port city proudly displays its maritime heritage. The Base sous-marine, an impressive vestige of the Second World War, is now home to exhibitions and artistic events. On the roof, nature reclaims its rights in an experimental and poetic garden.
End your day with a stroll along the waterfront. The lively terraces invite you to enjoy a nightcap as the sun sets. On your plate: freshly caught seafood. As the last light of day colors the sky pink and gold, your journey ends here, between river and ocean. In your legs, the kilometers covered; in your eyes, the changing landscapes of the estuary; in your heart, the memory of these encounters between art and nature that make this journey a unique experience.
Want to extend your adventure in and around Saint-Nazaire?
- For lovers of sea spray and maritime history: extend your stopover in Saint-Nazaire by boarding Escal'Atlantic, where you'll relive the golden age of transatlantic shipping during an immersive voyage. For a touch of cinematic nostalgia, pedal on to Saint-Marc-sur-Mer. Monsieur Hulot's beach awaits you, frozen in the eternity of a black-and-white film in which Jacques Tati created his now-famous character.
- For insatiable cyclists: La Vélocéan stretches its cycle paths north towards La Baule and the Guérande peninsula, while La Vélodyssée invites you to continue your adventure south towards the Vendée.
- For epicureans: extend your stay with a trip to the Guérande salt marshes, to discover the white gold for which the region is famous, before enjoying oysters and seafood overlooking the ocean.
