From Nantes to Saint-Nazaire by bike - Estuaire itinerary

Nantes > Paimbœuf
> 49,75 km (31 mi.)

In only a few kilometers, the landscapes change so much, you won’t be able to keep your eyes on the road.

You’ll quickly leave Nantes behind as you cross the Loire via the  Trois-Continents bridge. Then it’s full speed ahead to Trentemoult, where the only advice you need in order to enjoy this former fishing port – and current “hot spot” for tourists – is to willingly lose

yourself in its maze of narrow streets and colourful houses. Even if the Atlantic Ocean is still a little ways off, follow the signs for Saint-Brevin and cycle safely to Bouguenais while biking along the impressive Nantes-Saint-Nazaire seaport. This route winds its way through Natura 2000- protected grasslands to the little-known village of Port-Lavigne. In only a few kilometers, the landscapes change so much, you won’t be able to keep your eyes on the road. And the exhilaration continues with Canal de la Martinière, which will take you to Quai Vert in Frossay for an astonishing view of Tatzu Nishi’s Villa Cheminée on the other bank. By this point, you should head back to Nantes’ former outport, Paimbœuf, with its feet firmly anchored in the estuary.

Eating out in Rezé / Trentemoult
La Civelle T. 02 40 75 46 60
La Guinguette T. 02 40 75 88 96 – with the Pass Nantes: 1 free drink

To rest
Artists’ rooms at the château du Pé in Saint-Jean-de-Boiseau

Paimbœuf > Saint-Nazaire
> 20,80 km (13 mi.)

In Corsept, once you’ve passed the cemetery, immediately take the first right. There’s a sign, but you never know… 

The rest of this leg is a slow zoom towards Saint-Nazaire’s XXL bridge. There are several ways of crossing it. In July and August, the Loire-Atlantique department authorities run a free shuttle service you can take without a reservation. Tandems and cargo bikes are not accepted, however. Outside high season, bus no. 317 runs from the Saint-Brevin bus station to the Saint-Nazaire train station. Reservations must be made the day before by calling +33 9 69 39 14 14 – but be sure to check the timetable. From here on in, it’s all about stunning Saint-Nazaire. And, as with any great city, the best thing to do is gently drift and let the random and unexpected lead the way.

Eating out in Saint-Nazaire
La plage
Le bar iodé
Gamin 

Nantes > Couëron
> 15,80 km (9,8 mi.)

Here, on Sundays, people shop at to the market, ride racing bikes and tandems. They stroll. They wander.

After leaving the foot of Butte Sainte-Anne hill, and the shadow of the Belvédère de l’Hermitage, you’ll quickly find yourself climbing off your bike to venture into the Jardin extraordinaire park. Now that you’re back in the saddle, ride a few hundred metres past the park, turn left at the roundabout, follow the signs leading you to the Indre, and make your way between the railroad and river. This industrial stretch of Nantes, which is under constant reconstruction, slowly fades into the background as Basse-Indre lends a different colour to the route. Here, on Sundays, people shop at the market, ride racing bikes and tandems. They stroll. They wander. And before you know it, Tour à Plomb and Jean-Luc Courcoult’s La Maison dans la Loire open the gates to Couëron

June 2024/ Sept 2025 – Nantes > Couëron route:
Work on the Loire by bike route, with priority given to the southern route.

What to do on the itinerary
BASSE-INDRE
Sunday morning market: On Place Jean Bordais, local produce and flavours from all over the world. The perfect opportunity to stroll along the riverbank and enjoy an impromptu picnic.

Where to eat
NANTES, Bas-Chantenay
Little Atlantique Brewery Brasserie artisanale. With the Pass Nantes: 1 free drink from October to March

COUËRON
Le François 2 T. 02 40 38 32 32
Le Paradis T. 02 40 43 28 81

Couëron > Lavau-sur-Loire
>37,80 km (23,5 mi.)

In any case, no one’s there to wear the Tour de France yellow jersey here. The roads are XS in size and everyone says hello.

With its velodrome, which is still in activity, Couëron is a cyclist’s paradise. Le Paradis is also the name of a café entreating you to cross over to the other side of the river. But today, we’re staying on the north bank. At the end of Rue Jean-Jacques Audubon, leave the Vélodyssée route, turn left and follow the clearly signposted Saint-Nazaire/Saint-Étienne-de-Montluc road (follow the Vélidéale). As you enter the Audubon marshes, named after the famous naturalist painter whose childhood is inextricably tied to Couëron, you’ll discover that the flora and fauna are in full swing. It’s also worth noting that slow and steady is the way to cycle here. In any case, no one’s there to wear the Tour de France yellow jersey. The roads are XS in size here and everyone says hello. In the distance, the Cordemais power station should begin to catch your eye. And, at the Cordemais marina, located at the foot of the mammoth plant, turn left to get a very, very close-up view of Tatzu Nishi’s Villa Cheminée. Back on the road, pause at Relais de Bouée, which does it all: it’s a bar, a café, a grocery store, a press stand… Lavau-sur-Loire is now just a football field away, to your right. The match with nature has only just begun. And no one is prepared for what they’re about to discover…

What to see on the itinerary

COUËRON
Audubon Marsh: Over 230 bird species and nearly 700 plant species. Take the 4.7km (3mi.) “les routes du marias” walking circuit ( recommended in spring/summer)

CORDEMAIS
Cordemais thermal ppower station: the thermal production of electricity is made clear for you in the plant’s information area T. 02 40 44 30 44

Lavau-sur-Loire > Saint-Nazaire
>20,80 km (13 mi.)

A two-minute stop in Lavau-sur-Loire? Think again!

In Lavau-sur-Loire, make sure to take your time. You’ll probably already be rubbing your eyes upon seeing Jean-Louis Courcoult’s Maison dans la Loire sculpture – which is the exact replica of La Maison du Port across from it! Taking a few minutes to gather your wits, slowly make your way to Tadashi Kawamata’s L’Observatoire, where the river reveals itself in a way you’ve never seen before: wild and powerful. But new horizons await as you return to a road that now offers a new panorama. Donges, Montoir-de-Bretagne, and Saint-Nazaire are a trifecta in the industrial and maritime landscapes that quietly lead you out to the Atlantic Ocean.

Eating out in Lavau-sur-loire
La Maison du Port (bar/crêperie)
It’s hard to imagine  that Lavau-sur-Loire was a prosperous port only a century ago. And yet, a few clues remain to remind us of that past…
T. 02 40 34 61 73

Details of the routes on France Vélo Tourisme