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Nantes > Saint-Florent
56 km - We leave Nantes, a city steeped in history, to make our way between the sloping vineyards, along the Loire river with its sandbanks stretching out in long islands where birds take refuge. Cyclists can admire the scenery at their leisure between Mauves-sur-Loire and La Varenne, because the route then follows a levee of the Loire. Pass through villages whose monuments tell the turbulent history of the region: Champtoceaux, Oudon, Ancenis, and finally Saint-Florent-le-Vieil.
Itinerary
Leaving Nantes, the route follows a cycle path for around ten kilometers on the north bank of the Loire, to Mauves-sur-Loire. Here, we cross the metal bridge to the south bank where we will follow the quiet levee called the "Divatte" for several miles. A steep climb announces our arrival at Champtoceaux, where the road dips to the Loire, which we will be crossing once again to get to Oudon, whose tower dominates the landscape. From there, we ride on to Ancenis using a small road. Overall, there are few stretches reserved for cyclists during this stage. After recrossing the river on the south bank at Ancenis, the route alternates between unsurfaced paths and back roads open to traffic, until we reach Saint-Florent.
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Tourist destinations
Nantes
Former capital of the Dukes of Brittany, whose castle is emblematic of the city.
Les machines de l’Ile
The Machines de l'Ile is a thoroughly original art project. The brainchild of François Delarozière and Pierre Orefice, it stands at the crossroads of the "invented worlds" of Jules Verne, the mechanical universe of Leonardo da Vinci and the industrial history of Nantes, on the extraordinary site of former shipyards.
The old LU factory
The LU viewing tower, the jewel in the crown of this unique place, is accessible to the public year round. In 1909, Louis Lefèvre-Utile, the famous Nantes biscuit-maker built two towers based on plans drawn up by Parisian architect Auguste Bluyssen, forming an enormous gateway towards the cours St. Pierre and Saint-André. Drawing inspiration from the castle of the Dukes of Brittany, he wanted to make his new plant nothing less than a palace of industry. In the concrete-ridden 1970s, the only surviving tower was decapitated.
Jules Verne Museum
At the point where "Jules Verne must have often come to contemplate the river from such an elevation, where it becomes the gateway to the wide world and the road to adventure", in 1978 - the 150th anniversary of the writer's birth, the City of Nantes decided to devote a museum to Jules Verne in order to return its rich Verne collections to the people.
Books, manuscripts, documents, excerpts of works and illustrations, posters, games and articles - all provide an invitation to a "journey to the centre of Verne's writing".
Oudon
Castle dungeon
An entertaining route made up of sets, films and plays of light plunges you into the heart of events that have marked the history of the Great River: the life of a Loire fisherman in the Middle Ages, the Loire at the time of the Revolution, inland water shipping on the Loire, a trip taken on the Loire by English painter William Turner. Finally, fly off on a virtual journey in a hot air balloon over the Loire to enjoy the magnificent view of the Great River from the roof of the dungeon!
Ancenis
Ursuline Convent
The convent was founded in 1642 and completed in 1743. The convent and chapel are made out of Saumur freestone.
Maison des vins
The Maison des Vins presents an opportunity to discover the Muscadet wines of the sloping vineyards of the Loire and the hillside wines of Ancenis (Gamay, Cabernet, Malmsey) and the large Nantes country plant. Wine tasting and sales from different winemakers.
Saint-Florent-le-Vieil
Museum of local history and wars of Vendee
This museum has five rooms in an old chapel, presenting a record of the turbulent history of Saint-Florent-le-Vieil, from its Neolithic and Roman origins to the 80-year Viking occupation and the Abbey and the Vendée wars.
Alongside these historical accounts, you can explore many different collections: models of boats used on the Loire, iconography of the Loire, Angers headdresses, local folk crafts from the 19th century. This museum sees itself as a people's museum mainly comprised of loans and donations from local residents.
Mont Glonne Abbey
The abbey church, dating mainly from the 17th century, is a listed historical monument. It contains the tomb of Vendée General Bonchamp.
Practical Information
bikes rentals
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Nantes, Ancenis
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tourist offices
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Nantes |
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Ancenis |
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Saint-Florent-le-Vieil |
MAPS et Guidebooks
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Weather
Nantes
Access
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By trainNantes: Regular trains on the Nantes – Tours – Orléans line. |
