FOLLOWING THE CIARAN STORM ON NOVEMBER 1, 2023, ALL HIKING TRAILS ARE CLOSED.
Almost 200 years old, the Canal was inaugurated by Napoleon.
Walk, bike, kayak, stand-up paddle... enjoy a variety of pleasures during your itinerant holiday!
The Canal has a total of 237 locks, 16 of which are in the Menez Hom Atlantique area.
Would you like to get away from it all, enjoy a feeling of freedom in "slow" mode, and see new landscapes and discoveries every day? Then why not try a littleroaming along the Nantes-Brest canal? On foot or by bike, its shady towpath, sheltered from cars, and its many facilities mean you can explore it at your own pace, for a few days or more...
Total disconnection
Recharge your batteries in the green along the canal
Tired of public transport, traffic jams and the incessant hum of the city? An itinerary along the Nantes-Brest canal is an invitation to total disconnection, with no timetables or constraints. The towpath offers you a real "shot" of nature, in the green! It's a reservoir of biodiversity, with numerous species of plants and trees.
Chuuuut! Listen: the sound of water, birds and... nothing else! Only a few bicycle bells may disturb your peace!
Did you know?
The canal was opened to navigation in 1836 and played a major role in trade, particularly for the slate industry and agriculture. It was soon superseded by road and rail transport.
The Nantes-Brest canal, on foot or by bike
Choose your mode of transportation along the canal! Hikers and cyclists will appreciate the towpath facilities. A special highlight is Pont-Coblant, with its waterside restaurant and outdoor bar!
A range of accommodation options, including campsites and bed & breakfasts, allow you to plan your itinerary and progress at your own pace.
Don't hesitate to leave the banks of the canal from time to time to discover some of the nuggets of central Finistère, such as the green town of Châteaulin, the rural school museum in Trégarvan, the Roche du Feu in Gouézec or the chapels and parish enclosures, with their typically Breton architecture.
Take a selfie!
Meet us near the footbridge in Châteaulin: it's THE photo spot on the canal!
Start roaming with your family!
With its flat route, its lack of lanes shared with vehicles, and its facilities, the Nantes-Brest Canal by bike is ideal for your first family cycling experience! For a weekend or a week, choose your daily distance and stop-off points.
All along the canal, a number of facilities allow you to take a break:
- picnic areas, some with barbecues
- water points
- rest areas
- toilets
- bicycle shelters.
And why not take the opportunity to try out other activities? In Pont-Coblant, Canal Loisirs offers kayaking, archery, stand-up paddle...
Locks: the charm of the canal!
The Nantes-Brest canal has a total of 237 locks. During your itinerary, you'll have the opportunity to discover several of them! Their operation, carried out by agents from the Brittany Region, is an art in itself, and a technique which, while it has obviously been modernized since then, dates back over 2,000 years!
Did you know?
In reality, the canal has not 237 locks, but 238 numbered locks. In fact, there's a 17 bis at Redon, in Ille-et-Vilaine!