Subject to changes in sanitary conditions, boaters will once again be able to navigate safely on the Nantes-Brest canal from April. Navigation resumes between Nord-sur-Erdre and Saint-Nicolas-de-Redon
The Department, owner of this structure, specifies the dates of opening to navigation according to the sectors and recalls the conditions for crossing a lock and the navigation rules.
Opening dates for navigation
➔ Between Nort-sur Erdre and Guenrouët (Quiheix lock in Nort-sur-Erdre and Melneuf lock in Guenrouët): navigation authorized from Friday April 30.
➔ Between Guenrouët and Fégréac (Melneuf lock in Guenrouët and Bellions lock in Fégréac): navigation authorized from Friday 2 April.
➔ Between Fégréac and Saint-Nicolas-de-Redon (Bellions lock at Fégréac and dike lock at Saint-Nicolas-de-Redon): navigation authorized from Wednesday 12 May.
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Crossing the locks, the manual
From Quiheix (Nort-sur-Erdre) to La Digue (Saint-Nicolas-de-Redon), the conditions for passing through the locks are as follows:
➔ Self-service is prohibited. Boaters are systematically accompanied by a lock keeper at all locks.
➔ The service is provided by staff on duty or accompanying them at all the locks depending on the periods and times.
➔ Times of passage through the locks from Monday to Sunday: from 9.15 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 6.30 p.m. (except Friday until 6.45 p.m.). Subject to the lifting of the curfew currently in force.
➔ To limit waiting at the locks, communicate your passage as soon as possible, no later than 4 p.m. the day before the desired navigation during the week; until Friday noon for weekends: 02 40 79 47 56 or 06 48 66 40 70.
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Reminder of navigation conditions:
➔ Before departure:
Consult the notices to users available at www.loire-atlantique.fr/navigation-canal-nantes-brest to find out about navigation conditions.
➔ During navigation, respect:
– the navigation rules indicated in the Specific Police Regulations.
– the instructions given by the lock keepers, the only ones empowered to give safety and maneuvering instructions on the canal.
– the authorized navigation speed is limited to 8 km / h maximum on the section between Quiheix in Nort-sur-Erdre and La Digue in Saint-Nicolas-de-Redon.
A winter season devoted to work
The Nantes section Saint-Nicolas-de-Redon has 18 locks and allows you to travel 95 km by first taking the Erdre. In total, no less than 300 structures (dams, locks, underground passages, arcades, culverts, aqueducts, siphons, gates, etc.) must be maintained.
This maintenance, for which the Loire-Atlantique Department is responsible, is permanent. The biggest works are undertaken during the winter season, when navigation stops on the canal.
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Some examples of work carried out this winter:
➔ Restoration of the lock gates of Bougard (Blain) and Melneuf (Guenrouët): € 174,000.
➔ Restoration of the leaves of the Touche (Guenrouët) and Le Terrier (Blain) locks: € 200,000.
➔ Construction and restoration of berthing pontoons in the towns of Héric, Saffré and Nort-sur-Erdre: € 530,000.
➔ Tindière spillway: mowing and brush clearing work, recovery of disorders by the Aire integration association.
➔ Vioreau and La Provostière dams (and their surroundings): mowing and brush clearing work by the Eli integration association.
The canal in a few figures
➔ 67 km from Quiheix lock (Nort-sur-Erdre) to Bellions lock (Fégréac).
➔ 6 km between the Bellions lock and the Digue lock (Saint-Nicolas-de-Redon) – section parallel to the Vilaine (known as the “small canal”).
➔ 18 diversions (diversions n ° 3 to 17 bis), 17 locks and 17 lock houses.
➔ 150 hydraulic structures for regulating levels including the Vioreau dam, gate valves, culverts and aqueducts also called “Arcades”.
➔ 5 supply reservoirs and their winnowing on the canal: La Provostière on 73 ha, Le Grand Vioreau on 180 ha, Le Petit Vioreau on 30 ha, Bout de Bois on 35 ha, Aumée on 57 ha.
➔ 4 feeder channels with a cumulative length of 31 km.
➔ 100 km of towpaths and back-towing.
➔ 2 operating centers: Rabinière and Paudais.
➔ 2 river ports: Blain and Guenrouët.
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