Circular Melneuf from Notre-Dame de Grâce

Departure from the car park of the Notre-Dame de Grâce rugby stadium, Rue de la Houssais.

(S/E) When you leave the car park, turn left, walk past the rugby field and follow the D102. At the first intersection, leave the departmental road by turning slightly left towards La Croix Robin.

(1) Turn left at the intersection and follow this road to the village of Haut Juzan.

(2) Take the path on the left to reach Le Bas Juzan, passing through a chestnut grove.
When you return to the road, turn left and you will come to a crossroads.

(3) Turn right to descend towards the canal via the footpath on the left-hand side of the road, passing the Chapel-Oratory and the Riavaud Fountain. Just before the canal on the left, there is an area with picnic tables.

(4) Cross the bridge over the canal and turn left onto the towpath that follows the banks of the Isac via the greenway (see practical information for alternative route).

(5) After about 2 km on the towpath, take a grassy path on the right, which runs alongside the row of houses on your left.

(6) At the end of the path, turn right onto a gravel path to reach the village of La Douettée. Part of the path may be a little muddy.

(7) In the village, cross a road and continue straight ahead until you reach a gravel path on the right.

(8) Take it south and continue until you reach a road.

(9) Turn left onto the road and continue to an intersection.

(10) Turn right to descend towards the canal via a steep gravel path.

(11) Take the towpath on the left to Pont Nozay. If you're lucky, you might spot some swans here.

(12) Cross the bridge (be careful, as the road is busy), thenturn right and climb up to the fork in the road you took on the way there.

(1) Continue straight on towards the village of Notre-Dame-de-Grâce and head for the car park (S/E).

You can also park at the Pont Nozay car park (12) or at the car park near the Melneuf Lock (4).

(4) Alternative: you can turn right after the bridge to see the Melneuf lock and its lock keeper's house and reach point (9).

Melneuf Lock.

Chapel-Oratory and Riavaud Fountain: Once upon a time, in Loire-Atlantique, there were three fairies... With a wave of their magic wand, they created three springs within a 6 km radius: Notre-Dame de Larré in Plessé, Notre-Dame de Planté in Quillyet, and Notre-Dame de Grâce in Guenrouët. The latter bears the name of one of the fairies, Fontaine de Riavaud, who is said to have given the spring many beneficial qualities. In the past, the inhabitants of neighbouring parishes would visit this "miraculous" fountain to pray for healing, but also for rain during periods of drought.