Between Cens, Gesvres and Erdre for a visit to stream

Departure from the stream Faculty of Law. You can park in the university car park, but be aware that during term time the car parks are likely to be full.

(S/E) Walk down to the banks of the Cens (law faculty on the left).

(1) Once on the bank, take the path to the right (river on your left). Most of the route follows the^PR® hiking trail, which is marked in yellow. If you get lost, follow these markings to the Erdre.

You will come to a small bridge over the Cens. Cross the bridge and immediately turn right onto the path that runs alongside the river. Join a road alongside the tramway. Cross at the pedestrian crossing opposite the campsite and take the path that runs along the left side of the campsite. Follow the path and cross a footbridge over the Cens. The river will now be on your right. Continue along the path (marked in yellow). Keep the Cens on your right, pass a tennis court on your left and continue straight ahead.

(2) Cross the wooden footbridge on the right and cross to the other bank of the Cens, following the yellow markings. Turn left after the footbridge and continue on the^PR®. At a three-way junction, turn right and continue on the path. You will come to a barrier at the top of a short climb. Take the path on the left (there is a street opposite).

(3) Take the second right. The path begins with three steps and leads to a second staircase after a hundred metres. Climb the stairs, which lead into a housing estate. In the housing estate, follow the yellow markings. Walk up the housing estate via Avenue des Héliotropes. Continue to follow the markings, which lead to Avenue Castellano behind a school. With the school on your right, turn right and then immediately left onto Avenue d'Armor, which continues onto Rue de l'Hippodrome. Head towards the racecourse.

(4) Opposite the racecourse, walk past a counselling centre on your right, cross the road and take the path on your left that runs alongside the racecourse, which is now on your right. You will come to a roundabout.

(5) Take the^{second exit}on the left and turn onto Rue de Barbotte. Cross the tram line and take Rue Stéphane Leduc opposite you (there is a Crédit Mutuel bank on the corner on the right).

(6) Take the path on the left after a double wooden barrier after the long building. Cross the park and, at the park exit, continue on the path on the right (passing a municipal building). Continue walking along the Cens, following the signs (Promenade des Renards). Be careful: after about 400 metres, you will come to a footbridge on the left where there is both a yellow sign to follow and a yellow sign for the wrong path (yellow cross). Do not take this footbridge; stay on the main path.

(7) Go up the path on the right (yellow markings) which will take you along a road (Boulevard Martin Luther King). Turn right at the traffic lights onto the cycle path (about 30 metres). Cross the boulevard. The cycle path starts on a footbridge on the left. Take the path that branches off to the right after a metal barrier. Continue along the path that runs alongside the Gesvres on your left.

(8) When you reach the Erdre, turn left towards the bridge. There are two bridges in a row. Take the stairs next to the pillar of the first bridge and climb up onto it. There is a tram line running above (don't worry, it is separated from the pedestrian area by several barriers). Cross the bridge and take a moment to enjoy the view of Stream on one side and La Jonelière on the other. At the end of the bridge, take the stairs down on your right.

(9) Once at the foot of the bridge, turn right along the Erdre (river on your right) and stay on the path until you reach the next bridge over the river (Pont de la Tortière). Cross a park with children's playground equipment, in front of the Aviron Nantais rowing centre, and also pass a Navibus landing stage where you can cross the river in a few seconds by small boat. Continue along the path. Then walk along a footbridge suspended above the river to reach the Pont de la Tortière.

(10) Take the stairs on the left without going under the bridge. Once at the top of the steps, turn right to cross the bridge.

(11) On the other side, take the ramp down to the riverbank (it starts in the middle of a self-service bicycle station). Continue along the path along the riverbank with the Erdre on your right. Follow the yellow markings (there are also red and white^GR® markings).

(12) Take the footbridge over the Cens and turn immediately left to walk along the Cens, with the river on your left. Return to the original crossroads.

(1) Turn right and take the path you took at the start to return to the car park (S/E).

This is an easy hike requiring no special equipment. In winter, some sections may be a little muddy, but this does not require high hiking shoes or boots.

You will walk alongside three rivers: the Cens, the Gevres and the Erdre, through wooded areas. Crossing the Beaujoire bridge will give you a panoramic view of the Erdre in both directions.