The tour of the Canal de la Martinière to Le Pellerin

A pleasant walk along the Canal de la Martinière.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 4.56 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 05 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 13 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 13 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 20 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 3 ft
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ City: Le Pellerin (44640)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 47.206454° / W 1.785553°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 1223SB
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Photos

Description of the walk

Park at the Machinerie car park.

(S/E) Head north along the lock machinery. After 40 metres, turn left onto the path and continue straight ahead, keeping the Étier de la Martinière on your left.

(1) Cross Rue de la Teignouse straight ahead and continue straight on for 1.3 km along the canal. When you reach the Canal de Buzay (perpendicular to the route), turn right and cross the Canal de la Martinière.

(2) Turn left towards the Percée de Buzay bridge. From the bridge, you can see a few fishing boats and the Loire at the far end of the Percée. Behind you, you can see the tower, which is a remnant of Buzay Abbey. Retrace your steps.

(2) Continue straight ahead and follow the Canal de la Martinière on your left.

(3) Turn left into the car park of a crêperie, then follow the path leading towards the Loire. At a fork, take the path on the left and reach the banks of the Loire.

(4) Turn right and walk along the river on your left until you reach the point (the Misconceivable sailing boat, a work by Erwin Wurm). Turn right again, walking alongside a lock.

(5) Turn left to cross the bridge over the old lock gate. First turn left then right to return to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 16 ft - Machinerie car park
  2. 1 : mi 1.17 - alt. 13 ft - Rue de la Teignouse - Canal de la Martinière
  3. 2 : mi 2.03 - alt. 10 ft - Acheneau - Canal de Buzay
  4. 3 : mi 3.88 - alt. 10 ft - Car park
  5. 4 : mi 4 - alt. 13 ft - La Loire
  6. 5 : mi 4.37 - alt. 13 ft - Lock at - Canal de la Martinière
  7. S/E : mi 4.56 - alt. 16 ft - Machinerie car park

Notes

You can park at the lock machinery car park, which is the starting point for the walk.

Worth a visit

At the beginning of the last century, the canal allowed large sailing ships to travel up the Loire. The steam-powered machinery that operated the lock gates has been restored and is open to visitors during the summer months and on certain weekends.

Between the two world wars, the canal served as a ship graveyard, including many large sailing ships.

At the end of the lock on the Loire side, Erwin Wurm’s artwork depicts a 9-metre sailing ship (the Misconceivable) attempting to escape from the canal to reach the Loire (part of the ‘Voyage à Nantes’ project).

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 5 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
5 / 5
Route interest
3.8 / 5
User 25975706

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 30, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : No

An easy walk around the canal, but rather uninteresting: a path running alongside a quiet road, following the canal, which is poorly maintained, with a rather monotonous landscape

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Riobamba
Riobamba

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 21, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A flat, easy route: suitable for everyone.

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Mamievero
Mamievero

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 25, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely walk

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Lilie Cha
Lilie Cha

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 29, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Very straightforward, completely flat and no traffic to worry about. A leisurely stroll

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DaDoRando14
DaDoRando14
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 19, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A short, easy walk – don’t miss the Misconceivable sailing boat!

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