Vilaine (fleuve) walks

A very pleasant hike. First section at the top of cliffs, with lovely views over the Vilaine river and the site "Moulin du Boël". Cross a shady woodland, then return along the towpath. To avoid as much as possible passing along the military site's fence ("Le Celar"), this new description uses a slightly more technical part of the GR®.

An hour-and-a-half circuit with a few tricky sections. This pleasant walk alternates seamlessly between passages at water's edge and ridge-climbing, and also spans two bridges some 50 m above the Vilaine. The bridge circuit allows you to discover a small section of the river as it crosses the Sillon de Bretagne. Get your calves ready!

A very pretty route which starts in the countryside and forest and then follows the course of the Vilaine river. The start and finish are at the very pretty port of La Roche-Bernard.

This is a beautiful circular that partly follows theGR®39along charming paths. The return journey is along the towpath, going up the Vilaine. This path takes you through beautiful landscapes, typical villages, charming residences and locks, and ends up running alongside this river, which is so poorly named.

This area, aptly named Pays des Vallons de Vilaine (Land of the Vilaine Valleys), offers a rugged topography that is almost unique in the department and will delight hiking enthusiasts. The La Trotinais route has a total elevation gain of almost 200 metres. The village of Saint-Senoux and its 19th-century parish church of Saint-Abdon, as well as the hamlets of La Trotinais and La Fiolais, are well worth a visit.

An urban walk where you first stroll along the Vilaine river before crossing two public gardens. Then you wander through the historic centre of Rennes with its cobbled streets and half-timbered houses. With the Palais Saint-Georges, the Portes Mordelaises, the Opera House, the Parliament of Brittany and several churches, there is a rich heritage to discover.

Enjoy a pleasant walk along the Vilaine river and the Étangs d'Apigné lakes. This lake area is very popular with the people of Rennes for sports and picnics. You are sure to come across joggers and cyclists along the path.

Located opposite La Roche-Bernard, on the other bank of the Vilaine, the commune of Marzan stretches across a plateau overlooking the river. On these heights, exposed to sea winds, the remains of several windmills can still be seen. Streams have carved out the rock and flow at the bottom of the valleys. Where it was possible to dam them, water mills were built. The proposed route takes you from one to the other through varied and pleasant countryside.

A short walk along the banks of the Vilaine and Chevré rivers, also known as La Veuvre, taking you around Acigné. Please note that during periods of heavy rain, some parts of the route may be flooded.

Route between Bourg-des-Comptes and Pléchâtel. Along the way, you will see four châteaux of different styles, periods and states of preservation: "Gai Lieu", "La Molière", "Le Boschet" and "Mont Rive". Thefifth, "Le Hamonay", is almost invisible.

From the charming village of Saint-Senoux, head towards the banks of the Vilaine, first following the Voie Verte and then the other bank overlooking it to discover the green countryside.Some sections are a little challenging, mainly in the southern circular loop (between (4) and (7)). But the panoramic views that greet walkers make it all worthwhile.

Running along the left bank of the Vilaine, this path follows the riverbank closely, linking the two ports of Arzal and La Roche-Bernard, and offering a multitude of landscapes and views of the Basse-Vilaine. In summer, you can also return by boat or canoe.

As you approach La Roche-Bernard, the Vilaine river winds its way through the geological folds of southern Armorica. The result is a rugged, wooded landscape that is very pleasant to walk through.

During this hike, discover a variety of landscapes: the river, the ocean and the countryside.

The village of Arzal stretches from the foot of the church's pointed bell tower to the edge of the dam. Upstream, the river has become a huge body of water where thousands of boats are moored, while downstream, the maritime character of the estuary remains. The proposed route allows you to discover both aspects of the river and the bocage that overlooks it.

Although La Roche-Bernard is an urban centre that locals refer to as a ‘town’, its area (40 ha) and population (approx. 700 inhabitants) make it one of the smallest county towns in France. It is surrounded by the communes of Nivillac, Herbignac and Férel, across which the majority of the urban area is spread. The proposed route takes you around the area.

The route allows you to discover the countryside between Langon, Beslé and Brain-sur-Vilaine, passing through pretty little typical villages, crossing woods and forests and ending on the towpath along the Vilaine, for more than 9 km. Most of the trail is on beautiful stone paths. The Vilaine is very popular in these areas. You will see pleasure boats and fishermen in their boats. Don't miss the egrets and grey herons on the banks of the Vilaine.

A pleasant, easy walk along the banks of the Vilaine through wooded countryside, forests and small villages. The path is fully signposted in white and red by theGR®39(left bank) andGR®349(right bank).

Walk starting from the Arzal Dam, following the Vilaine upstream on the left bank, circular route via the two bridges and finishing at the port of La Roche-Bernard. The scenery along the Vilaine is breathtaking.

A peaceful, shaded walk through the heart of the Bois de Cicé, taking you past numerous ponds lined with facilities for anglers and walkers. Please note, it will be difficult to get through certain sections with a pushchair. If you prefer more accessible paths, it is best to take the central path, which leads to the towpath. The ponds originated from a former gravel pit that supplied building materials to the city of Rennes.

On either side of La Roche-Bernard, the Vilaine flows through the South Armorican Fold, the first range of hills behind the coastline. Here, the river has carved out a steep-sided valley, and the proposed route allows you to explore the section immediately upstream of the Morbihan Bridge. The wooded slopes, varying in steepness, line the mirror-like surface formed by the dark waters of the Vilaine.

Le port de Foleux marque la limite occidentale des marais de Redon. À cet endroit, la Vilaine se resserre et se fraie un passage entre les reliefs du Sillon de Bretagne. Le circuit proposé permet de découvrir la rive Sud de ce goulet. Il parcourt le bord de l'eau et joue aux montagnes russes à travers le relief assez accidenté de Nivillac.

This route will take you through the rolling countryside of Châteaubourg. You will also pass close to the Vilaine river, which winds its way through the entire department. This hike can be done on foot or by mountain bike. FFRP-certified route.

In the past, the Vilaine was crossed by ferry downstream of La Roche-Bernard. This was the case between Vieille Roche in Camoël and Arzal. The construction of the dam in the 1970s significantly changed these practices, as a fixed link now allows people to cross from one bank to the other. The suggested route allows you to explore the dam and the paths along the left bank of the Vilaine around Camoël.

Whether you’re exploring this ‘City of Art and History’ or simply taking a stroll, here’s a short route that takes you through the historic quarter, past the castle, along narrow streets and through the Jardin du Parc.

Explore the historic heart of Vitré, a town of art and history, with its streets and alleyways dating back to medieval times.Stroll and wander in search of hidden gems with this route taking in all the must-see sights.A real getaway into the heart of history and the Vitré way of life! Finish the walk with a visit to the medieval castle.Follow the step-by-step guide rather than the GPX track for ease of use.

Explore both banks of the Vilaine as it flows through part of the city of Rennes.

As is often the case in Brittany, the landscape is not the result of tectonic forces, which would have created a few sharp-peaked mountains, but rather the result of numerous watercourses that have carved their way through the plateaus. The proximity of the Vilaine, which flows here through a narrow, steep-sided valley, has led secondary watercourses to cut through the moorland to join the river. Starting on the wooded plateau, the proposed route soon winds its way through these valleys, which, due to the decline of agriculture or the low value of this poor soil, have been left to more or less spontaneous woodland growth. The result is a undulating route that runs mostly in the shade of tall, beautiful trees, whilst connecting the countless hamlets that dot this lovely countryside.