Outdoor Adventures with Ancient Brit
Canoe Guide - Loire
Canoe Tours in France: Loire
I have not canoed this route.
The Loire is the longest river in France flowing from the Massif Central to the Atlantic Ocean at St. Nazaire.
Except in its upper reaches it is a free-flowing river and therefore makes a good river for a canoe tour. Above
Aurec there are difficult rapids so I will start my description at Aurec.
Start: Aurec is on the D46 about 20 km SW of St. Etienne.
Alternative start: You may prefer to start at Pouilly, just north of Roanne, to avoid the portages and the
weirs between Aurec and Roanne. Roanne is on the N7 between Clermont-Ferrand and Lyon.
Finish: The finish is at St. Nazaire but I expect most canoeists will want to finish at Nantes when they reach
the tidal section of the Loire.
Transport: Aurec, Roanne, Nantes and St. Nazaire are all connected by railway lines.
Difficulty: The section between Aurec and Pouilly is difficult. The route becomes easier below Pouilly. Being
a wide river it could become rough in windy weather.
Care should be taken when passing under the bridges on the Loire where there is often whitewater or
obstructions. Be sure that it is safe before navigating.
The river will be dangerous when in flood.
Beyond Nantes you are in tidal waters.
Distance: Aurec - St. Nazaire 806 km
Roanne - Nantes 633 km
The route:
0 km Aurec
8 km Portage weir at Pertuiset
20 km Barrage de Grangent. Navigation is forbidden for 2 km below the dam
Details of the portage are unclear, but it may be possible to return to the Loire at
Saint-Just-Saint-Rambert on the east bank.
28 km Either shoot weir or portage on the right.
28 km You may be able to shoot the weir.
34 km Veauchette: Unnavigable weir.
42 km Verfallenes: You may be able to shoot the weir on the right.
60 km Feurs: Portage the weir.
107 km Villerest: 1.5 km portage at the power station.
114 km Roanne: Unnavigable weir. Portage on the left. The Roanne canal goes parallel to the Loire and it is
possible this could be followed to avoid the early difficulties. (I have no information on the canal)
116 km You may need to portage the weir.
118 km Navigable rapid.
130 km Pouilly sous Charlieu: If you start your tour here you can launch into the Loire at the D4 bridge
across the river.
137 km Iguerande: Watch out for piles in the river
145 km Digoin: You should inspect the weir under the canal aqueduct and will probably need to portage.
154 km La Varenne
163 km Les Biosseaux
177 km Diou
187 km Le Fourneau
207 km Thareau
223 km Decize: Portage to the left of the weir.
237 km Béard
244 km Imphy: You may need to portage the weir.
256 km Nevers: You may need to portage the weir.
263 km The Allier joins the Loire.
270 km Fourchambauld
290 km La Charité-sur-Loire: Inspect the route under the bridge. The route under the third arch from the
right may be navigable.
303 km Pouilly: Right side of the bridge
312 km Saint-Thibault: Another weir under the bridge. Inspect and portage if necessary.
318 km Por Aubry: Inspect the route under the bridge. Possibly navigable under third or fourth arch.
321 km Cosne-sur-Loire
335 km Neuvy: Nuclear Power Station. Portage on the right at the weir.
353 km Briare
362 km Gien: Inspect before paddling under bridge.
371 km Nuclear Power Station. Portage on the left at the weir.
372 km Weir with canoe shoot
385 km Sully
405 km Chateauneuf-sur-Loire
413 km St. Denis: Small weir after the bridge.
431 km Orleans: There are 6 bridges which need to be inspected before paddling
446 km St. Ay
452 km Meung-sur-Loire: Take care at the foundations of the old bridge.
460 km Beaugency: Inspect the bridge and portage if necessary.
469 km Nuclear Power Station. Portage on the right at the weir.
492 km Walzen Weir: Portage the weir or use canoe shoot.
494 km Blois: Inspect the bridge carrying highway N 156. Portage if necessary.
510 km Chaumont: There are the remains of the old bridge after the new bridge. Inspect before paddling.
528 km Amboise: Another bridge that will need inspecting and possibly portaging. I think the route is to the
left of the island.
540 km Another bridge to inspect. Probably on the left.
550 km Tours: Lots of bridges so take care and inspect and portage if necessary.
561 km Luynes
569 km Cing-Mars-la Pilé
575 km Langeais
595 km Nuclear Power Station
616 km Saumur
632 km Gennes
679 km Chalonnes-sur-Loire
715 km Ancenis
734 km Mauves-sur-Loire: Caution. Impassable weir blocks river on right after the bridge.
747 km Nantes: Beyond Nantes the Loire becomes tidal and the Loire widens. This section should only be
canoed by canoists confident in tidal conditions. You can expect big waves when the wind is blowing.
806 km St Nazaire
Information:
Kanu DKV-Auslandsführer Band 6: Nord Frankreich Benelux
Route description in German
Die Loire: Kanuwandern unterm weiten Himmel
ISBN 3-925660-49-6
Maps, photos and route description in German from Roanne to St Nazaire
Guide - Itineraires 700 Rivieres de France
Route summary in French
I have not canoed this route.
The Loire is the longest river in France flowing from the Massif Central to the Atlantic Ocean at St. Nazaire.
Except in its upper reaches it is a free-flowing river and therefore makes a good river for a canoe tour. Above
Aurec there are difficult rapids so I will start my description at Aurec.
Start: Aurec is on the D46 about 20 km SW of St. Etienne.
Alternative start: You may prefer to start at Pouilly, just north of Roanne, to avoid the portages and the
weirs between Aurec and Roanne. Roanne is on the N7 between Clermont-Ferrand and Lyon.
Finish: The finish is at St. Nazaire but I expect most canoeists will want to finish at Nantes when they reach
the tidal section of the Loire.
Transport: Aurec, Roanne, Nantes and St. Nazaire are all connected by railway lines.
Difficulty: The section between Aurec and Pouilly is difficult. The route becomes easier below Pouilly. Being
a wide river it could become rough in windy weather.
Care should be taken when passing under the bridges on the Loire where there is often whitewater or
obstructions. Be sure that it is safe before navigating.
The river will be dangerous when in flood.
Beyond Nantes you are in tidal waters.
Distance: Aurec - St. Nazaire 806 km
Roanne - Nantes 633 km
The route:
0 km Aurec
8 km Portage weir at Pertuiset
20 km Barrage de Grangent. Navigation is forbidden for 2 km below the dam
Details of the portage are unclear, but it may be possible to return to the Loire at
Saint-Just-Saint-Rambert on the east bank.
28 km Either shoot weir or portage on the right.
28 km You may be able to shoot the weir.
34 km Veauchette: Unnavigable weir.
42 km Verfallenes: You may be able to shoot the weir on the right.
60 km Feurs: Portage the weir.
107 km Villerest: 1.5 km portage at the power station.
114 km Roanne: Unnavigable weir. Portage on the left. The Roanne canal goes parallel to the Loire and it is
possible this could be followed to avoid the early difficulties. (I have no information on the canal)
116 km You may need to portage the weir.
118 km Navigable rapid.
130 km Pouilly sous Charlieu: If you start your tour here you can launch into the Loire at the D4 bridge
across the river.
137 km Iguerande: Watch out for piles in the river
145 km Digoin: You should inspect the weir under the canal aqueduct and will probably need to portage.
154 km La Varenne
163 km Les Biosseaux
177 km Diou
187 km Le Fourneau
207 km Thareau
223 km Decize: Portage to the left of the weir.
237 km Béard
244 km Imphy: You may need to portage the weir.
256 km Nevers: You may need to portage the weir.
263 km The Allier joins the Loire.
270 km Fourchambauld
290 km La Charité-sur-Loire: Inspect the route under the bridge. The route under the third arch from the
right may be navigable.
303 km Pouilly: Right side of the bridge
312 km Saint-Thibault: Another weir under the bridge. Inspect and portage if necessary.
318 km Por Aubry: Inspect the route under the bridge. Possibly navigable under third or fourth arch.
321 km Cosne-sur-Loire
335 km Neuvy: Nuclear Power Station. Portage on the right at the weir.
353 km Briare
362 km Gien: Inspect before paddling under bridge.
371 km Nuclear Power Station. Portage on the left at the weir.
372 km Weir with canoe shoot
385 km Sully
405 km Chateauneuf-sur-Loire
413 km St. Denis: Small weir after the bridge.
431 km Orleans: There are 6 bridges which need to be inspected before paddling
446 km St. Ay
452 km Meung-sur-Loire: Take care at the foundations of the old bridge.
460 km Beaugency: Inspect the bridge and portage if necessary.
469 km Nuclear Power Station. Portage on the right at the weir.
492 km Walzen Weir: Portage the weir or use canoe shoot.
494 km Blois: Inspect the bridge carrying highway N 156. Portage if necessary.
510 km Chaumont: There are the remains of the old bridge after the new bridge. Inspect before paddling.
528 km Amboise: Another bridge that will need inspecting and possibly portaging. I think the route is to the
left of the island.
540 km Another bridge to inspect. Probably on the left.
550 km Tours: Lots of bridges so take care and inspect and portage if necessary.
561 km Luynes
569 km Cing-Mars-la Pilé
575 km Langeais
595 km Nuclear Power Station
616 km Saumur
632 km Gennes
679 km Chalonnes-sur-Loire
715 km Ancenis
734 km Mauves-sur-Loire: Caution. Impassable weir blocks river on right after the bridge.
747 km Nantes: Beyond Nantes the Loire becomes tidal and the Loire widens. This section should only be
canoed by canoists confident in tidal conditions. You can expect big waves when the wind is blowing.
806 km St Nazaire
Information:
Kanu DKV-Auslandsführer Band 6: Nord Frankreich Benelux
Route description in German
Die Loire: Kanuwandern unterm weiten Himmel
ISBN 3-925660-49-6
Maps, photos and route description in German from Roanne to St Nazaire
Guide - Itineraires 700 Rivieres de France
Route summary in French
 |  |  |  |