Camping du Port Mulon: adventures in the heart of Nort-sur-Erdre

The marshes of Blanche Noë are in the south of Nort-sur-Erdre in which you can find an ornithological and aquatic site allowing you discover its fauna and its flora. At the beginning of the lake, have a walk along the river Erdre to arrive at Port Mulon’s Castle and its park. Appreciate the charming villages of “Tomblehoux”, “Gâtine” and “La Poupinière” and see the vantage point on the river Erdre and the plains. Then, join the canal and by going through the moat and see the viewpoint from Quihex’s lockhouse and further along eat at the gourmet terrace of La Tindière. To finish go through the village of Le Plessis pas Brunet to go back to the lake.

The Circuit of Vive-Eve Discover the atmosphere of the Nantes-Brest Canal, its towpath converted for different types of hiking, its lock-houses, water tourism, fishing … On this itinerary, taken by cyclists on the Atlantic Coast Route and pilgrims of Saint Jacques of Compostelle, the towpath will guide you to the lock house of La Tindière and its gourmet terrace. You can park at the Vive-Eve bridge where you will have an information sign on the history of the Canal and picnic tables. From this parking it is also possible to extend your walk the other way to the lock house of Quihex. You will see a remarkable view of the plains of La Poupinière and the Valley of the Erdre

Go discover “The Charcoal route”, on the site of The Mines of Languin. The village of Languin keeps yet again traces of ancient charcoal mines that were kept in activity until the beginning of the 20th century. This trail will lead you on the feeding conduct and beside the director of the Mines’ residence that was edified in 1723 where you can find a three-hundred-year-old cedar of Lebanon (1737). From the village of “Bel Air”, you can enjoy a remarkable view of the surrounding bocage, which rises to an altitude of 55 metres.

A walking trail to discover the paths of the countryside. It begins in the city center, at the parking lot of the sports complex of Fernant Sastre, do not miss the visible heritage such as the church, the old town, the windmill…  It is possible to prolong this walk towards the port La Rivière, where you can see the castle of the Pont Hus then follow the path to get to a point of view on the river L’Erdre.  

Beginning at the sports complex, this trail will take you north of the town. You will see the castle du Pont Hus and its famous stud farm but also the “logis du Breuil”, a renovated fort.

Beginning at the city center, this trail guides you to the higher ground called the “Mont Juillet”. At the pond of “La Martellière”, you will find tables and a playground.  

Hike on the trails of the Nantes-Brest Canal and its feeding conduct and discover the surrounding bocage. You will see the junction of the “Little Canal” with the Nantes-Brest Canal to maintain a consistency in the level of water to navigate throughout the seasons. The portion of the Canal from “Pas d’Héric” and “Bout de Bois” corresponds to the highest forebay of the Canal. The feeding conduct flows and allows to answer the needs in water of other forebays that goes down to the Valley of the Erdre on one side and to the Valley of the Villaine on the other.

Discover the Plains of Mazerolles, a vast expanse of water of 3 kilometres long and 1 kilometre large. With a little bit of patience, you may see herons on the shores and a lot of other birds during migration season. Labelled refuge of the French League for the Protection of Birds (LPO), the site has also three beehives financed by the collectivity and an orchard. A themed path has also been created by the Municipality. The trail begins on the edges of the river Erdre to go through the undergrowth alleys, steep paths and goes through adorable little villages. It is possible to join the port of Sucé-sur-Erdre if you take the Atlantic Coast Route, or from the city-centre for this hike. The departure point is from the nautical base of Mazerolles.

Prepare yourself for a hike of 2 hours long with 500 metres along the water. You will admire the vast expanse of the Plains of Mazerolles with 3 kilometres long and 1 kilometre large. This site is ideal for kids. It is also possible to go fishing for people with reduced mobility. Or you can have a picnic or some sport. At the end of this loop, you will see the Castle of La Baraudière surrounded by its stone walls from the 19th century and not far from there the Castle of Bois Mellet. A plate has been placed at the entry and it is written “qui a accueilli, cache et protégé les résistants de la région” which means “that has hosted, hided and protected the resistants of the region”.

The beginning of the hike starts at the parking of the train station. This trail has several variants that allows you to go on real steep trails like a maze with parallel roads. It has a distinguished atmosphere, secret and mesmerising. When you come back, go down to the port where you will find our restaurants and for those who love nature, make a stop to the “Ganuchaud” botanic garden which is located at the end of “la rue d’Angleterre”. Also, pass by “La Cour Gaillard” which is in “La Grand-Rue” and was edified by protestants at the Edit of Nantes. This site stays, until 1685, an important protestant place.

A recently-renovated flat on the first floor of a shop in the town centre, 100m from the river Erdre and Nantes-Brest Canal, beside a road which is busy during rush hours. Public car park 5m. Separate entrance up steps. Large, east-facing, private patio (153 sq.m.), not overlooked. Lounge-diner and open-plan kitchen. Veranda. 3 steps up to bedrooms. Bedroom 1: king-size bed. Bedroom 2: king-size bed. Bedroom 3: 2 single beds (80cm). Bathroom with WC. Additional facilities: WiFi, sound tower, tumble dryer, baby equipment. Price includes gas heating, electricity and bed linen. Extra charge for towels.

Three electric boats departure port of Nort sur Erdre, for an hour, two hours or half a day, direction the "Plaine de la Poupinière", "Plaine de Mazerolles" and Sucé sur Erdre

Ruban Vert is the specialist in electric boat rental in the area around Nantes. Our licence-free boats are completely silent and will let you discover 2 charming rivers, from 4 different sites, on your own: Discover the river Erdre from Nantes (Île de Versailles), Sucé-sur-Erdre (at the marina), and Nort-sur-Erdre (at the marina); And discover the Sèvre river from La Chaussée des Moines in Vertou Easy to control, our boats can be rented from 1 hour to a full day (7 hours) We have 4 models of boats: LE RUBAN for 3 adults or 2 adults + 2 children L’AS for 5 adults LE SCOOP and LE SENSAS for 6 adults LE MOST for 8 adults Download our free RUBAN VERT app on GooglePlay and the AppStore to learn more about the points of interest you will pass during your trip. A fun way to learn on a nice day out! Play our game, RALLYE NAUTIC, for groups and individuals. You will explore the river Erdre or the river Sèvre and play as a team on your Android or Apple phone. RALLYE NAUTIC includes 6 challenges: 3 timed quizzes about Nantes and its region, 1 cloze test, and 2 skill/memory games. A photo session, complete with accessories, will conclude each step. At the end of the game, you will be able to download a collage as a beautiful and fun souvenir of your RUBAN VERT experience!

This show is a tribute to a profession, and to the women who have taken it on and, at times, carried it on their own. The script spans 100 years of farm work – 100 years of emotions, fragility and strength all at once. It is inspired by the words gathered from retired and working women farmers in the Pays de Redon and Fougères regions. Anne-Cécile Richard brings to the stage a piece of documentary theatre through the eyes of these heroines, past and present, which raises questions about our shared future. Moving and heartfelt. This performance is scheduled as the closing event of the Fête du Terroir, as part of the Celtomania festival and the Chainon’s touring programme Suitable for all ages (aged 12 and over) Duration: 1 hour Prices: Full price: €14 | Concession: €12 | Season ticket holder: €9 | Super concession: €5 | Super concession season ticket holder: €5 Also on the same day, visit the Marché du Terroir from 3 pm to 6 pm at the Parc and the Manoir de la Garenne. On the programme: a farmers’ market, in conjunction with the Fête de la Pomme at the Verger de Sauvegarde and the Al’Terre Nort plant swap, as well as other activities

The ONPL returns to Cap Nort for a symphonic concert conducted by Polina Lebedieva, a young Ukrainian conductor. With the delicate Overture in C, this is a beautiful tribute to Fanny Mendelssohn, one of the few female composers of the 19th century, who, in the shadow of her brother Felix, did not dare to publish her works until the end of her life. Next, the programme features the Concerto No. 2 for double bass by Giovanni Bottesini, a work which revealed the full expressive richness of the instrument. The programme concludes with Bizet’s Symphony in C, an elegant and luminous piece with its oriental-inspired melodies. Suitable for all ages Duration: 1 hour Prices: Full price: €19 | Concession: €14 | Season ticket holder: €12 | Super concession: €5 | Super concession season ticket holder: €5

Summer 1789, following the storming of the Bastille, the State is suffering from a chronic deficit, with the wealthy evading tax, a regime in tatters and an angry population seeking justice. At Versailles, on the night of 4 August, everything changed. In a breathless production, a single actor portrays around ten characters. *The Abolition of Privileges* is a lesson in history and theatre, a scathing illustration of politics and the power of speech, a breathless sprint that gives us the sense that history has suddenly accelerated. Suitable for all ages (14 and over) Duration: 1 hour 15 minutes Prices: Full price: €19 | Concession: €14 | Season ticket holder: €12 | Super concession: €5 | Super concession season ticket holder: €5

We’re going to love one another. Yes, but how? Just like in a figure-skating routine! The Nantes-based duo plays with the conventions of ice skating and draws inspiration from Roland Barthes’ *Fragments of a Lover’s Discourse* to explore our visions of Love and the moods of romantic love. Their bodies cling together and pull apart, move in unison and brush past one another, shy away and seek each other out… The music is heady, the movements hypnotic, the tension palpable, building to a point of exultation. On the artificial ice, the duo dances love – in a different way. Ages 13 and over Duration: 55 mins Single ticket price: €5 Performance organised by the Erdre et Gesvres Community of Communes and Mixt, as part of a Regional Arts Project

Raw paints a portrait of four dancers who recount their journeys, through words and movement. A piece paying tribute to hip-hop culture, through movement and words. Beyond conventions and preconceptions, hip-hop is, for them, a raw way of expressing themselves and responding to the beat of the music, to the authenticity of the moment. Raw explores sisterhood, the lessons learnt, the pitfalls overcome and the hopes held for future generations. It is also a moment of intense connection, where the bond between the performers is palpable and the energy infectious. Suitable for all ages (8 years and over) Duration: 50 mins Prices: Full price: €19 | Concession: €14 | Season ticket holder: €12 | Super concession: €5 | Super concession season ticket holder: €5

The encounter between the juggler and the rapper invites us to step into the intimacy of the circus artist’s thoughts. She juggles to the rhythm of her reflections, which are delivered in a flow of words and moves. Amidst the punchlines and the metronome, the question of the passing of time, of memory, of precious things, of what will remain of it all – of those moments shared on stage, of those rhymes – gradually creeps in. Blending juggling with urban poetry, the duo creates a captivating, joyful and imaginative dialogue. Performance programmed by the Erdre et Gesvres Community of Communes as part of the Hors-Saison and Mixt, terrain d’arts festivals in Loire-Atlantique Suitable for all ages (aged 12 and over) Duration: 1 hour Prices: Full price €19 / Concession €14 / Season ticket holder €12 / Super concession €5 / Super concession season ticket holder €5

In this farce, the setting is a city where people used to go out but no longer do so because of the pandemic; where people are wary of what they eat; where they are beginning to look at one another with suspicion; where they protect themselves from the very air they breathe. Ionesco vividly depicts the absurdities and mischief of the human race when it is driven to desperation by the fear of illness, by the very idea of extinction. A hallucinatory work of fiction written 55 years ago that resonates particularly strongly today! This funny and offbeat production offers a magnifying and distorting mirror of the facets of our reality, in 15 scenes delivered at a brisk pace by a talented cast. Suitable for all ages (12 and over) Running time: 2 hours 20 minutes Prices: Full price €19 / Concession €14 / Season ticket holder €12 / Super concession €5 / Super concession season ticket holder €5

Bridge near the small canal

The coal mines were extremely important from the 17th century.

Buildings from the former 17th century Presbytery were restored and transformed into the town hall in 2007 and "Les Digitales" Art Centre in 2011. The Art Centre is a place for activities and exhibits. It displays different models of farming machinery from the collection of Mr Sevestre, a passionate farmer from Caden, and holds a museum presenting farming activities from yesterday and today with interviews from local farmers.

It was restored in the 18th century by the rector of Caden, Jean-Louis de la Houssaye. The date "1756" is written over the side door. It is one of the six friar chapels of Caden. The inside is decorated with 21th century frescos painted by a local artist representing landscapes of the surrounding countryside.

Slate mining began around 1878 and finished around 1911. The largest quarry called "Guenfol" or "Blue Lake" had an above ground surface area of 3,500m2. 18 to 20 million slates were extracted per year by nearly 300 labourers. The site was then transformed and today known as "Park de Préhistoire" (Prehistoric Park).

Saint Michel de la Grêle Chapel dates back to the 17th century. It replaced the old Saint Michel Priory, which belonged to the Benedictine Abbey of Redon. Today, the chapel (renovated in the 20th century) is used to celebrate religious services on the feast day of Notre Dame de la Tronchaye (the Sunday following 15 August). Take a few steps back and turn left after the tree-lined alley. Take one of the many small streets of Rochefort. Immediately after, turn left towards Place des Halles.

Hills covered in schist used for building houses and making roof slates. Present in the towns of Pluherlin, Malansac and Rochefort-en-Terre, slate quarries were used from the 13th to early 20th century. There is a great deal of slate located in the village of Rochefort-en-Terre. Today, Les Grées is considered a protected area. You will find Saint Michel Chapel at the end of Place Saint Michel.

In season from May to September A place open to all on the Nort-sur-Erdre lake, connected to the tourist trails, children's play areas and other activities on site. A music scene with a regular programme. Live music in partnership with local associations, dance evenings (swing, tango, salsa...), DJ sets... Wednesday to Saturday from 4pm to 10pm and Sundays from 3pm to 8.30pm, with a choice of snacks to suit the mood of the day! Fresh, local and organic products (as far as possible). Softs, locally brewed beers, organic wines served by the glass, natural wines...

Family-run crêperie with 50 years' experience, on your markets or at home. Friday mornings at the Nort-sur-Erdre market / Galettes prepared on site using the best local, organic, quality produce. The Régalette food truck is present every Friday, market day, in Nort-sur-Erdre, place du Champ de Foire. Galettes and crêpes cooked on the spot the same day, made with organic buckwheat flour and quality local produce. La Régalette also offers a home catering service for family events.

This traditional restaurant is open lunch, near the place "Champ de Foire" in the center of the town

Sandwich shop, on the spot or to take away Also available Beers, wines, aperitif platters, pastries, desserts, ice cream toppings... Open Monday to Friday (Monday and Thursday lunchtimes)

This fast food is open every day (closed sunday noon)

Near the port and the river Erdre, taste traditional pancake (crêpe)

A TRUE NATURE CAMPSITE: on the banks of the River Erdre, you'll find a peaceful wooded area. Ideal for a peaceful break, the Port-Mulon campsite (3 stars, 95 pitches) opens at the beginning of April. On site: 16 cottages, 2 Canadian tents, 2 safari cabins, 4 Ecolodges and 2 bivouacs on stilts. Located 1km from the town centre of Nort-sur-Erdre (green holiday resort) with its many shops. Pedestrian and cycle access via the park and the harbour in complete safety. Nearby: 100 km of signposted footpaths, tennis courts, on-site bike and canoe hire. Nantes-Nort tram link 1.5 km away. See prices on the internet

For those fond of outdoor sports, we offer you the opportunity to enjoy this nature stopover. When getting ready for a several-day-long hike, one may wonder where they will stay. For those who prefer to bivouac rather than sleeping in a gîte or a refuge, Camping Port Mulon gives you the best of camping and hiking for a night under the stars!

Truly a haven of peace for lovers of nature and relaxation, the camper area of Camping Port Mulon provides a motorhome service point for a calm and quiet vacation, just 100 metres away from the river Erdre. Waste disposal and water supply included in the cost of the stay. You can also book a pitch on the campsite to use the sanitary facilities/laundry area/electric supply

Parking next to the Port Mulon Castle and Park

Parking area close to the Erdre river, 500 meters from the town center

A recently-renovated flat on the first floor of a shop in the town centre, 100m from the river Erdre and Nantes-Brest Canal, beside a road which is busy during rush hours. Public car park 5m. Separate entrance up steps. Large, east-facing, private patio (153 sq.m.), not overlooked. Lounge-diner and open-plan kitchen. Veranda. 3 steps up to bedrooms. Bedroom 1: king-size bed. Bedroom 2: king-size bed. Bedroom 3: 2 single beds (80cm). Bathroom with WC. Additional facilities: WiFi, sound tower, tumble dryer, baby equipment. Price includes gas heating, electricity and bed linen. Extra charge for towels.

A daytime parking area close to the Tourist information No overnight parking (8 pm - 6 am) This dump station is close to the Port Mulon campsite. Overnight stay possible

A quirky cabin for a dry night’s stay. Dry toilets, a shelter, drinking water point, solar-powered shower Pay what you like – camping possible near the cabin – garden – light refreshments available at the lock-keeper’s house

Between Nantes and Châteaubriant, discover a unique hotel at the Relais de la Grange. Enjoy the quiet of the countryside in Nort-sur-Erdre, with all services and recreational facilities nearby. "Tourisme & Handicap" certification (obtained in 2007) for visual, mental and audio impairment.