Le Boël in Bruz — ©Le Boël, Bruz |Yannick Le Gal

RIVER TRIP ON THE VILAINE

River trip on the Vilaine

Go with the flow through the locks and meanders of the majestic River Vilaine on a little electric boat or aboard an easy to drive cabin cruiser. An alternative way to discover Ille-et-Vilaine!

L'Embarcadère, electric boats in Rennes — ©L'Embarcadère, electric boats, Rennes|Thomas Crabot

SAIL TO RENNES ON A PLEASURE BOAT

For an introduction to navigation without a permit, why not go for a boat ride for a couple of hours along the River Vilaine and its channels, starting from Rennes. Hire a small electric boat at the heart of the Breton capital for a tranquil river trip!

Up to 5 people (or more depending on the size of the boat) can embark for an hour or a full day. There are 2 boat hire companies to choose from to discover Rennes and its surrounding area from the water :

L’Embarcadère : boat hire from 1 hour to a full day
Les P’tits Bateaux : boat hire from 1 hour to 3 hours

This is a fun outing for children who will love being in command of little boat for a nautical adventure on the Vilaine.

A WEEKEND ON THE VILAINE ABOARD A CABIN CRUISER

Hire an easy to drive cabin cruiser with Canalous Plaisance for a weekend with friends on the River Vilaine. Starting from the quayside at Redon, the historic river port with its shipowners’ houses, cruise gently along the river to Guipry-Messac.

The journey of 80 km there and back passes magnificent scenery along the Vilaine towards Rennes. It runs through the delightful village of Langon and the heart of the beautiful wooded valley of Corbinières.

With an average speed of 6 kph and 4 locks, this river weekend is a perfect way to relax and unwind from the stresses of everyday life. Moor up at Guipry-Messac marina for the night before heading back to Redon the next day.

Viaduct of the Corbinières Valley in Langon — ©Viaduct of the Corbinières Valley, Langon |Emmanuel Berthier

A WEEK LONG CRUISE FROM REDON TO RENNES

Explore the Vilaine from Redon to Rennes on a river cruise of 180km there and back. Cover between 20km and 40km per day for 6 days on a cabin cruiser (no permit required), stopping off at pretty villages typical of Brittany.

Sail gently along, through locks from time to time, and enjoy the rural scenery dotted with works of art like the Corbinières Viaduct, the nine-arch bridge at Pont-Réan and historic mills like those at Boël and La Bouëxière.

On arrival in Rennes, the capital of Brittany, there is a choice of river halts to moor up on the Vilaine and its channels. Make the most of being in the capital to see the historic Parlement de Bretagne, Place des Lices, Parc du Thabor, etc..

To prolong the adventure, the 85km long Ille-et-Rance Canal runs from Rennes to the port of Saint-Malo.