Hiking in the Vignoble Nantais : A thirst for nature at Maisdon-sur-Sèvre, hiking near NantesHiking in the Vignoble Nantais : A thirst for nature at Maisdon-sur-Sèvre, hiking near Nantes
©Hiking in the Vignoble Nantais : A thirst for nature at Maisdon-sur-Sèvre, hiking near Nantes|Adrien Vilarem

Hiking and touring Walking in the Nantes vineyards

Footpaths that follow rivers, cross vineyards, wander through marshes or skirt dykes: walking in the Vignoble Nantais is an art of slow contact with nature.

Itineraries Where to walk in the Vignoble Nantais?

Each area has its own character. Clisson and the surrounding area combine Italian landscapes with medieval alleyways. The Entre Sèvre et Loire paths run along the riverbanks, dykes and orchards. On the Vendée side, the relief becomes more pronounced, panoramic views open up and granite rock rises to the surface. Even children will find their own adventure, with digital treasure hunts designed to help them discover the region in a whole new way.

Clisson walk And the surrounding towns

Clisson and the surrounding area is a land of contrasts. Wooded valleys, ancient bridges, discreet mills and picturesque villages create the ideal backdrop for walking.

In Clisson, the medieval past and Italian heritage interact with the river Sèvre. All around, the paths join Gétigné and its shady banks, or Gorges and its gentle lanes. Each route opens up a new perspective.

All tours to explore

The hiking loops offer a variety of ways to discover the region. The shorter ones are ideal for family outings. The longer ones follow the Sèvre Nantaise valley, between picturesque villages and open meadows.

Clisson walk on the GR® de Pays Sèvre et Maine Vineyard loop

The GR® de Pays Sèvre et Maine – Boucle du Vignoble crosses Clisson, Gétigné and Gorges. Hikers will discover a common thread running through preserved nature and built heritage. An invitation to extend your walk to other horizons in the Vignoble Nantais.

A variety of landscapes to discover Between Sèvre and Loire

Along the trails, the Nantes vineyards are revealed in all their contrasts. The tranquil banks of the Loire alternate with panoramic views of green hillsides. The Marais de Goulaine offers a peaceful setting where aquatic flora flourishes. The woodlands and hedgerows of the bocage countryside punctuate the walk and are home to a discreet but fascinating fauna. Each bend in the path reveals a different landscape, between the calm of the ponds and the gentleness of the valleys.

All tours A wide range of career paths to explore

Short, accessible circuits and long loops allow you to immerse yourself in these varied landscapes. Some follow the banks of the Loire and Sèvre rivers, while others plunge into the bocage and marshlands. The walks offer as many opportunities to observe the flora and fauna as they do to enjoy the natural panoramas.

Sèvre Nantaise walk In the heart of natural spaces

The banks of the Sèvre Nantaise invite you to take a stroll. The path follows the meandering river, crossing meadows and woodland, revealing little corners of unspoilt nature. The hillsides offer views over the valley and the lakes. The marshes and reedbeds are ideal forbirdwatching. The mix of streams, hedges and meadows creates a mosaic of colours and moods for every season.

Walking around the Maine river Between bocage and river

Hiking around the Maine, from the Sèvre to the Vendée, offers panoramic views of rivers, hedged farmland and wine-growing hillsides. Between cliffs and typical villages, each step reveals the beauty of the valley.

All tours to explore

The paths run alongside the Sèvre and Maine rivers, offering a variety of viewpoints. The Bois Joly trail offers uninterrupted views over the valley. The Soif de Nature trail alternates between undergrowth, riverbanks and vineyards. The Caffino quarry, now a leisure centre, offers the best view of the Maine valley.

Hiking in Maine GR® de Pays Sèvre et Maine Vineyard loop

The GR® de Pays Sèvre et Maine – Boucle du Vignoble crosses the region, linking typical villages and wine-growing hillsides. It complements the local loops for longer walks or trekking enthusiasts.

Baludik trails are fun digital trails that allow young and old alike to discover places on their own, through a series of stages and puzzles to be solved. There are clues to help you make your way along the route, and at each stage there’s a game to play: rebus, quiz, memory, drawing, riddle, etc. Once the game has been completed, and before moving on to the next stage, visitors can discover more about the site and its history through historical and heritage content.

A red thread character called ” Zélie la libellule(Zélie the dragonfly ), in reference to the blue agrion dragonfly frequently found along our rivers in the Vignoble Nantais region, will guide you on each route!

The digital trails are available free of charge, 24 hours a day and offline on the Baludik mobile application. The application can be downloaded free of charge from Google Play or App Store.

All digital treasure hunts in the Vignoble Nantais

Once on site, visitors can find the route either by geolocation or by the name of the town. To use the compass, the location must be activated, and for offline use, the route must be downloaded in advance.

These routes offered by the Tourist Office are supported by the département as the 2020 winner of the “Inventing sustainable tourism” call for projects launched by the Loire-Atlantique département.

Other Baludik routes Proposed by our partners

Other Baludik routes are also available to help you discover the Nantes vineyards in a different way!

Suggested by Grand patrimoine de Loire-Atlantique

Suggested by the Loire-Atlantique department

"Stories from the streets Digital trail in Haute-Goulaine

GR® de Pays Sèvre et Maine The emblematic pedestrian route of the Nantes vineyards

The GR® de Pays Sèvre et Maine crosses the valleys of the Sèvre Nantaise and Maine rivers, linking the emblematic landscapes of the Nantes vineyards. Over 100 km of yellow and red signposted paths alternate between shady riverbanks, wine-growing hillsides, picturesque villages and open vistas.

A real thread running through the region, it forms the Boucle du Vignoble, around which many local walks are built. It’s an ideal route for those who enjoy long-distance walking and cross-country excursions, always close to the land that shapes the Vignoble Nantais.

Fun family tours

The Murmures de Rocher trails allow families to discover plants, flowers and animals. Le Petit Botaniste in Remouillé and Imaginaires et Noms Insolites in Aigrefeuille-sur-Maine will arouse curiosity while remaining accessible.

Walking tour Inhabited landscapes, an area to experience

To walk in the Vignoble Nantais is to choose proximity. That of grasses swaying in the breeze, furrows traced between vines, the changing reflections of the Loire and Sèvre rivers. Here, walking is never a simple interlude, but a sensitive experience of the land. It reveals the essential: a light, a soil texture, a forgotten path.

At every turn, a new atmosphere. In the morning, the mist outlines the valleys, giving a glimmer of the Goulaine marshes. At midday, the hillsides blaze under the sun, the vines rustle gently. Then come the villages, with their warm stonework, fountains and bell towers that mark out the horizon. The paths tell as many stories as the monuments. Our heritage is an ever-present but unobtrusive part of the landscape: a mill beside a stream, a chapel hidden behind hedges, a manor house whose shadow stretches across the crops.

Loire-Atlantique Walking at your own pace

There is no shortage of itineraries in this natural and generous Loire-Atlantique region. There’s something for everyone. A leisurely stroll with the family? Or a more strenuous route to take in the scenery and space? All paths lead to a suspended moment, between heaven and earth, in a hiking region on a human scale, shaped by nature and the people who live there.

The paths of the Vignoble Nantais form a lively network. You’ll come across market gardeners at work, grape-pickers, Sunday ramblers and enthusiasts of sensitive geography. It’s a place where you can lose yourself for a while and find yourself again.

Preparing your trip in the Vignoble Nantais

If you want to walk or cycle in the Vignoble Nantais with a free mind, each route is available in the form of a descriptive sheet.

  • Maps, step-by-step instructions, points of interest, practical advice: all the essential information you need to organise your outing. You can download the fact sheets in PDF format or simply print them out.
  • Some of the routes are designed for family outings, with short paths, few gradients and perfect spots for a riverside picnic.

The paths are alive and kicking: before setting off, be sure to check for any temporary restrictions, roadworks or special conditions.

In summer, it’s best to set off early in the morning or late in the afternoon.
Bring water, suitable footwear and comfortable clothing.

Report any problems using theSuricate application from the Ministry of Sport

Explore further

Our dedicated pages will take you to selected itineraries for walking close to the landscapes of the Vignoble Nantais.