Today I’m off to the Canal Saint-Martin followed by the lakes at Apigné, to discover Rennes from the water, by boat and by bike.

Visit Rennes by boat

Bateaux canal Saint-Martin

The idea is to discover Rennes from the water aboard little motor boats, so put on your orange life jackets and let’s climb aboard ! Going through the first lock, l’Ecluse Saint-Martin, is quite an impressive experience, then a few minutes later we head towards the city centre, but it seems more like the countryside as everything is so peaceful and green.

After another lock, l’Ecluse du Mail, we fork left and go underneath the Place de Bretagne and under the Vilaine car park. The guide tells us where we are and I get the impression that I’m discovering Rennes for the first time, which is true because the city is quite different when seen from the water. Firstly, because the buildings look much taller and secondly because on a boat you travel much more slowly than on foot or by car : when you travel by water, you have to take your time.

Les Etangs d’Apigné (lake)

After eating a galette at the Place Sainte-Anne to keep our strength up, we set off on bikes along the towpath beside the river Vilaine.

Péniches sur la Vilaine ©D.-Guillaudeau

A few minutes later, we come to my favourite place on the trip : the Moulin du Comte (mill), with its beautifully decorated lock. It’s a very special part of Rennes with a peaceful, holiday atmosphere, far removed from the bustle of the city.

We cycle gently along, under the Rennes ring-road, leaving the city behind until we arrive at the Etangs d’Apigné (lake) where we sit on a pontoon, dangling our feet in the water and have a rest…

If you’re looking for peace, tranquillity and a gentle cruise along the river, the Tourist Board of Upper Brittany Ille-et-Vilaine has concocted a delightful short break.

More information about guided river tours of Rennes is available from the Office du Tourisme de Rennes website.