Canal latéral à la Loire

If the Loire is a must for cycle tourism, we must not forget its lateral canal, which offers a more isolated setting. 196 kilometers long, it is perfectly equipped for bicycles on this section.

The trip along the canal is a meditation - at least as relaxing as one.

It is presumably a former "chemin de halage" (in German "treidelpfad" or "leinpfad"), which runs alongside the canal's bed. In earlier times, such a path was an essential part of the transport infrastructure. Before ships could be powered by motors, horses walked along the bank, pulling the boat against the current. This was called "treideln" (pulling), and this is how the towpaths got their name, which has been passed down to this day. Where these paths, which run close to the bank, have been preserved, they are popular with hikers, walkers, joggers, and cyclists.