Routes

Planner

Features

Updates

App

Get the App

Great Trench of the Nantes to Brest Canal

Great Trench of the Nantes to Brest Canal

Highlight • Monument

Great Trench of the Nantes to Brest Canal

Name: Great Trench of the Nantes to Brest Canal
Rating: 2

Recommended by 22 cyclists

Save

Location: Glomel, Guingamp, Brittany, France

Save

See rides here

Take Me There

Routes here

Top cycling routes to Great Trench of the Nantes to Brest Canal

3.7

(3)

riders

1. From Carhaix to Gouarec — loop along the CANAL DE NANTES À BREST and the V6

80.8km

05:09

470m

480m

Expert bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

Navigate

Send to Phone

Save

Expert

riders

2. Kerdiston lake – Quistinic lock loop from Rostrenen

33.5km

02:45

420m

Intermediate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

Navigate

Send to Phone

Save

Intermediate

riders

3. Kerdiston lake – La tranchée de Glomel loop from Paule

47.0km

03:48

500m

Expert bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

Navigate

Send to Phone

Save

Expert

Tips

Matilde Maini

October 13, 2023

At an altitude of 184 m, the Glomel trench is the highest point of the Nantes-Brest canal and the watershed between the Blavet and Aulne basins. The canal project and its passage through the center of Brittany dates back to Vauban, the decision and the route to Napoleon. The impressive trench allows the Aulne and Blavet watersheds to communicate via the canal.
The Grande Trenche of the Canal from Nantes to Brest was dug in the 19th century by deserters from the army of Louis XVIII. The 4000 convicts of Glomel had to move as much earth and rock as was necessary for the construction of a great pyramid in Egypt. It took 9 years to create this trench, more than 3 kilometers long, 100 meters wide and 23 meters deep.

Translated by Google •

🕊️ 𝑻𝒓𝒂𝒗𝒆𝒍𝒆𝒓

May 19, 2019

To cut the canal through this mountain, the highest point along the chosen route to connect Nantes with Brest, was one of the most labor consuming, pharaonic tasks for the crew, involving thousands of forced and prisoner labor in addition to the hired workers. By the time it was finished, Napoleon's original plan to resist a British blockade via inland canals had long been passed, and the canal never lived up to any projected economic transport benefits.

Peter

October 17, 2024

Here the canal meanders through the landscape.

Translated by Google •

In the know? Log-in to add a tip for other adventurers!

Details

Informations

Elevation 240 m

Weather

Today

Wednesday 29 October

12°C

3°C

70 %

If you start your activity now...

Max wind speed: 7.0 km/h

Most visited during

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

See rides here

Take Me There

Location: Glomel, Guingamp, Brittany, France

Other Popular Places to Check Out

Pathway Between Two Bodies of Water on the Nantes-Brest Canal

Écluse 191 de Kerhun sur le canal de Nantes à Brest

Gorong-Schlucht

Écluse de Kerne

Église Saint-Jean-Baptiste de Mellionnec

Stone Arch Bridge on the Nantes–Brest Canal

Lac de Kerdiston

Écluse Pont Yannick sur le canal de Nantes à Brest

Escalade d'écluses Minguen, Canal Nantes à Brest

Double écluse de Coat Natous

Pont Ar Len Café & Gîte

schöner alter VW-Bus + der Helm von Darth Wader

Great Trench of the Nantes to Brest Canal

1. From Carhaix to Gouarec — loop along the CANAL DE NANTES À BREST and the V6

2. Kerdiston lake – Quistinic lock loop from Rostrenen

3. Kerdiston lake – La tranchée de Glomel loop from Paule

Other Popular Places to Check Out

We value your privacy ⛰️

We value your privacy ⛰️