サンミッシェルシェフシェフのおすすめツーリングルート

to do in the morning

Located south of the estuary of the Loire, Saint-Brevin is where the long river opens into the Atlantic Ocean. Large expanses of sand, monitoring stations and beach clubs line the sea. Home to parish farmers, fishermen and sailors for a millennium, Saint-Brevin became a resort in the late 19th century. In 1810 the sea had eroded the coastline, consumed the dunes and submerged many homes. Locals planted pines and oaks to stabilize the dune. Sumptuous villas were added then, such as "Château de la Fouilleuse", "The Semaphore", the " Manoir du Pointeau". The Grand Casino is built (1884). The large pine forest became a major asset: the city changed its name from Saint-Brevin to Saint-Brevin-Les-Pins (1899) and became more and more famous in the "Belle Epoque".

La Grande Ville is a hamlet of Saint-Brevin along the Loire estuary, with a long beach characterized by the traditional fishing piers extending far into the water. Here a parking area with restrooms and picnic table is a trailhead for exploring the practice while taking a break along the waterfront biketrail.

Small marina located on the beach

I, who am not very comfortable in gusts of wind, admit that I have not yet dared to take the plunge.

If you finish your bike ride at the end of the D 313, you will arrive at the end of Pointe Saint-Gildas. After getting your fill of adrenaline in the saddle, admiring the ocean as far as the eye can see is a sublime experience.

What a magnificent place to take a break, this little port of Comberge which seems to be standing outside of time.

It takes a bit of courage to ride up there next to the roaring traffic when you're standing in front of the huge bridge. A cyclist coming towards me rang my bell - we said hello - and off we went. I prayed not to get a flat tire on this bridge - everything went well. There is no alternative to crossing the Loire at this point. But I'm still not sure whether there was a sign below prohibiting pedestrians and cyclists 🧐