The Buzay Canal

Located south of the Loire, between the Canal de la Martinière and the village of Messan in Rouans, the Buzay Canal was created in the 18th century to facilitate the transport of goods between the Pays de Retz and Nantes. Today, it's an ideal spot for a bucolic stroll on foot or by bike. Surrounded by the Acheneau and Tenu rivers, numerous moats and marshes, it is home to an abundance of vegetation.

A little history :

Surrounded by the ancient meadows of the same name, the canal hasn't changed much since it was built. Although managing water resources is becoming more and more of a priority these days, in the past, monks, landowners and the people of the Pays de Retz were already aware of this issue, which led to its construction. Around the canal, there is still a network of sluices and locks, often automated, which allows controlled irrigation of the marshes at any time of year. The water level changes according to the needs of the farmers, so the seemingly calm movement is constant. Crossing the canal from one bank to the other via the small bridges that cross it, you can see the river Acheneau, which flows from the Loire to Lake Grandlieu.

5 good reasons to discover it