The Haute-Perche canal

  • The Haute-Perche canal
  • The Haute-Perche canal
  • The Haute-Perche canal
The Haute-Perche canalThe Haute-Perche canalThe Haute-Perche canal

Presentation

The Haute-Perche canal, some 14 kilometres long, is a real "river" despite its small size and its mysterious title of "canal".

It rises at the back of the village of La Meule in Arthon-en-Retz, now known as Chaumes-en-Retz. After branching off to the west at the village of Haute-Perche, it meanders its way to the port of Pornic.
 A bit of history

The Haute-Perche Canal has a lock or sluice gate in Pornic, at the end of the fishing port, under the 8 May 1945 bridge, which regulates the flow of water to the port. Further upstream, there is another gate, the Boismain, which regulates the water level in the marsh.
In the past, it was one of the main entrances to the town of Pornic. Navigation was easier than overland routes, which were impassable in winter.

Before the 12th century, i.e. before the construction of the mill road, which acted as a barrier to the rising sea water, the sea could reach as far as the outskirts of Arthon-en-Retz. The place names bear witness to this, such as the village of Port à Arthon.

It was called a canal because in the 18th century, man was forced to ensure that it was wide enough for flat-bottomed boats and small barges to navigate its course, which since the Middle Ages had been used for the transport of goods between the sea and the rural centre of the Pays de Retz (Princé wood, tiles and terracotta from La Feuillardais, wine, timber and firewood, fertiliser, etc.). At the dawn of the Revolution, the Marquis de Brie-Serrant wanted to use it to dig a deep-draught canal linking the sea and the Loire, from Pornic to Buzay, to overcome the difficulties of navigation in the estuary. This project never came to fruition, but the name of the canal was reinforced. Single-masted boats were powered by sail, but also by poles and oars. When there was no wind, several men could haul them along from the path along the riverbank.

Today, the ‘Ria’ development project serves as a reminder of the importance of this entrance to the town.     
 
 5 ways to discover the Haute-Perche Canal
  •  Starting from the port of Pornic and following the path parallel to the Ria, the Haute-Perche Canal circuit (approximately 12 km) offers a beautiful walking route.
  •  Following the Haute-Perche circuit (approximately 5 km) from the village of Haute-Perche, you can discover the bocage and the surrounding countryside. A real change of scenery !
  •  With Florent from Kayak Nomade, you can enjoy a kayak trip to admire the fisheries still present on the banks and the landscapes between the bocage and the forest.
  •  For a bike ride, Sea Bike and Sun (Pornic) offers electric or classic bikes for hire by the day. 
  •  If you enjoy cultural outings, we recommend strolling along the Ria from spring onwards to discover the temporary photo exhibitions.
Extend your visit by exploring the towns of Chaumes-en-Retz and Pornic.
Information
  • TYPE OF SITE :
    • River
  • TOWN :
    • Pornic
Equipment/services
  • FACILITIES, ACTIVITIES AND SERVICES :
    • Shaded area

Map

Destination
Le canal de Haute-Perche
Haute-Perche
Arthon-en-Retz
44320
CHAUMES EN RETZ
GPS coordinates
Latitude : 47.12931
Longitude : -1.96800
  • Distance from the center (church ) :
    • 900 m. from the center of Pornic
    • 15 km. from the center of Préfailles
    • 12 km. from the center of St Michel Chef Chef
    • 10 km. from the center of Les Moutiers
    • 990 m. from the center Le Clion sur Mer
    • 14 km du centre de Bourgneuf
    • less than 1 Km. from the center
Contact details
The Haute-Perche canal
Haute-Perche
Arthon-en-Retz
44320
CHAUMES EN RETZ