Sainte-Reine-De-Bretagne: Trails, Brière and Heritage

Sainte-Reine-de-Bretagne is part of the Parc Naturel Régional de Brière. When choosing your destination, you may want to focus on different things: routes through the landscapes of Brière and Boulaie, local cultural sites, and buildings with a history of their own. The routes also vary in length and mode of travel.

Trails through Brière and the marshlands

The GR® de Pays Tour de Brière is a 67 km circular route. It passes through Sainte-Reine-de-Bretagne and can be completed on foot, by mountain bike or on horseback. A shorter walking route is Sur les pas de Cadou: it is 19 km long and runs between Crossac and Sainte-Reine-de-Bretagne. Along the way, it passes through the reed beds of the Marais de Boulaie and landscapes of water, light and mist associated with the poetic inspiration of René-Guy Cadou.

For a cycling loop, there is the 17 km, family-friendly Boucle 36 Le guidon en Terre Briéronne, which passes through Sainte-Reine-de-Bretagne and Crossac. The Circuit de la Roche aux Loups also passes through Sainte-Reine-de-Bretagne and offers a rural walk from the Moulin Sérot to the Marais du Gué neuf. The Circuit des Moulins runs through the local countryside and into the Marais de Brière. The Liaison Sainte-Reine-de-Bretagne–Pont-Château starts in Sainte-Reine-de-Bretagne and connects the town with Pont-Château. Boucle 36 and Sur les pas de Cadou are subject to seasonal conditions; check these before setting out.

The distances and modes of travel give you concrete points of reference for planning: a 17 km cycling loop, a 19 km walking route and a 67 km circular route offer different types of excursion. The Marais de Brière is a protected natural area with high biodiversity.

Local culture and architectural history

The Calvaire paroissial was created by parishioners in 1938. The site includes a grotto and two wells; the surrounding area is characterized by pine and cedar trees. The footpath to the Calvaire is lined with poems by René-Guy Cadou. Cadou was born in Sainte-Reine-de-Bretagne on February 15, 1920, and lived there for seven years. His name is thus part of both the local biography and the cultural story of the path.

Other landmarks shed light on different aspects of the town's history. Behind the church is an old forge dating from 1850. The municipality acquired and restored it in February 2015 and added it to the municipal heritage. The forge is on private property. The Moulins de la Fortune in Haute Lande are surviving tower remains from up to seven former windmills; the mills are no longer in operation.

The Château du Deffay includes the ruins of an old château dating from around the 15th century and a modern château from 1894. The Dolmen de la Roche aux Fées can be identified by its construction: a granite slab measuring 3.10 m by 1.15 m rests on four granite pillars and encloses a chamber about 2 m long, open to the north. Its dimensions and materials make this monument a tangible counterpart to later buildings and industrial landmarks.

A waterside park and visits by reservation

The Parc des Trous à Tenaud offers a waterside walking path, picnic spots by the pond and play areas for children. Check the condition of the facilities before your visit. Its history dates back to a clay quarry formerly operated by the Tenaud brothers for brickmaking. In 1962, the park became municipal property; in 1983, it took on its current form. The site thus connects its present-day use with an earlier chapter of local brickmaking.

La ferme la Carav'âne offers visits to an educational farm in Sainte-Reine-de-Bretagne by reservation. Activities include treasure hunts, workshops, animal care, and pony and carriage activities. The program may change; check booking arrangements in advance and reserve your visit.

Discover more destinations: La Baule-Escoublac, Cheix-En-Retz, La Chapelle Sur Erdre, La Meilleraye-De-Bretagne, Fay-de-Bretagne, Boussay, Saint-Léger-Les-Vignes, Legé

For the broader travel overview: Loire-Atlantique.