The best cycling routes around Vertou

The Pont de Thouaré, made up of two structures crossing the Loire via the island of Chézine, is a strategic crossing point connecting Thouaré-sur-Loire to Saint-Julien-de-Concelles, heavily used by the daily transport of the Nantes metropolitan network. In October 2025, the Department of Loire-Atlantique and Nantes Métropole implemented an experimental redevelopment over 900 meters to secure the crossing for pedestrians and cyclists: * Priority for soft mobility: Speed reduction to 30 km/h over the entire crossing, painting a continuous white line prohibiting any overtaking, and adding central bike markings on each lane to encourage cyclists to occupy the middle of the passage. * Securing connections: Materialization of a pedestrian strip on the island of Chesnaie, installation of a speed table, and placement of educational speed cameras.

A pretty, slightly narrow bridge that allows you to cross the Loire. A nice view of the Loire at the same time :)

Convenient for crossing the Loire, but no cycle zone

Nice bridge to go to Crapa. Designed for bicycles.

Super cool and pleasant natural trail, very smooth on 35mm tires in dry weather.

Owned by the Departmental Council, the Bois de Buis is easily accessible from the parking lot of the Moulin du Liveau site, located along the RD 113, near the Château de l'Oiselinière. This woodland was once the grounds of the Château de l'Oiselinière, which is situated on the slopes of the Sèvre River in Nantes. The site was left to nature for about fifty years, before being purchased by the Department in 2007. In 2014, the former park was restored to create structures that will allow visitors to better appreciate this natural setting, where some one hundred animal and plant species thrive. It features a scenic lookout overlooking the Sèvre River and offers panoramic views of the village of Gorges. Activities and guided tours are regularly organized for the public. This site is classified as a sensitive natural area. Surface area (in m²): 30,000 m² (3 ha) Play area: No Bowling court: No Pets allowed: Yes Bathrooms: Yes (near the Moulin du Liveau) Other: For more information, visit the Loire-Atlantique nature walks website.

The last remaining witness to the region's papermaking industry, the association "Pour les arts graphiques en Vallée de Clisson" (For Graphic Arts in the Clisson Valley) has been working with local authorities since 1998 to revive the 19th-century papermaking industry at Le Liveau in Gorges. The Moulin du Liveau is a superb example of the region's Italianate architecture. With the active support of local authorities, the mill, owned by the municipality of Gorges, was restored to its original purpose as a paper mill. This magnificent site on the Sèvre Nantaise River in the Clisson Valley opened to the public in spring 2015. MORE THAN A MUSEUM, IT'S A LIVING WORKSHOP The association "Pour les arts graphiques en Vallée de Clisson" offers activities centered around the history and manufacture of paper. Children and adults alike can discover the mechanisms of the paper mill, handcraft their own sheets of paper, and learn about printing. An informative journey through history, accompanied by the ever-present pleasure of playfully recreating the gestures of the past. Inside, a hammer mill powered by a paddle wheel driven by the Sèvre River evokes the preparation of paper pulp from rags. Visitors can also practice calligraphy, participate in writing workshops, take bookbinding courses, and enjoy many other activities.

The Liveau Paper Mill in Gorges in the Clisson Valley (Loire Atlantique, 44) offers guided tours, educational outings, group visits to the paper mill, papermaking workshops, events, and exhibitions. The mill welcomes you south of Nantes and also offers a shop with a wide selection of paper, stationery, and books. The Liveau Paper Mill is located in Loire-Atlantique, in Gorges on the banks of the Sèvre Nantaise. Two flour mills, one on the right bank, the other on the left bank, made up the Liveau hydraulic site, first mentioned in 1407. Until 1561, it was owned by the lords of Clisson. • 1826, transformation of the right bank mill into a paper mill, a more prosperous activity at that time, and construction of the drying rack (drying rack), marked in its architecture by the strong Italian influence prevalent at that time in the canton of Clisson. • 1827: Papermaking begins at the mill. It produces "large gray paper" or "envelope paper" (wrapping paper) sold to the sugar refineries of Nantes. • 1850: Papermaking ends. • 1851 to 1952: Milling resumes. • 2001: The municipality of Gorges acquires the abandoned mill. • 2004: The "Pour les arts graphiques en vallée de Clisson" association wins first prize from the Fondation du Patrimoine for its project to rehabilitate and promote the Moulin du Liveau, with the support of Gorges elected officials and the Clisson Valley community of municipalities. • 2006: The Fondation du Patrimoine approves the project and brings in financial partners. • 2008-2009: Airtight and watertight construction of the buildings (mill and dryer), half of which was financed by the Total Foundation. Additional funding was provided by the Fondation du Patrimoine, the Crédit Agricole Foundation, parliamentary funds, the Pays de Loire Regional Council, the Loire-Atlantique General Council, the Clisson Valley Community of Communes, the municipality of Gorges, and various private funds. . 2014: Rehabilitation work in preparation for an artisanal papermaking activity, for cultural and tourist purposes. • April 2015: The Liveau paper mill in Gorges welcomes its first visitors.