Tour of the Rance River (Côtes-d'Armor, Ille-et-Vilaine)

Starting from the medieval city of Dinan, the Rance estuary unfolds a ribbon of nature and history. Following the towpath towards Taden, you brush past Gallo-Roman remains before reaching Saint-Samson-sur-Rance. The trail winds between woods and coves towards Plouër-sur-Rance, a high place of local maritime heritage. In Langrolay and Minihic-sur-Rance, the old shipyards whisper the epic tale of shipwrights. Past La Richardais, the panorama opens onto Dinard and the corsair soul of Saint-Malo. The right bank is approached via Saint-Jouan-des-Guérets, then to the authentic charms of Saint-Suliac. The route heads towards La Ville-ès-Nonais, crossing the bridges that span this inland sea. In Pleudihen-sur-Rance, the Mordreuc mill recalls the ancestral use of tidal energy. The heights of La Vicomté-sur-Rance and finally Lanvallay, offering a perspective on the ramparts of the ducal city.

Between Côtes-d'Armor and Ille-et-Vilaine, the Rance River winds with rare elegance. This Breton coastal river, about a hundred kilometers long, is a true treasure. Its history is marked by human ingenuity and the raw power of the tides. In 1966, the Rance tidal power plant revolutionized the production of clean energy. It is a pioneering structure, located between Saint-Malo and Dinard, still as imposing as ever. Heading upstream, the heritage reveals itself along its tranquil waters. The medieval city of Dinan proudly dominates the valley with its ancestral ramparts. The malouinières, mansions of wealthy shipowners, punctuate the green banks. On the nature side, the estuary is a wild sanctuary preserved for local biodiversity. Migratory birds and rare flora flourish in this bucolic setting. The hiking trails offer changing panoramas to the rhythm of the seasons.

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