The best traffic-free bike rides around La Chapelle-Sur-Erdre

Listed as a Historic Monument, the **Château de la Desnerie** in La Chapelle-sur-Erdre is one of those superb residences that make the Erdre riverbanks famous. Built in the 14th century by a comrade-in-arms of Du Guesclin, then remodeled in the 18th century with a west wing designed by the famous Nantes architect Jean-Baptiste Ceineray, this elegant private estate is not open to visitors. However, it can be discreetly glimpsed through the trees by taking the coastal path or strolling through the **bois de la Desnerie**, a 15-hectare sensitive natural area ideal for a bucolic walk.

Often going out at the end of the day to appreciate the landscape and this straight line

Technical trails but doable on gravel, be careful following the rains this winter. There are ruts at the bottom.

Definitely a mountain bike path going uphill, on gravel I had to push

The greenway project along the former railway line is the subject of much debate... and it's not about to stop! Ninety people attended the meeting organized by the municipality and the Erdre & Gesvres Community of Communes (CCEG) on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, at the Simone-de-Beauvoir Hall, regarding the development of the former railway line. For some participants, the greenway seems a long way off, as the road before construction begins. The will to implement this ambitious 26-km project is there, however. The users are numerous: walkers, hikers, people with reduced mobility, cyclists, mountain bikers, horseback riders (with or without a horse-drawn carriage), runners, farmers, heritage enthusiasts, hunters, local residents, rollerbladers, and simple strollers (with or without a stroller). Between Treillières and La Chapelle-sur-Erdre, commuters also use the road to get to work. It's not easy to accommodate all these people. Sylvain Lefeuvre, Vice President of the CCEG, in charge of mobility, recounted the discussions exchanged with partners in 2023: "We want to avoid conflicts of use. For our consultation, 881 responses were received, including 300 in Treillières. The population participated well," conceded the elected representative of Nort-sur-Erdre. "There is no procurement issue. Of the seventeen million allocated to the project, the State is granting us nine over six years. Its services will give the green light, but we won't be able to complete the project piecemeal. It will be all or nothing." Wilfried Braud, head of the Erdre & Gesvres mobility department, noted the participants' concerns about the quality of the road surface: "We need to find a sustainable solution that doesn't require major maintenance every ten years." A hard asphalt surface with a softer lane alongside seems to be the solution. There are also dual-lane lanes with grass in the middle. Local residents want this road to be off-limits to motorized vehicles and are wary of quads and dirt bikes. "We don't want boulevards," asserts this regular user of the promenade. Questions are being asked of the technical services. Studies are needed to regulate water management. Access for the fire department needs to be provided. What about the ancillary services, restrooms, the water point, and the rest area? And what about the heritage? The Fay-de-Bretagne shelter has been perfectly restored. Will the same be true for the one located opposite Treillières station? Users are aware of the lengthy process involved in a community project. They understand: patience is required for this greenway.

If you are a fan of the Saint-Fiacre wall, come and enjoy the uphill section of the path towards Rue des Buttes... The natural "surface" has a few surprises in store, the difference in altitude is "real", and going around the barrier at the "summit" is a beautiful finale 🤣

Beware of leaves in winter

Very beautiful greenway, long gap in the middle of the vegetation. Pleasant and without difficulty.