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Waterway cruise near Le Mans

From La Suze sur Sarthe

If you already know the secrets of this region of the Sarthe and Mayenne, you can discover a new way of enjoying all the local attractions. A waterway cruise from La Suze sur Sarthe opens up countless possibilities, so get organised and prepare your itinerary!

Where are you leaving from?

When are you leaving?

La Suze sur Sarthe : gateway to a cruise from the Mayenne to the Oudon

Come and see us in the Sarthe départe­ment for an ini­ti­a­tion into steer­ing your licence-free boat. The town’s attrac­tions will be a pleas­ant sur­prise as your hol­i­days begin even before embark­ing on your rental boat. Stroll down the bustling streets of La Suze sur Sarthe towards the remain­ing ruins of the old cas­tle, or the more recent 17th cen­tu­ry Château de la Fuye, which is also well worth a look. Be sure to seek out the ele­gant Eglise Saint Julien de Brioude, as well as Chapelle Notre Dame des Bois, before tak­ing con­trol of your boat. Your riv­er cruise will thus get off to the best pos­si­ble start, espe­cial­ly giv­en the region’s beau­ti­ful­ly mild cli­mate – per­fect for relax­ing on the waterways !

A waterway cruise – time to unwind and discover a region’s treasures

Take things at a sooth­ing pace, choos­ing your route with access to a net­work of more than 300 kilo­me­tres of water­ways. Dis­cov­er the wild Mayenne or nav­i­gate the Oudon or Sarthe for a week or week­end, roundtrip or one-way cruise. With numer­ous bases in the region, such as Daon and Che­nil­lé Changé, a water­way cruise gives you com­plete free­dom to put togeth­er your own tai­lor-made itin­er­ary for an unfor­get­table holiday.

Going through the many locks en route will be one of the high­lights of your house­boat trip. Each one is unique, and your whole crew will enjoy help­ing to manoeu­vre the boat or exchang­ing a few words with the lock keep­er. Fish­ing, swim­ming, water sports and off-road cycling will bright­en up the days spent on your licence-free boat. You can also choose to head for the region’s most emblem­at­ic sites, for exam­ple by nav­i­gat­ing to the foot of Château de Laval or moor­ing up near the city of Le Mans or Angers.

discover the region with our photos

Le Lion d’Angers: a land of water and horses

Le Lion d’Angers: a land of water and horses

The river Oudon runs through the town of Lion d’Angers, separating the heart of the old centre from Isle Briand park, and making it an essential stopping point during your waterway cruise. This is where you can visit the Lion d'Angers national stud farm. There are several events organised throughout the year allowing you to immerse yourself in the equestrian world, so take the time to visit this place and admire the descendants of the horses that were once a regular feature along the region’s towpaths.
Flourishing locks

Flourishing locks

The locks in Anjou will be one of the highlights of your waterway cruise. Whether on the Mayenne, Sarthe or Oudon, every lock is unique, and a lot of effort is made to make them look their very best. You’ll be surprised to see locks housing a grocery store and even photo exhibitions, which won’t prevent you, of course, from admiring their floral decoration, part of a real tradition here. It’s up to you to go with your desires and discover a unique and unforgettable place each time you negotiate one. Whether or not they are managed by a lock keeper, these jewels of the waterway heritage will be forever engraved in the memories of every crew member.
Angers, its castle, gardens and Terra Botanica

Angers, its castle, gardens and Terra Botanica

The castle of Ducs d’Anjou is a must-see in the city of Angers, but not its only treasure to explore. From Végépolys to the numerous municipal parks, Angers stands out as a real garden city. Don’t miss Terra Botanica in the upper Saint Aubin district. This theme park covers over 40 hectares and is entirely devoted to the world of plants and biodiversity, organising a host of events of all kinds around the theme of flora. This is one of the key places to visit as you embrace an alternative form of tourism on your waterway cruise.
Time for some excitement during your gentle-paced cruise with the 24 Hours of Le Mans

Time for some excitement during your gentle-paced cruise with the 24 Hours of Le Mans

You’ll be enchanted by the striking contrast as the soothing rhythm of your licence-free rental boat gives way to the crazy pace of racing cars taking to the 24 Hours of Le Mans circuit. You’ll discover all the legends of motor racing at this venue, which is open to visitors. The 24 hours of Le Mans is a major sporting event and a highlight of the year for many. Take a tour as you ring the changes and discover something other than the medieval buildings or churches of centuries past. With a track nearly 14 kilometres long, this legendary motorsport racing circuit could be your next pit stop, so make the most of the opportunity!

suggested itineraries Tested and approved

Set off from La Suze sur Sarthe and navigate as your desires see fit, or follow our itinerary ideas:

One week
Round trip 204km - 38 locks 32h La Suze sur Sarthe > Malicorne > Solesmes > Sablé sur Sarthe > Morannes > Châteauneuf sur Sarthe
One way 163km - 26 locks 25h La Suze sur Sarthe > Malicorne > Solesmes > Sablé sur Sarthe > Morannes > Châteauneuf sur Sarthe > Angers > Grez Neuville > Chenillé Changé ou Daon
Two weeks
Round trip 326km - 52 locks 50h La Suze sur Sarthe > Malicorne > Solesmes > Sablé sur Sarthe > Morannes > Châteauneuf sur Sarthe > Angers > Grez Neuville > Chenillé Changé > La Suze sur Sarthe