The association
PRESENTATION
OUR PROJECTS
Canal and River Halts in Brittany, formerly called Canals of Brittany, was renamed in December 2018. Canals of Brittany had been created in October 2010 through the amalgamation of the Comité des canaux bretons (Breton Canals Committee) and the association Escales d’une rive à l’autre (literally Stopovers from one bank to another).
Our objectives :
- To bring together public and private organisations.
- To encourage consultation and the coordination of activities.
- To preserve the waterways.
- To encourage and develop navigation.
- To develop tourism, heritage and leisure activities on the historic waterways of Brittany in a sustainable way.
Specifically we aim :
- To work for tourists and inhabitants.
- To bring together elected representatives, professionals, users of the waterways and enthusiasts.
- To work with professionals and voluntary associations that are very varied in terms of their activities and turnover, and with communes and communities of communes with populations of 200 to 200,000.
Our territory :
- The Nantes to Brest canal that whose waters include the Erdre, the Isac, the Oust, the Aff, the Blavet, the Doré, the Kergoat, the Hyères and the Aulne.
- The Blavet from Pontivy to Lorient.
- The Manche - Océan canal from Saint Malo to Arzal and including the river Rance, the Ille and Rance canal, and the Vilaine.
- Les annexes hydrauliques.
- The Sèvre nantaise.
- The Loire.
The association's role covers areas of activity:
To classify riverside communes as “City”, “Stopover” and “Halt”, known as “labels”.
To promote a range of accommodation and itineraries between “labelled” towns.
To enliven the waterways.
To communicate about the waterways.
The Management Council of the association is made up of elected representatives of the member municipalities, tourism professionals, representatives of associations, individuals and two qualified members.
MISSION
TO PROMOTE WATERWAYS
Our association brings together public and private groups associated with the waterways: communes, Communities of Communes (groupings of neighbouring communes), professionals, voluntary associations and individuals.
We aim to develop the waterways in an environmentally friendly way. Canal and River Halts in Brittany liaises with all these groups and promotes activities to develop tourism and the waterways.
Deux raisons expliquent ces grands travaux. Le motif principal est stratégique, afin de déjouer les blocus maritimes anglais. Napoléon veut relier les ports par voies d’eau intérieures pour assurer sans danger l’approvisionnement des trois arsenaux : Indret (Nantes), Lorient, Brest.
The main missions of the association:
- To encourage navigation on the canals.
- To classify waterside communes as City, Stopover and Halt.
- To propose a selection of visits and itineraries.
- To enliven the waterways.
- Communicate about and promote the waterways of historic Brittany.
JOIN
WHY JOIN AND HOW?
Membership of the association is made up of five groups (known as “colleges”) :
1.
Local authorities (municipalities and groupings of municipalities).
2.
Associations working in fields associated with the waterways – heritage, leisure, etc.
3.
Professionals: boat and bicycle hire companies, ports, accommodation near waterways, etc.
4.
Individuals.
5.
Qualified members
Our association is the main point of contact for owners and managers of waterside businesses and activities.
If you live near the canal, or you are a tourist or day-tripper you can join as a private member. You will :
- Benefit from special offers from our professional members and associations: for example, discounts on accommodation and services, complementary aperitifs, etc. The sooner you join, the sooner you will benefit.
- Receive information about what is happening on the canals (activities, exhibitions, events, development projects, etc.)
If you are a local authority, a tourism professional, or an association, joining demonstrates:
- Civic commitment
- Recognition of the importance of the waterways.
- Positive action to improve the quality of life and the leisure environment.
- A spirit of solidarity.
- Knowing other sectors.
- To work in a network.
- To promote the interests of all organisations and individuals involved with a common voice.
- Membership means you will benefit from :
- Exchanges of informationTechnical sheets, experience reports, monitoring of activities related to the channels, press review on our website.
- Exchange of experience between members.
- Advice and assistanceTechnical support from the association's permanent staff
- Communications Promotion of your business or association using our channels: the website, social networks, booklets, The Voice of the Canal newsletter, etc.
CLASSIFICATION – THE “LABELS”
CITY, STAGES, AND RIVER HALTS
The association has set up a system of labelling to qualify services available in communes bordering the Breton waterways, known in French as “communes mouillées” (wet communes). The object is to enable visitors to identify the services available, as well as activities, heritage and events.
The labelled communes form a network that will help the visitor to discover and learn about the canals.
A “Cité fluviale de Bretagne” is a major site offering basic services (water, electricity, picnic tables, etc.), tourist services (accommodation and catering), leisure activities, events and information on the heritage of the waterways, both natural and manmade. They have the facilities to welcome visitors for one or more nights.
OUR INSTITUTIONAL PARTNERS
OUR PARTNERS
OUR FINANCERS
La région Bretagne
