Every summer, Brittany attracts millions of tourists to its coasts. But if the coastline and the variety of landscapes are so attractive, the region is eager to promote another part of its territory: the rivers and canals. To do this, she decided to open several lock houses and find new and new owners for them. This is a way for the region to increase the attractiveness of these places and to encourage “four seasons” tourism.
Did you know that Brittany has almost 600km of waterways? Less known than its seashores, its canals and rivers, also tourists who like to walk or cycle along them. In order to promote several waterfront sites, the Region launched a call for projects resulting from the Canal Contract, signed in May 2021. The goal? Find volunteers to rehabilitate lock houses that have been closed so far and develop new activities around these places, as reported 20 minutes.
Brittany has nearly 156 stone lock houses, but many of them have been abandoned due to rural exodus and reduced navigation. Through this call for projects, in collaboration with the Redon agglomeration, the Region would be looking for people to renovate and upgrade four of these waterfront sites:
- The lock house of Limur in Peillac (Morbihan), four rooms, 65 m²
- The Maclais lock house in Saint-Vincent-sur-Oust (Morbihan), many boats pass through the lock, four rooms and an area of 80 m²
- The lock house of Potinais in Bains-sur-Oust (Ile-et-Vilaine), a place very popular with cyclists and walkers, two rooms with a surface of 65 m²
- Gite Painfaut stopover in Avessac (Loire-Atlantique), 4 rooms, 203 m²
The volunteers will also have to set up activities around the green belt and the waterway. The notice states that the wanted persons are encouraged to: “innovate in navigation or service proposals on board or on the water” and offer a “range of services for “navigators” and “itinerant bicycles” along the waterways”. The aim of the approach is to attract tourists all year round and to “to spread” throughout Brittany.
The call for projects is open to individuals, companies, associations and communities. Candidates are to download the specifications, the technical sheets and the application file from the Redon Agglomeration website.
Volunteers have until 12:00 noon on Monday, August 29, 2022 to submit their application.