Vilaine
Course of the river
The river arises near the towns of Juvigné and La Croixille. It passes through 4 départements (Mayenne, Ille-et-Vilaine, Loire-Atlantique and Morbihan) and 4 main towns (Rennes, Vitré, Redon, and La Roche-Bernard), then flows into the Bay of Biscay by Pénestin.
Three barrages were built around Vitré, Ille-et-Vilaine to alleviate flooding, while securing potable water supplies:
- 1978 Valière barrage
- 1982 Haute-Vilaine barrage
- 1995 Villaumur barrage
They are also amenities for recreational activities.
Hydrology
The river has a flow ranging between 2 and 1500 m/s
The Vilaine is part of Brittany's canal system, built mainly in the 19th century for relatively small barges (130 tonnes). The entire system was transferred to the Brittany Region in 2011. In Rennes the river connects to the Canal d'Ille et Rance hence the Rance estuary, which enters the English Channel at Saint-Malo. In Redon it crosses the Canal de Nantes à Brest, giving access to Pontivy and the Blavet (west) and Nantes (east).
Main tributaries
