Vilaine

The Vilaine (French pronunciation: [vilɛn] ⓘ; Breton: Gwilen) is a river in Brittany, in the west of France. The river's source is in the Mayenne département (53), and it flows out into the Atlantic Ocean at Pénestin in the Morbihan département (56). It is 218 km long.[1]

Vilaine
The Vilaine in Rennes.
Vilaine is located in France
Vilaine
Vilaine is located in Brittany
Vilaine
Native nameLa Vilaine (French)
Location
CountryFrance
Physical characteristics
Source 
 • locationJuvigné, Mayenne
 • coordinates48°13′46″N 01°03′11″W
 • elevation175 m (574 ft)
Mouth 
 • location
Atlantic Ocean
 • coordinates
47°30′20″N 2°29′57″W
Length218.1 km (135.5 mi)
Basin size10,882 km2 (4,202 sq mi)
Discharge 
 • average80 m3/s (2,800 cu ft/s)
The Vilaine in Bruz

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 m3/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
Vilaine catchment area

References
  1. Sandre. "Fiche cours d'eau - Vilaine (J---0060)".
  • River Vilaine navigation guide; places, ports and moorings on the river, by the author of Inland Waterways of France, Imray
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