Kayak en ville

Kayak en ville rents kayaks and canoes in the heart of Le Mans, departing from the Île aux Sports, for paddling on the Sarthe and the Huisne at the foot of the Plantagenêt city's ramparts. The activity is open to anyone aged 8 and up who can swim, with no particular fitness requirement. Life jackets are provided and mandatory, and the boats are stable and suited to family and beginner paddling.

In July and August, the activity runs nonstop every day from 10 AM to 6 PM (last departure at 5 PM), either free to use without a guide or as a 1.5-hour guided outing. In May, June and September, paddling is by reservation only. A highlight of the summer season: guided evening outings take place every Friday night in July and August, departing at 8 PM from the harbor master's office, for a 1.5-hour trip along the foot of the Le Mans ramparts.

The activity is run by the Canoë-Kayak Club du Mans (CKCM), a long-established club that brings its know-how and safety standards to this public offer of river discovery in the city.

A bit of history

Kayak en ville is run by the Canoë-Kayak Club du Mans (CKCM), a nonprofit founded in late 1965. At the end of that year, Jean-Claude Richet proposed to fellow members of the “Loisirs et Culture” association that they start a canoe-kayak club. As early as March 1964, canoeists were already meeting regularly on the region's waterways (the Sarthe, Colmont, Rouvre and Orne), mainly from two groups: the “Viking” troop of the Éclaireurs de France scouts and part of the canoe section of the Renault works council. The two groups officially joined forces to gain credibility and obtain premises. The club was legally declared in the Journal officiel of October 2, 1965, under number 2671.

Since then, the CKCM has grown around two main sections, outdoor paddling and competition, welcoming every level from beginner to high performance. The “Kayak en ville” activity, launched more recently from the Île aux Sports, lets the club offer a discovery program open to the general public and passing visitors, showcasing the river heritage of Le Mans's city center (the Sarthe and Huisne).