Berges de Maine, Riverside bank in Angers, France

The Berges de Maine is a 300-hectare public space on the banks of the Maine in Angers. The left bank carries the RD 323, a road built in the 1960s-1970s as the RN 23 to link the two sections of the A11; the right bank holds the CHU hospital, place de la Rochefoucauld and the Doutre quarter. Eight bridges cross the river here, from the pont de Verdun (1028) to the pont Confluences, opened in 2010 for trams, pedestrians and cyclists.

In the 1800s, frequent floods from the uncontrolled river prompted the city to build quays and channel the waterway. These works tamed the Maine and allowed the city to develop along its banks safely.

The riverbanks serve as a gathering place where locals walk, jog, or pause to watch the water and socialize. This space has become woven into the daily rhythm of the city, offering a connection between neighborhoods.

The banks have multiple free access points, with parking and public transit stops near main crossing areas. Walking or cycling are the best ways to experience the full length of the riverfront at your own pace.

The Berges de Maine lie between the Île Saint-Aubin, a Natura 2000 site, and the Lac de Maine. The riverbanks thus form a link between the western and eastern parts of Angers, and the protected island downstream is the reason the river corridor retains a natural character.