Mont-St-Michel < > Antrain

STAGE PROFILE: 21.4 km 5h20

It is hard to tear yourself away from the fascinating sight of the Archangel aloft, suspended between sea and sky, and to go away from Mont St Michel where, from every corner of Europe and beyond, pilgrims following the Ways of St Michael, St James and from Rome, as well as other travellers, walked to on a day such as this. But for our purposes, this is a departure, a leaving which begins the moment when, with backs turned to the Merveille, step by step we are called to distant Galicia and Santiago de Compostela. There are no difficulties in this day’s walk, which offers a first encounter with the Apostle in the church of Notre Dame, at Pontorson.

DIRECTIONS :

0.00 Leave Mont-Saint-Michel, taking the ford for 120m to continue along the 760m of the walkway/bridge then along the new dam (1085m). After the signpost at the area of « La Caserne », keep right and carry on after a stopsign at the dam where the waymarking for the GR® 34 and 39 begins, which you follow for 8km as far as Pontorson. During this walk, which goes along by the Couesnon, leave the area of la Grève to your left, as well as the hippodrome (horse track) of Pontorson.

The path goes by camping Haliotis and a picnic area, then Cours de la Victoire before reaching Rue du Général-Patton. Go up left along it (leave the bridge to the right) for 150m as far as Rue Hérou, which you take to the right towards Notre-Dame church. Head diagonally right across Place de L'Église, then the Place de l'Hôtel-de-Ville in the direction of the Mairie (town-hall) of...

2h25 09.8 ... Pontorson which is beside the Office de Tourisme. Leaving the Office, go down Rue Saint-Michel on the right towards Rue du Couesnon which you cross to get to Rue Leconte-de-Lisle, as far as where it meets Boulevard Clémenceau. Cross here, passing under a railway, and take Rue des Trois-Ponts. Cross Rue Wassenberg and follow Rue du Tilleul which goes along to the right of a bus depot then continues straight ahead past a building supplies depot.

Pass between two large stones which prevent vehicle access in order to take a gravel path for 350m. Then head onto a small asphalt road (an old railway converted into a greenway); follow it for 10km as far as a factory just before Antrain then the D175. At the stopsign, turn right twice to head towards the Quartier de Loisance via Rue de Pontorson (GR®). Cross the bridge over the river and head towards the Fountain of An II. Take Chemin de la Fontaine –situated before the fountain – which goes up left to get to Rue des Douves. At the intersection, turn left twice to get to the church of ...

5h20 21.4 ... Antrain, the end of the stage.