Chappe telegraph route in Saint-Marcan

Start at the communal pond in Pont-Etat at the entrance to the village.

(S/E) Follow the road uphill and take the gravel path on the left. Follow it to the street, then go straight ahead, walking alongside the stone houses.

GR®34 red and white markings

At the crossroads, turn right for about 75 metres, then turn to follow the road uphill, keeping to the left, and continue to the Clos du Bourg crossroads.

(1) Turn right and take the path opposite after about 100 metres. Continue along the path until you reach a crossroads.

End of GR®34 Red and White markings

(2) Follow the path to the right and join the road to the left. Stay on the road to reach the telegraph at the top of the hill.

(3) At the next crossroads, take the first road on the right towards Le Perron/Le Petit Tertre.

(4) Take the grassy path on the left that runs alongside a row of trees.

(5) At the end of the path, at Le Pré, turn left and then, after 50 metres, follow the path on the right. Continue along the winding path and turn right at the crossroads. Pass Tertre des Mézières and continue to the D89. Follow it to the right for about 200 metres.

(6) Turn left onto the path until you reach the crossroads and take the road on the left to reach Val Jourdan. Continue through the hamlet.

Resume following the red and white GR®34 markings

(7) At the Tertral crossroads, turn onto the second dirt track at a 90° angle to the left uphill.

(8) Cross a road and take the path opposite, which branches off at an acute angle to the right.

(9) At the new road, turn left, pass the hamlet of Montcalm and continue to the crossroads with the D89, at the hamlet of La Croix Seigneur.

(10) Cross it carefully and continue straight on the stony path to the crossroads on the way out.

(2) Turn right onto the downhill path. Continue along the path until you reach Rue du Couronnel.

End of the GR®34 Red and White markings

(1) Keep to the left, then turn right and continue along the low wall until you reach Rue de la Mairie. Turn left and, at the end of the street, turn left again to reach the pond (S/E).

Take care when crossing roads.

Chappe's telegraph:
Built in Saint-Marcan in 1799, it enabled messages to be transmitted between Mont-Dol and Mont Saint-Michel on the Paris-Brest line. This revolutionary communication tool will transport you back to a time when information travelled at high speed, thanks to arms operated by expert operators. The Saint-Marcan telegraph is the only restored telegraph in Brittany and is listed as a Historic Monument. Visits are by appointment only.

Menhir known as La Roche Longue, at a place called La Croix Seigneur:
Private property. Neolithic menhir, dating back 2,200 years.

La Croix Seigneur:
Ancient cross from the medieval period, engraved with symbols that are now very faded. Height approximately 1.60 m in two parts.