Couesnon (fleuve) walks

The Couesnon river meanders through a deep valley, home to ancient mills.

This route of the Couesnon can be divided into two parts: a circular route to the west and another to the east, the latter of which can be shortened. The Couesnon has a very winding course as it crosses the granite massif. Its limestone-free water was used for a long time in paper mills in the 17th century. With this industry now gone, the Couesnon is a delight for salmonids and kayakers alike.

4-hour hike (hence its medium difficulty). A little road and quite a few paths. You will cross the Couesnon and Minette valleys.

After walking along the Couesnon, which is calm and peaceful on this section, walkers are invited to discover a small stream that feeds it: the Vallées d'Hervé stream. Then, despite a few open sections, walkers will appreciate the peaceful shade of the undergrowth and sunken paths.

Halfway between the national forest and the hillsides of the Eure, this walk will take you to some remarkable places in the shade of oak trees and the coolness of the riverbanks. You will walk past the castle and through the old village of Sorel, then follow the old railway line (greenway) to Marcilly-sur-Eure.

This walk along the banks of the Couesnon, which runs parallel to another route already suggested, is shorter and slightly more challenging due to the elevation gain. This route favours paths on higher ground rather than those along the riverbank. A distinctive feature is that it is 100% trail, meaning no tarmac except for one road crossing.

This walk takes you along the Couesnon between the dam and Anse de Moidrey, allowing you to see the polders on the Brittany side and also the fairly abundant wildlife, particularly birds.A bit of history: formerly known as Lerra Fluvius, the Couesnon rises in the commune of Saint-Pierre-des-Landes in Mayenne, at the Fontaine de Couesnette, 200 metres above sea level. The Couesnon was channelled in 1867, allowing boats to sail up the river as far as the port of Pontorson. The first dam, built in 1969, was intended to stop the tide from flowing back into the riverbed, which, during high tidal ranges, caused flooding. It was demolished in 2008 and replaced by the Couesnon Dam as part of the project to restore the maritime character of Mont-Saint-Michel.