The Porte de Brocéliande in Montfort-sur-Meu

Montfort-sur-Meu, formerly Montfort La Cane, is a town steeped in history with a remarkable heritage located at the gateway to Brocéliande, with its mythical forest and Arthurian legends:
A medieval town under the Lords of Gaël-Montfort; a fortified town of which the Papegault Tower, the Châtelet and the remains of the ramparts still stand; a religious town with St-Jacques Abbey, the Ursuline Convent and the birthplace of Saint Louis Grignion de Montfort.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 12.09 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 45 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 104 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 109 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 124 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 31 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Departure: Church square in Montfort sur Meu

(S/E) Go around the church towards Rue du Château, turn right onto Rue de la Saulnerie, then left onto Rue des Douves; when you reach the bridge over the river, turn right onto Rue de Coulon; after the roundabout, turn right onto Rue des Grippeaux and continue for about 1 km.

(1) Before the hamlet of La Roche, turn left onto the sunken lane that climbs uphill, leading to the D72, then almost immediately turn right onto a small road that descends

(2) At Beauregard, turn left towards La Chevauchais and continue for 1 km.

(3) Turn left onto a gravel path, then continue along a small tarmac road and turn left onto the D72 for 250 metres (caution: busy road).

(4) At Le Bouillon, turn right onto a gravel road leading to the village of L'Ânière; there, turn right onto the D363 for 30m; after the bridge, turn left onto the path, walk alongside a property on the right, then turn left at the edge of the forest for 80m.

(5) Turn right to enter the forest, continue for 1 km until you reach a crossroads flanked by a remarkable tree; there, take the small path on the left to the telephone antenna.

(6) Turn left onto the path that descends to Saint-Lazare.

(7) In the hollow of Saint-Lazare, as soon as you pass the stream, turn right onto the path running alongside a private pond, continue along a small road to Heurtebise and follow the forest path to enter the Bois de La Harelle. Descend to the tarmac road.

(8) Turn right then left to cross the Le Meu river, continue to Saint-Jacques Abbey.

(9) Opposite Saint-Jacques Chapel, turn around, retrace your steps for 100 metres, and before the bridge, turn right onto the path running alongside the river, cross Boulevard du Général de Gaulle and continue to Moulin de La Planche, which you will go around on the left; at the wash house, turn left.

(10) After a short climb, turn left between two residences onto a path (concrete on the descent) running along the left side of the campsite and leave the municipal park.

(11) Immediately after crossing the bridge over the small river, turn right onto the small street, cross the crossroads and take Rue de Hennau opposite; after passing the Bar de la Tour, turn left to reach La Tour du Papegault, then right to reach the church car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 42 m - Church car park. Towards the bridge - Meu (rivière) - Affluent de la Vilaine
  2. 1 : km 1.58 - alt. 50 m - Path before the hamlet of La Roche
  3. 2 : km 2.25 - alt. 86 m - Beauregard
  4. 3 : km 3.25 - alt. 124 m - Gravel path on the left
  5. 4 : km 4.18 - alt. 116 m - Bouillon hamlet
  6. 5 : km 5.76 - alt. 91 m - Entrance to the Bois de St-Lazare
  7. 6 : km 7.85 - alt. 112 m - Telephone antenna
  8. 7 : km 8.97 - alt. 67 m - Hamlet of St-Lazare
  9. 8 : km 9.86 - alt. 37 m - Asphalt road junction
  10. 9 : km 10.17 - alt. 33 m - St-Jacques Abbey
  11. 10 : km 11.52 - alt. 40 m - Rue du 11 juin 1944
  12. 11 : km 11.77 - alt. 34 m - Boulevard du Colombier - Garun (cours d'eau) - Affluent du Meu
  13. S/E : km 12.09 - alt. 42 m - Church car park

Worth a visit

Places to visit on the route:
- St Louis Marie Grignion Church (19th century; at the start or finish),
- The remains of the Châtelet (14th century), at 3 Rue du Château
- Birthplace of St Louis Marie Grignion de Montfort at 15 Rue de la Saulnerie,
- Remains of the medieval St Jean gate (14th century), at 24 Rue de la Saulnerie.
- Market square, Rue des Douves, and the remains of the ramparts,
- Manor house, Rue des Grippeaux,
- Grès St-Méen dolmen (in the Bois de St Lazare)
- The Priory of St-Lazare,
- St-Jacques Abbey (chapel and cloister)
- Moulin de la Planche (Rue du 11 juin 1944),
- Papegault Tower (Rue de Henneau).

Nearby attractions:
- Town Hall (former Ursuline convent (17th century) (Boulevard Villebois Mareuil),
- La Girafe Library (former courthouse) (19th century) (Place du Tribunal),
- The wash houses (Boulevard du Colombier),
- Old houses (Place de la Cohue).

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 7 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.9 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.1 / 5
Thég
Thég

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 08, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

This is a pleasant route that we have already taken several times. We usually do it in the other direction.
We regret that the section between Asnière and hill 112 is always very muddy. The ground is hard underneath, but the animals that pass through leave far too much "dirt" behind. A pass with a rouable (agricultural machine) by the farmers would be welcome.

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BOBTHENEW
BOBTHENEW

Thank you. I'm very glad you enjoyed the hike.

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Gandoulf
Gandoulf

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 04, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very nice!

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vincent michon
vincent michon

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 14, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

I had some problems with the signposting
It starts out marked in green with the planned name and very attractive wooden arrows
then the green disappears and is replaced by yellow for no apparent reason in the forest
This causes difficulty when a sharp left turn leaves us confused
Then we find the green again at Saint Lazare
There is an orange and red section in the middle, but this is on the map

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Pcv
Pcv

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 04, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Superb walk in the countryside

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eriba-17
eriba-17

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 26, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very beautiful route starting from Trémelin Pond. I was a little unsure about the route near the end of Combe au Loup Pond, but the GPS track is accurate.
There are a few rough sections, but they are very pleasant and pose no particular danger.

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claude toran
claude toran

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 21, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Beautiful hike: discover the village wash house and numerous restored houses
Two climbs are challenging.

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Densfamily
Densfamily

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 04, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

A short circular loop on the heights of Montfort.
The paths are clean. The road sections are safe.
Ideal for introducing children to cycling.

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