The Route des Marins

Access.

By car, you can park on Boulevard Kennedy, in the car park right next to the Mille Club community hall.

By bus, during the summer months (from early July to late August), the “Les Estivales – 5” shuttle bus serves the “Mille Club Kennedy” stop.

It departs from the car park on Boulevard Kennedy.

(S/E) Take the small street opposite Chemin du Vauclair. At the end of this street, turn left onto Rue du Maréchal Foch for a short while. Then turn right onto Rue du Four Chalmet, passing behind the church.

(1) Take the path on the left to reach Rue de la Motte Rouge. Continue to the right, then straight on along Rue de la Motte Meurdel, before walking 500 metres along Rue de la Jeannette on the opposite side of the road.

(2) At the roundabout on Rue de la Jeannette, carry on straight ahead. 100 metres past the roundabout, turn right onto the path, passing behind the cemetery. When you reach the cemetery gate, take the path on the left to walk alongside the field, and carry on straight ahead, passing in front of the Space Club and heading down to the road.

(3) Once at the bottom, ignore the road and turn immediately left onto the small path. At the end of this path, turn right onto Rue du Tertre d’Oro, then, 50 metres further on, take another path on the left.

(4) Turn right onto Rue du Moulin Madeuc, then take the small path immediately on the left. Cross the bridge over the Flora to walk alongside the pond.

(5) Turn left at the toilets, then head up the track a little further on, on the left. Continue straight on for about 500 metres, then take the path on the left, followed by another left onto the track. At the crossroads by the fields, turn right onto the track.

(6) Once you reach the departmental road, cross it and turn right to follow it. Then take the cycle path which crosses the Parking de la Princelle car park. Continue straight on.

(7) Turn left onto Rue du Pré du Verger and head straight onto the footpath on the right. At the end of the footpath, turn left onto Rue du Port Morvan. Walk for about 300 metres.

(8) Turn right onto Rue des Peupliers, then, after crossing the stream, take Chemin du Bignon on the left, which branches off to the right. Continue straight on along Chemin du Becleuc.

(9) When you reach the end, take the GR®34 on the right. At the end of the GR®, turn left at the next two junctions, then right to reach the harbour.

(10) Walk along the harbour, going all the way round it. When you reach the lock, continue along the harbour via the Quai des Terre Neuvas. At the end, take the steps to join the GR®34.

(11) After passing the guardhouse and near the Anse du Pissot, take the next right to reach the car park. On leaving the car park, turn left. A little further on, look out for a path on the right. Follow it until you reach Rue des Côtières Fontaine.

(12) Walk a short way along this street and take the first left onto Chemin du Rocher. At the end of this path, about ten metres further on, you’ll find another footpath. Take this path; at the end, turn right onto Rue du Corps de Garde, then continue straight ahead.

(13) After the chapel, take Rue Haute de la Vigne on the right, then turn left to walk down the street towards Étang de Dahouët. Turn left, then carry on straight ahead, passing the Minihy roundabout.

(14) At the sign for Camping du Minihy, turn right onto Rue du Petit Train. At the barrier, turn right, then keep left to follow a grassy path until you reach Rue des Sentes.

(15) Walk straight on to the cemetery, then turn left, then right, onto Rue Armand Sorgniard. Continue until you reach the church.

(16) At the end, take the street on the left, walking past the church until you reach Rue du Maréchal Foch. Finally, turn left onto Rue du Vauclair until you return to the starting point (S/E).

Essentials:

-High-top hiking boots, ideally with suitable socks to prevent blisters.

-Oneor more water bottles, depending on the size of the group and the duration of the walk.

-Head coverings(cap, hat, sun hat, etc.) and sun cream in case of prolonged exposure to the sun.

-Awindbreaker or waterproof jacket in case of rain and/or wind.

Public toilets are located along the entire route: there are some at the Church of Saint-Pierre and Saint-Paul, at the Étang de Dahouët, at the Yacht Club in the marina and at the cemetery on Place du 19 Mars 1962.

Picnic tables are available by the lake and just after the (8) before Le Bignon.

The walk sometimes takes you along busy roads and streets, so please take care when crossing at pedestrian crossings.

Please note: there is a 50-metre stretch just before the bend in Rue des Peupliers where there are no pavements; cars may come very close to you.

The Church of Saint-Pierre and Saint-Paul and the Chapel of Dahouët are open to the public. If you’re curious enough to visit, you’ll be able to see ex-votos – model boats donated to the church to ask for or give thanks for a blessing. These bear witness to the history of fishing in the town. The Notre-Dame de la Garde oratory is a perfect example of this.

The harbour, now mainly a marina, was once a fishing port from which sailors set sail for Newfoundland and Iceland in search of cod. If you’re lucky, you might spot the Pauline, an old sailing ship, a remnant of that past.

The guardhouse, also known as the Grande Guette, situated at the far end of the Anse du Pissot, is a remnant of Louis XV’s fear that English ships might land on his shores.

From sea to land, the sailors and their families who have lived in Pléneuf and Dahouët for generations leave their mark on the village cemetery. Several families of shipowners are known to have produced many captains, as evidenced by their funerary monuments. As for those who were not fortunate enough to return to port, a memorial is dedicated to them, such as that for the 30 men of the “Glaneur” who perished at sea.