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(S/E) From Place du 8 Mai, take Rue de Breil, which runs perpendicular to the houses at the end of the square. At the end of this small street, turn left onto the towpath that runs along the left bank of the Sarthe. After about 300 metres, at the end of the towpath, turn left onto Rue des Lavanderies. At the end of the houses on the right, turn right, walking alongside the houses, then left, along a small branch of the Sarthe to reach the roundabout at the exit of the car park.
(1) Turn right onto the bridge ("Petit Pont") to cross a small branch of the Sarthe. Continue straight ahead along Rue de l'Île (pedestrianised), and at the end, cross the Sarthe ("Grand Pont") and continue straight ahead.
(2) You are now at the entrance to Place de la Mairie. Turn right at the bakery, then right again into Rue d'Erve. Take the bridge to cross the River Erve and continue straight ahead until the next junction. Take the street on the right, staying on the right-hand pavement to walk alongside the houses. After the last house, turn right onto the path that runs alongside the main road on the left.
(3) At the end, turn left and go under the bridge that crosses the Sarthe. Continue straight ahead with the Sarthe on your right for about 700 metres.
(4) Pass under the viaduct and continue straight ahead. After 1,200 metres, you will arrive at lock no. 14.
(5) Continue straight ahead for 600 metres until you reach a small car park in the village of Le Port de Juigné. Look towards the Sarthe river and you will see Solesmes Abbey opposite you. Continue straight ahead on this towpath, passing under the bridge known as Pont de Solesmes. 100 metres after this bridge, you will find a developed area on your left with a car park, lawn, toilets and children's playground, and on your right a pontoon for boaters (make a note of this as we will come back to it later).
(6) Continue straight ahead on this towpath for about 900 metres until you reach the next lock, No. 13, known as the Juigné-sur-Sarthe lock. Looking across to the other bank, you may see some beautiful houses.
(7) Lock No. 13: it's time to turn back along the same towpath to the pontoon in the developed area (car park, toilets, etc.) that you found on the way there.
(6) After this pontoon, take the second tarmac lane on your right. At the end of this lane, 20 metres on the left, take the stairs up to the road above, then turn left towards the bridge. At the end of the bend, use the pedestrian crossing to cross the road. Use the pavement on the right-hand side of the bridge to cross the Sarthe. At the next crossroads (there is a crêperie on the left), turn right.
(8) Shortly afterwards, turn right again onto Rue du Bac, which descends towards the Sarthe. Continue along this street, passing the foot of Solesmes Abbey. Further on, on the right-hand side of the buildings, you will see the Marbrerie. 80 metres further on, you will find an access point to the Sarthe on the right.
(9) Go down towards the river and take the towpath on the left bank on your left. After about 1300m, pass under the viaduct and then, about 500m further on, turn left into Rue de Breil to return to the car park at Place du 8 Mai (S/E).
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