Landscapes and colours in the Monthault region

Car park between the Town Hall and the Church.
The entire route is signposted in yellow.

(S/E) From the car park, keep the Town Hall on your right and head north-west towards the Rocher de Monthault.
As you leave the village, take the grassy path on the left. Carry on straight ahead, ignoring the first turn-off on the right. Continue until you reach the entrance to the hamlet known as Le Rocher.

(1) Cross the road and continue along the dirt track opposite on the right. The track becomes a small road leading to the hamlet of La Maltière.
After the hamlet, turn right and follow the path uphill. Cross the road, keeping slightly to the left as you go, following the Stations of the Cross. You’ll arrive opposite the chapel.

(2) In front of the chapel, turn left to see the ‘stones of legend’ and follow a sunken track which ends at the edge of the woods and leads to a small road.

(3) Turn right and follow the road for about 200 metres. Turn right and, as soon as you enter the woodland, keep left. As you approach the road, take a sharp right-hand bend. Do not take the footbridge on your left (unless you’re taking a shortcut directly to (6)) and, immediately after the hut, take a hairpin bend to the right then a hairpin bend to the left in front of a rest area with granite benches. Walk up to the road.

(4) Turn right, then after the left-hand bend, continue along the path on the right which goes round the houses.

(5) Caution: Incorrect signposting – do not continue straight on but take the sunken path on the left. This leads to the access road to Le Rocher. Follow it to the left for 20 metres and then take the path on the left. Cross the road and continue straight ahead.

(6) On your left, you’ll see the footbridge from earlier, which spans the Vallée Humide du Bois Ainaux. Turn right and reach the village track. Follow it to the right for a few metres.

(7) Cross over and continue along the path on the left. Cross the departmental road and carry on along the path across the field. At Le Noyer, cross a local road and head slightly to the left straight ahead. Follow the path as it bends to the right and you’ll come out onto a road.

(8) Turn right and follow the road to the village of Monthault and the town hall car park (S/E).

Granite sculptures from the Monthault region:
the sculptures

The legendary stones:
The first one you come across bears the marks of Satan’s claws; tired of carrying stones for the construction of Mont Saint-Michel, he left this one behind.
A contemporary work of art, dating from 2006, carved from granite and situated nearby, does indeed depict the claws of the Devil, as if to recall this legend. (photo)

Another is known as the ‘Stone of Offerings’ because it features hollows with natural drainage channels where the Celts sacrificed small animals to their deities.

For the history and description of the Chapel of Notre-Dame de la Délivrance:
Chapel