The Lancelot du Lac Trail in the Lassay region

Start: Place du Château de Lassay (car park).

(S/E) At the foot of the hiking sign, take the small path leading downhill, then continue to your right until you reach Route de Domfront (D117). Turn left until you reach the corner of the Château restaurant and cross at the pedestrian crossing.

(1) Turn right into Rue des Jardins. After 100 m, turn left into Rue du Faubourg. Carry on straight ahead, taking care on the steep descent; you’ll then come across a magnificent wash house on your right (Lassay has more than ten wash houses). You’ll emerge onto Rue du Bois Janvier; turn right, then carry on straight ahead along a tree-lined path that passes through a housing estate before reaching Rue Jean-Baptiste Messager.

(2) Cross the street and continue straight ahead. Cross a dirt track towards a path bordered on the left by a hedgerow, which you follow until you reach the departmental road (D216).

(3) Cross carefully, turn left, then right a good hundred metres further on to head towards the ruined Château du Bois Thibault.

(4) Walk round the castle on the right, head up to the embankment to read the information boards. You will then come to the inner courtyard. Walk round the building to admire the façade. In summer, you can enter the grounds of the Château du Bois Thibault (weekends only, in the afternoons). Continue on your way towards the ruins of Bois Frou.

(5) Cross the county road (D117) with care, then take the path directly opposite which leads down to the stream and follow it. Cross the wooden footbridge and head down through the woodland towards the river. Here you’ll discover Alain Legros’s sculptures on the theme of Lancelot du Lac. Continue along the path until you reach a crossroads.

(6) Turn right, cross the bridge and turn right again to follow the river as closely as possible. The path winds along the Lassay, then climbs towards the ruins of Bois Frou.

(7) Once you reach the top of the embankment, take the path on the left, carry on straight ahead, then turn left to cross the bridge again.

(6) Keep to the right to follow the village path which will take you towards Lassay. When you reach the foot of the main road, walk along the verge on the right towards Lassay Castle.

(1) Carry on straight ahead, then turn right to return to the car park (S/E).

Dirt tracks: 94 per cent.
Circular route: Yes.
Signposting: Yellow PR®.

-Lassay-les-Châteaux Castle (S/E).