Tressaint on the banks of the Rance

First, enjoy a breathtaking view of the Dinan viaduct with two passages under the arches, then stroll along the canalised Rance to reach the village of Tressaint and its woods. This route offers peace and serenity, even though it is very close to a popular tourist destination.

Details

3384769
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 10.61 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 30 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 170 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 172 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 83 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 6 m
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ District: Lanvallay (22100)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 48.455729° / W 2.028278°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 1116ET, 1117SB
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Photos

Description of the walk

(S/E) Leave Place d'Alsace via the north and immediately take the small passage on the left before the pharmacy. The passage continues via Impasse du Champ Devant, which leads to Rue du Clos du Puits. Turn left, cross the crossroads and continue straight ahead, slightly to the left, along Rue du Vieux Bourg for 200- m.

(1) Turn right and continue straight ahead along Chemin du Mont en Va, heading north-west (do not follow Impasse du Mont en Va on the left, which leads to private properties) until you reach Rue de l'Abbaye

(2). Follow it to the left along the viaduct wall, taking care as the descent is steep. Pass under the viaduct for the first time. Turn left and then left again to pass under the viaduct once more and join the towpath. Follow it in a large circular loop to the right.

(3) Just before the old lime kilns, turn left and go back up into the valley. Follow Rue de la Ville-es-Oliviers to the right. Continue straight ahead at the crossroads and you will reach the cemetery. Turn right behind the bench and follow the sign to the left, then keep to the right to rejoin the towpath at the Léhon lock.

(4) Take the towpath on the left. On the other bank stands the magnificent Saint-Magloire Abbey. Admire the old Léhon bridge without crossing it. Go up Rue Anne and after 100 metres turn right onto Chemin du Pavillon. The path runs alongside the Rance for a short distance and then crosses a small stream.

(5) Turn left before the path reaches a small hill and climbs the steep slope. Continue to the right towards Les Fosses and follow the road as it continues. At the end of the road, turn right towards the south. In front of the Château de Tressaint (private property) with the cemetery on its right, where you will find the Celtic cross, turn left towards the Croix Gobel.

(6) Continue to the right and then left at the fork. Cross a small road and continue straight ahead on the path on the left. At the top of the hill, at the crossroads, turn left to rejoin the small road that leads to the village. Turn right and continue to the Loges crossroads.

(7) Turn left and after 50 metres, turn right into Rue des Chesnots. At the cross, continue left and turn left again into Chemin des Chênes. After the houses, the road narrows and bends to the right. At Bel Air, it skirts a road and continues along the buildings in a north-north-westerly direction.

(8) When you reach Belle Vue, cross over and follow Rue des Chevrins (RD2) to the right for 75 m. Take the passage on the left at the three large stones, cross the housing estate to the roundabout. Take the passage towards the square and continue north-west to reach Avenue de Beauvais.

(9) Follow the avenue on the left. At the roundabout, turn right onto Avenue du Grand Clos, which continues after another roundabout via Rue du Vieux Bourg.

(1) Continue straight ahead along Rue du Vieux Bourg until you reach the crossroads. Continue straight ahead along Rue du Clos du Puits, then turn right into Impasse du Champ Devant to return to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 74 m - Place d'Alsace - opposite the town hall
  2. 1 : km 0.58 - alt. 70 m - Crossroads of the Vieux Bourg circular
  3. 2 : km 1.04 - alt. 45 m - Rue de l'Abbaye - on the left
  4. 3 : km 1.91 - alt. 9 m - At the lime kilns - on the left - Rance (fleuve)
  5. 4 : km 3.21 - alt. 7 m - Towpath - on the left
  6. 5 : km 4.77 - alt. 11 m - Fork in the road after the stream - on the left
  7. 6 : km 6.04 - alt. 60 m - Croix Gobel - on the right
  8. 7 : km 7.21 - alt. 72 m - Departmental road 2 - on the left
  9. 8 : km 8.51 - alt. 72 m - Crossing the D2
  10. 9 : km 9.15 - alt. 79 m - Avenue de Beauvais - on the left
  11. S/E : km 10.61 - alt. 74 m - Place d'Alsace - opposite the town hall

Notes

Be sure to visit the Maison de la Rance located on Quai du Talard: on the right before the Lanvallay bridge: a 300 m² museum space on two floors and six rooms provides a better understanding of the Rance.

Worth a visit

The climb up to the Butte des Rochettes between (3) and (4) can be avoided by staying on the towpath.

The Celtic cross of Tressaint consists of a Greek cross enclosed in a stone circle, making it resemble its Gallic counterparts. Five nodules are carved on the west side, symbolising the five wounds of Christ. It dates from the 15th century.

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 9 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.2 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
trio35
trio35

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 06, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

It’s a lovely walk, although the final section (8–9) through the housing estates of Lanvallay is far less interesting; however, it does allow you to complete a circular walk.
Please note, there is a slight climb to take into account. Also worth noting at point 5, just as you leave the Rance to head further up, the land has been privatised. Very clear red signs state that the property is private and that you cannot pass through. We walked along a field despite the prohibition and rejoined the path without any trouble, but it was a public holiday and there was no one on the site, so we’ll have to see...

Machine-translated

User 25178765

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 27, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The route was poorly maintained, and I caught a tick there.

Machine-translated

françois frontin
françois frontin

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 10, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Nice hike, well signposted but better with a compass.

Machine-translated

Nois
Nois
• Edited:

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 10, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Interesting route, we will do it again
Lack of signposting
Moderate difficulty

Machine-translated

veroniqueremy
veroniqueremy

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 08, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful walk combining nature, heritage and views of Dinan.

Machine-translated

vivierois
vivierois

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 20, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

With the app on your mobile, it's very easy to follow as there are several coloured stickers. Very pleasant routes with these flat sections and climbs before a visit to Dinan and lunch at a restaurant.

Machine-translated

Joom
Joom

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 14, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike, prettier in the first half than in the second. Reasonable elevation gains for beginner hikers like us.
Very few people on this Sunday, 14 May.
Thank you for this beautiful day.

Machine-translated

Philippe ROBERT
Philippe ROBERT

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 28, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

There is an error of one hour too many in the description: it is 2 hours 25 minutes rather than 3 hours 25 minutes.
Furthermore, the length indicated is 10.61 km, which is compatible with a time of 2 hours 25 minutes (without stopping).

Machine-translated

Augustine GIROUX
Augustine GIROUX

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 26, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Machine-translated

Other walks in the area

For more walks, use our search engine .

The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.