Panoramic views of Fougères Castle

Start at the Château’s Porte Saint-Hilaire (Place Pierre Symon). To the right of the château, along the moat, note the sculptures by Louis Derbré (a facsimile of the entire Peace Memorial in Oasa Cemetery, near Hiroshima in Japan).

(S/E) Cross Place Raoul II. Turn left onto Boulevard Jacques Faucheux and immediately turn right into Ruelle des Anglais. Continue straight ahead and follow the path to the Rocher Coupé quarry pond.

(1) A few flights of steps lead to the top of the cliff. The path runs along the cliff and offers you the first panoramic view. Continue for 100m and take another flight of steps down to the level of the pond. Go round the pond on the right. At the south-west corner of the pond, continue southwards and head towards the park exit. Once you’ve left the park, you’ll reach a roundabout.

(2) Cross Boulevard de Bliche and, on the other side of the roundabout, take Rue Charles Péguy for 200m until you reach the junction. Turn left onto Chemin de la Vigne, then take the first right (Avenue des Poètes). Take the second left (Rue Jacques Prévert). After 100m, the street turns right. Don’t miss the small path between two houses immediately on your left. You can finally leave the tarmac roads and return to the dirt tracks.

After 50 metres through the woodland, a flight of steps appears on your left. Do not take them straight away.
Take a detour to the right to reach a viewpoint (castle, bell tower of Saint-Sulpice Church, Saint-Léonard Church and belfry).

(3) Retrace your steps and take the staircase on the right (caution: the path is steep and slippery in wet weather). On Rue de Lusignan, turn right and walk for 50 metres. At the junction with Rue du Nançon, take a sharp right and cross Place du Marchix. Continue along Rue de Savigny. As you pass, admire the superbly restored Maison de Savigny on your left.

(4) After 200m, take the path on the left to reach the Nançon. Cross it via the small bridge and follow the river to the wash house. Turn right into Rue des Vallées. At the fork, continue slightly to the right along Rue des Batailles. Just as the street turns right, take Ruelle des Batailles on the left. Follow it up to an intersection. Then take Rue des Vallées on your right (steep hill).

At the top of the hill, turn left onto Rue Porte Saint Léonard. The entrance gate to the public gardens appears a few metres further on. Go in and head to the balustrade to enjoy the third view of the castle.

(5) Retrace your steps and, back at the public garden gate, turn left. Walk past the town hall and you’ll come out onto the forecourt of Saint Léonard Church (the bell tower is open to visitors). At the crossroads, take Rue Nationale (the left-hand lane). Halfway along, on your right, the belfry might ring out for you. Continue on to the theatre.

(6) With your back to the theatre, take Rue Porte Roger at the far end of the square in front of you. Once you reach Place du Tribunal, take the passage to the left of the statue of Amand Tuffin, behind the courthouse. Go down the stairs and walk around the Monfromery Tower. Turn left into Ruelle des Vaux. After 400m, you will see the sculpture ‘L’œuvre à la vie’ (down in the valley). Turn right and head towards the river. Turn left and follow the Nançon to return to the castle entrance (S/E).

Fougères Castle is open to visitors
The bell tower of Saint-Léonard Church can be visited there