THREE SAINT'S WAY - DAY SIXTEEN

LA CASERNE TO MONT ST-MICHEL - 2 MILES

Summary:- The final short stage was on a lovely morning and Mont St-Michel is an impressive site behind its protective walls. We arrived early,  went through the old town to the entrance to the religious complex and carried out the grand tour. Walked the walls and then had lunch and in the afternoon took the bus to Pontorson and checked in to a hotel close to the railway station ready for the first stage of the journey home by train. Had an excellent meal in a nearby restaurant.

For some amazing views of Mont St-Michel that you can only get from a drone see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-z_efL-iK24

For a more conventional documentary https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zq0axpbPns

Route description:-  Things have changed significantly around Mont St-Michel in recent years. It used to have a tidal causeway road to it and vast car parks partly in the tidal zone and partly just out of it. Now all of that has gone. A channel has been excavated to make it an island, the car parks have been buried in mud. A causeway on piles has been built to allow 24/7 access but private cars and camper vans that used to come in droves now have to park in a park and ride site at La Caserne on the mainland and visitors have to take a shuttle bus to the island or walk along the elevated causeway on wide pavements next to the carriageway. In the picture below you can see the mud that has been deposited to restore the coastal marshland.

 

Before leaving the Hotel Vert we obtained a leaflet of the bus times from Mont St-Michel to Pontorson from the large rack of leaflets and set off early before the coaches arrived. It was no more that 2 miles today, the sun was breaking through to make a beautiful morning for the finish of the walk. In the picture below you can see the road and pavement on piles in the foreground.

It is a walled town as you can see above and there are a double set of entrance gates to go through, below is one of them. Look for the tourist office on entering the gates if you have followed in our footsteps. There you can get an official certificate to record and register the completion of your pilgrimage. Which certificate you get depends on the route that you have taken to get there.

 

Below is a picture taken from high up in the religious complex showing the channel that has been constructed to make it an island across which the elevated causeway crosses to the turning area below the walls.

 

 

Because we were not allowed in the religious centre with our big backpacks we took it in turns to do the tour. There is a set route taking in all the areas open to the public.

 

The church is taken in early on the tour and the picture below is taken from behind the altar.

Just left of centre is the large area in front to the church entrance where you get the first opportunity to enjoy the spectacular views over the bay and back to the mainland. On the side visible in the picture below there is a steep drop down onto the gardens below.

 

The cloisters which have good views from some of the windows around the outside.

 

 

The picture window in the cloisters with the mainland in the background.

 

The refectory is below 

 

Because the religious part is high up they have a large wheel (below) and ropeway up the side of the walls which enables goods to be hauled up.

Below a view out into the bay to the west of the island with the coast we had walked in the background.

 

The tour takes visitors down through the gardens and you can look back up at the massive structure.

 

Below is the view  showing the route that visitors have to climb up to get to the ticket office entrance.

 

The town walls are high, with many steep steps but well worth the effort of exploring. There are views down onto the streets in the town and restaurants directly off the walls lower down.

 

This is a Mont St-Michel omelette a local speciality. It is enormous but the mixture has been whipped up so that it is very light.

 

You can walk right around the island if you set out when the tide is retreating and if you like getting thorough muddy. The picture below shows a couple of coach loads of children making a lot of noise and getting thoroughly muddy.

This is the old town from the walls. We were lucky we had just finished our omelettes in an open courtyard and the heavens opened for a short while which is why everyone in the picture has their cagoules on.

 

Hotel:- Most of the buses leaving Mont St-Michel are the shuttle buses but there is one bus route that goes to Pontorson which has a railways station on the main line from Rennes to Caen or Cherbourg. All the buses turn around near the entrance to the town walls but the bus stops are a little way back down the causeway. On getting to Pontorson we checked into the Hotel au Jardin St Michel at 37 Rue de la Liberation, 50170 Pontorson. Phone +33233601135. We had booked it through Booking.com. On the main road there is the original hotel and restaurant and behind is an extension in motel style. Being remarkably good value yet basic accommodation it is half the price of staying in La Caserne. The advantage to us was it was a short walk in the morning to get the early morning train and there was only one that would enable us to make the connection for the ferry at Caen. There was a restaurant but it was closed. We found about a quarter of a mile away the Restaurant Roi XIV, 14 Rue du Docteur Tizon, 50170 Potorson Telephone 0233690929 www.le-14.com  which was extremely good value for money, served very good food and there was good service. The Restaurant and the hotel got 8.5 out of ten because of their good value for money.

 

The second half of the Three Saint's Way is the 547 kilometres to St Jean d'Angely but that is another trip some when soon I hope. http://pilgrimagepublications.com/pp_2014/three-saints-way/

THREE SAINT'S WAY - DAY FIFTEEN

PONTAUBAULT TO LA CASERNE - 10.37 MILES

Summary:- Setting off from the hotel we crossed the bridge at Pontaubault and worked our way along the estuary of the River Selune heading towards Mont St-Michel. It came on to rain hard for an hour and a half. Rounding the Pointe de Roche Torin we joined sheep on the marshes. A little later it started to clear up and by the time we reached a picnic site it was time for lunch. For the last few miles the flood defences had been strengthened by the addition of more material on the sea wall. This made for muddy slippery progress. As we neared La Caserne the path improved and we ended in the land of multi-national visitors as this was the point for the journey to Mont St-Michel the following day.

Route Description:- We left the Hotel Les 13 Assiettes out onto the main road and into a dull overcast morning and headed south towards Pontaubault. There was no footway so we kept to the verge. At 0.29 miles after a bend to the left and then to the right the road crosses all that remains of an alignment of a branch off of the active main railway line that was on our right. After that there is a track along the side of the road and at 0.32 miles there is the marker below, one marking the progress of the liberation forces in the Normandy invasion.

 

At 0.51 miles the bridge over the River Selune is crossed with Pontaubault on the other side. This is the view looking downstream towards the bridge carrying the railway.

 

We had decided to make an early start from the hotel and not to take breakfast there but to seek a coffee in the village. The Bar Le Relais Fleuri (pictured below) was doing a coffee but no food and the proprietor invited us to get food from neighbours and come back in to eat it. We returned with a huge sausage baguette from a fast food van parked opposite near a little market. On leaving we decided to get another one for a picnic lunch although there was another shop selling picnic materials.

 

Returning to the river bank we turned left downstream (mileages do not include our diversion for food). Below is a waymark nearby featuring the red and white waymarks of the French waymarking system and the waymark specific to our route.

 

Below is the view back looking at the road bridge which survived the war time destruction.

 

Initially we walked down the D113 and there was a large picnic area and numerous tables next to the river and then the road went under the railway near its river crossing. (0.70 miles) Shortly after a path on the right leaves the road and keeps to the edge of the marsh adjacent to the river. The river comes quite close to the path and then at 1.20 miles moves away again to the other side of the estuary. At 1.56 miles near a group of houses called Flage it is through a gate and onto a road. The road follows the edge of the marshy meadows next to the river now a long way away on the other side. At 2.08 miles the route leaves the shore and heads inland slightly uphill and at 2.36 miles at a crossroads it is right on the D313 heading to La Roche Torin. Initially there is an orchard on the right behind its high hedges and big gates. It is here that it came on to rain. At 2.73 miles there is the opportunity to use what looks like a section of old road as the adjoining main road goes around some bends. Below is the view looking back across the estuary marshes and the darker clouds gave us warning of heavier rain that soon set in.

 

At 2.93 miles it was back onto the road again. It bends gradually to the left passing a couple of farms. Ignore a road off to the left at 3.37 miles and at 3.44 miles the coastal marsh comes to an end and the route goes inland with fields on both sides. At 3.66 miles ignore a road on the left going to Ceaux. At 4.34 miles the  road starts to bend right. At 4.65 miles the coastal estuary appears again on the right and here the route is straight on to Roche Torin where the main road goes left. The narrower road crosses a stream coming to the coast at 4.68 miles and then rounds the Pointe de Roche Torin and save for coastal walkers effectively comes to an end. Rounding the point the rain was torrential but out there in the bay and now getting quite close was Mont St-Michel. There are tracks out into the marshes but the route keeps close to the marshland boundary boundary with the fields to round another little headland at 5.09 miles. Then it  cuts across the marshes along a path next to a fence, see picture below from which you can see it was now really wet. 

 

Reaching the shore line at the end of the fence (5.51 miles) it is right, staying within the marshlands. We paused under a tree watching the sheep moving out across the marsh and a ram enjoying himself - see picture below.

 

 

The village of Bas-Courtils is inland but the path continues in the marshes working its way around boggy areas. At 5.95 miles a track comes down from the road inland and ends at a car park from which there is a distant view of Mont St-Michel (see picture below)

 

The path by the shore continues until at 6.81 miles it joins the main coast road near a picnic site where there were tables we used for our picnic lunch. There was a regular stream of mobile homes coming by but they did not stay long.  At the other end of the picnic area (6.90 miles) the route starts along a sea wall that has recently been enlarged which we found to be a muddy track and hard going made worse by the heavy rain that had now passed by. Behind the sea wall was the Polder de St-Avit. The wall went north west, then north east then north west and at 7.17 miles turned left just south of west.  At 8.28 miles there was a pond on the left and then the sea wall bent right at 8.46 miles and then 8.60 miles started to bend left. At 9.08 miles on reaching a tidal creek it is necessary to cross it following a fence (this may be a problem at extreme high tides) to re-join the sea wall on the other side and turn right. Here look for the path on the landward side of the fence along the sea wall - a return to an undisturbed path and easier going. At 9.44 miles the sea wall bends left and here we paused to take photographs of Mont St-Michel which was now bathed in sunshine (see below).

 

 

Jim took the picture below of yours truly to email to home with confirmation we were nearing the end of our journey.

 

Following the coast path we reached the D976 at La Caserne (10.15 miles)  the settlement on the mainland. Here there are a collection of hotels, restaurants and shops and a park and ride bus site all catering for the hundreds of thousands who visit Mont St-Michel. We turmed left along the road, had an expensive beer in the first bar and then found the Hotel Vert on the left at 10.37 miles.

 

The Hotel:- We had chosen the Hotel Vert, Route de Mont Saint Michel, La Caserne, 50170 France  and booked it through Booking.com. We had booked a twin room but were upgraded to an enormous room for four with en-suite separate bathroom and toilet. Needless to say we were highly impressed. The hotel does not do evening meals but there is a large restaurant just across the car park as well as a large supermarket for all your tourist gifts for those at home. Breakfast was taken in the hotel and was excellent. This is a tourist hotel and the majority were from Asia. We gave it 9.8 out of 10.

 

 

 

The Hotel Vert

 

Fibre glass cows outside the supermarket next door.

THREE SAINT'S WAY - DAY FOURTEEN

GENETS TO PONTAUBAULT - 11.83 MILES

Summary:- From Genets we followed the coast to La Chaussee and then cut inland to St-Leonard to avoid going around the headland of Le Grouin du Sud and returned to and followed the coast again. Walking away from Mont St-Michel we had to get around and across the estuary of the River See. Once over it and below the cathedral city of Avranches it was along the other side of the estuary only to have to follow another estuary inland to our hotel which was just before we reached Pontaubault and the crossing of the River Selune. A wet day was forecast and tremendous storms passed either side of us and apart from a few drizzle spells we avoided them all and the sun came out for a while in the afternoon.

Route description:- It had rained overnight and it was overcast as we left Le Moulin, turning left onto the D911 but after crossing the stream feeding the mill race turned right down the Rue des Granges (0.05 miles). At a staggered cross roads the route was left down the Rue des Granges which took us to the boundary between the agricultural land and the extensive marshes which I shall call the coast. Following the road around to the left at 0.39 miles, where it went inland we followed a muddy path along the coast. Mont St-Michel could be seen out in the bay and that was as close as we were going to get to it today. See picture below.

The coast path goes around the promontory of  Pointe du Monet Manet (1.07 miles) after which you get the view below along the "coast".  At 1.18 miles the coast path meets the end of a road from where another coast path continues. 

At 1.18 miles the coast path meets the end of a road from where another coast path continues. Later it continues with a road on the left and at 1.48 miles the D41 comes down to the coast at a place called Le Grand Port. Keep to the coast path as the road goes inland and the path runs on the seaward side of houses. At 2.03 miles La Chaussee is reached where a road comes down to the coast. Here you have to choose between following the coast path around Le Grouin du Sud, or like us cutting the headland off. We turned left through some gates across the end of the road and headed inland in the direction of St Leonard passing the Bar L'Abri du Saunier which was closed. At 2.25 miles it was straight on at a cross roads up hill into the older part of the village. Keep straight on ignoring two roads on the left the second being where the church is on the left take the next road on the right (2.41 miles) which starts the descent out of the village into the countryside. (see the photo below). 

It was here we had to put the waterproofs on because of the drizzle. The road bends to the left (2.66 miles) and along the next section I took this picture of a cow whose spotted brown pattern is very typical of this region.

At 2.86 miles turn right at a T-junction and then next left at 2.91 miles. It was here that I first noticed the cathedral in Avranches at the top of a hill. At the next T-junction it was right (3.31 miles) and at 3.34 miles it is back to the coast. Leave the road and pick up the coast path and go left. At 3.56 miles another track comes down to the coast, keep to the coast path until at La Rue Chevret (4.09 miles) you get close to the River See for the first time on the your right. (See picture below). 

The coast path joins a track and passes inland of a horse race course reclaimed from the marshes. (4.96 miles) Keep to the track next to the coast after that until the D911 is reached (5.40 miles). Cross the road bridge over a stream and leave the D911 by taking the track on the right which keeps to the side of the estuary and reclaimed fields. The horse and trap in the picture below passed us here. 

The track runs parallel with the River See and then returns to the D911 at 5.84 miles. After 50 metres fork right through some barriers onto a cycle path made from what looks like a section of disused railway. This traverses the valley floor and at 6.06 miles there is the bridge in the picture below across the River See. Here we sat on some concrete blocks and had a picnic lunch.  

On the other side of the bridge is a road and here we went right with a section of the active railway on the left and with Avranches above us on the hill. At 6.25 miles at a road junction where a road on the left crosses the railway fork right. At 6.53 miles the road gets back to the side of the estuary and shortly after close to the river. Continue along the road and just after where there is a farm on the left at 7.06 miles there is a bend in the river and it goes away from the road. (see picture below).

At 7.32 miles the road turns left and goes inland, continue straight on along a vehicular track that is a no-through road. When it comes to an end (7.51 miles) it is through a pedestrian gate and along a path just within the marshes. Continue working a way through the puddles and rivulets until at 8.17 miles go through a side gate next to a larger one onto a road and continue along it towards the Aerodrome buildings and wind sock ahead. The runway is out in the marshes and below is a photo across the runway towards Mont St-Michel.

Follow the road to the left of the airport buildings, but note a monument on the right just after (8.35 miles) The road continues along the coast gradually bending left as the route enters the next river estuary. At Le Gue de l'Epine 9.09 miles ignore a road away from the coast and keep going with the River Selune now on the right. The road starts a long bend right with the river. At La Maraicherie (9.80 miles) ignore another road going inland and keep to the coast. At 10.23 miles the road starts to bend left and at 10.40 miles it turns inland. Here go across a footbridge on the right and continue along a footpath along the coast which leads to the mill of Flaget visible ahead (now converted to a residence). A footbridge is crossed over a stream next to the building and then turn left to its approach road. (10.51 miles). Follow the road to a fork and take the right fork (10.73 miles) and just beyond go through a gate on the right back onto a path in a field next to the river. Below is the view at this point downstream.

At 11.19 miles a tarmac road comes down to the river, here our route to the hotel was inland. The road led to the hamlet of Argennes. Here at 11.40 miles it was right and then right again immediately and out of the hamlet. At 11.67 miles the road bends left and then crosses the main coast railway line at a level crossing. Ignore the road immediately on the left and continue to the main road the D43E2 (11.83 miles) and there is a hotel on the left.

Accommodation:- We had booked accommodation in the Hotel Les 13 Assiettes, Route de la Quintine direction Pontaubault, Le Val St Pere, Basse Normandie 50300  Telephone +33 2 33 89 03 03 Email 13assiettes@wanadoo.fr We had booked what was described as a room for 5 persons with mezzanine, shower wc and terrasse. The hotel has a series of structures looking like posh garages with a porch and table and chair outside. Inside there was an excellent double bed, a basic kitchen and table and chairs and en-suite facilities and up a step ladder was a very low loft with a double mattress and a single mattress. Jim volunteered to go upstairs but found the conditions cramped and considered it was only acceptable for children. There was a heated enclosed swimming pool in the garden. The restaurant was of a very high standard and reasonably priced. 

THREE SAINT'S WAY - DAY THIRTEEN

LE PONT BLEU TO GENETS

Summary:- The weather forecast was good for the day with a prospect of rain later in the evening. We walked to the railway station and caught the bus to Le Pont Bleu, walked to Kairon to resume the route to Mont St Michel and then walked through the hills behind the coast which led to the point where the coastal tourist areas ended to be replaced by rocky coastline We walked along a disused railway line to Carolles and then along the tricky coast path. After lunch at a restaurant with a panoramic view at les Falaises the coast path continued. Returning to flatter coastline it was along roads to Genets where we had a special evening in a lovely bar and stayed in a converted mill with working wheels. A tough but enjoyable day.

Route description:- Surprised that we had a good sleep and that we had not been parted with our possessions as the door into the garden was unlocked, we consumed a good breakfast and walked back down the hill again to the Granville Railway Station in time to catch the Maneo bus No 4 at 8:38 to Le Pont Bleu arriving at 8:57. While waiting for the bus I ventured into the railway station where it was warmer and found the lovely painting on the walls that features in the picture below.

After getting of the bus it was across the road via the zebra crossing and then right followed by a fork left down the Rue de la Faisanderie and at 0.21 miles left into the Rue de la Folliotte. As we climbed uphill the houses we passed through constituted La Folliote and the next settlement was Kairon and at 0.73 miles we arrived at the church - see picture below.

The route was to the right of the church into a short road with some attractive houses which ended where a minor vehicular track continued between hedges (0.81 miles) out into the countryside. At 1.05 miles at a cross roads of tracks it was right, at 1.12 miles it was then left onto a footpath and at 1.17 miles the path went right climbing up to ridge at 30 metres above sea level. A sign warned of a dangerous descent ahead and sure enough the footpath dropped down through severely eroded steps and then went left and then right. The path then crosses the flat valley of the Le Thar River. On reaching the river (1.48 miles) the path goes right to follow it but at 1.55 miles a footbridge takes the path over the river and then the path climbs up, turns left (1.61 miles) and then right (1.66 miles) and climbs becoming an unsurfaced vehicular track and then turns left (1.73 miles) and finally joins a road at a cross roads (1.83 miles). Turn right here and go uphill into the hamlet of La Carriere and at a T- junction turn right (2.01 miles) but then turn left along the road visible ahead (2.06 miles). It climbs steeply out of the hamlet.Where the road levels out turn right down another one (2.32 miles) where there are some nice properties on either side. At a crossroads go straight across (2.46 miles) down the Route du Rainfray. This road leads into Bouillon and at 2.75 miles to a staggered cross roads. Turn right and then left into the narrower Chemin des Monts which leads out of the village and along a ridge with views down to the coast and Granville in the distance on the right - see the picture below.

At 3.12 miles ignore a road off to the left and a track on the right leading down to a telecommunications mast. At 3.66 miles at a T-junction turn right down the Rue du Corps de Garde. This road leads to a viewpoint and some seats overlooking the coast and Jullouville below (3.79 miles). See photo below. The road bends left here.

At 3.85 miles where the road bends right go straight on along an unsurfaced vehicular track keeping to the ridge. Look out for a steep set of steps down to the right at 3.99 miles. This was a tricky descent with a backpack. At the bottom turn left along what is the remains of  a coastal railway track between Granville and Avranches. Some barriers prevent vehicular traffic and it is now a pretty cycle way very gradually climbing. Views open up on the right as it bends left (4.16 miles) then enters woodland and bends right where a former railway viaduct is crossed (built in 1906) with views over the parapets down onto the Vallee des Peintres. (4.39 miles). Continuing to follow the railway track two bridges over it are passed at 4.68 miles and 4.81 miles. After passing through more barriers it becomes a road serving residential properties (the Chemin de l'Aumone) which ends at a cross roads (5.02 miles). Go straight ahead until reaching a car park and then turn right and head towards St Vigor Church - see picture below. This is the centre of Carolles. 

Turn left just before it and then right. Note the Paqueray Cross in the church yard which recalls the villages losses in the wars of 1815, the original cross was replaced in 1871 with this monument. https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carolles Ignore the road to the left and continue along the D261. At the T-junction at the other end of the straight (5.21 miles) there are some shops for provisions including an 8 a huit. Off to the right is a bar but the route is to the left (5.22 miles) along the Rue de la Croix in the direction of Avranches. At 5.31 miles in the hamlet of La Croix fork right. At 5.39 miles fork right and the road narrows. It bends to the left and then the right and then at a T-junction with a fancy entrance gate ahead turn right (5.51 miles). Soon after take an unsurfaced vehicular track on the left just before a parking area. We had a welcome rest on the seat here. The track descends into the valley of the Lude and at 5.68 miles the stream is reached. Follow the stream ignoring a path over it shortly thereafter until at 5.89 miles in the heart of the valley there is a fork (see picture below). Go left and climb steeply uphill out of the valley. At the top there is a view down onto a rocky coast (5.92 miles).

Follow the rocky cliff top path, at 6.12 miles the path ignored earlier joins from the left and at 6.31 miles la Cabane Vauban is reached where the first view of Mont St Michel is obtained. This lookout point would offer some shelter in bad weather. 

The coast path continues up and down from here, sometimes quite tricky to negotiate with a heavy backpack. Follow the red and white waymarks. At 6.49 miles a path joins from a car park above. 

At 6.77 miles a path joins the coast path from the D911 inland.

At 7.47 miles another Cabane Vauban is reached. The route here is initially down and then the route levels out, the footpath becomes a track and finally a road. The route leaves the red and white waymarks of the coast path where it goes downward (7.58 miles). Continue on the road until arriving at the D911 at 7.33 miles. Turn right along the D911 and at 7.89 miles is La Grange de Tarn Restaurant the perfect spot for a civilised lunch break after all that up and down. www.la-grange-de-tarn.fr Telephone 02 33 61 85 52 Open every day in July and August, but other months it is closed Tuesday and Wednesday. There is a lovely view from the terrace. - See below

Immediately after the restaurant there is a road down to the right, then fork left along a no-through road. Below is the view over the top of one of the houses along it. In the background on the left can just be seen the Bec d'Andaine the flatter promontory that is on the route before Genets. 

At 8.08 miles the road ends and the tricky coast path continues. At 8.49 miles shortly after another Cabane the path exits onto a road the Allee des Mimosas. Turn right down it. On reaching the larger road at the bottom turned right to reach the Plage de St-Michel. Below is the view from the seat on the beach front looking back along the cliffs the way we had come. 

We were to follow roads to Genets not only because the walk was taking much longer than planned but the rain forecast for the end of the day seemed to be coming from the south west. The coastal path, the Sentier Littoral keeps closer to the coast in parts of this route and comes back to the road from time to time. A lot of the route is sand dunes so it would add not only additional miles but more time. As it is it would be 17:00 before we reached Genets. The Sentier Littoral keeps to the sea front, our route followed the road (Boulevard Stanislas) just inland marked with blue arrows. Ignore the Rue Saint Michel on the right that goes to the seafront at 8.96 miles. At a mini-roundabout at 9.22 miles go straight across (the Plage de Pignochet is off to the right). At 9.28 miles the Sentier Littoral rejoins the road from the right. Soon you are out into the countryside. At 9.83 miles there is a road to Obrey on the left and the Sentier Littoral returns to the coast on the right. At 10.21 miles the Sentier Littoral rejoins the road. At 10.36 miles turn left at a T-junction, where the Sentier Littoral goes right back to the coast, and then at 10.42 miles turn right on the road to Genets. At 10.86 miles there is a road on the left inland to Dragey. Continue plodding along the road until at 12.12 miles a sharp left is reached. To the right is Le Bec d'Andaine a point on the coast where you can take a guided only route across the mud at low tide to Mont St-Michel. We kept to the coast and turned left along the D35E. At 12.46 miles the road crosses a stream and enters the settlement of Le Pont Neuf. At 12. 58 miles at a cross roads follow the main road around to the right. A road side sign heralds the arrival in Genets and at 13.02 miles the D911 is reached at a T-junction. Turn right through the old part of the village passing some shops and then at 13.17 miles you get the view below down a creek that  must have been a port. 

We were in need of a drink so we went first to the place where we had booked a table for the evening meal. Just past the above stream we forked right down the Rue Montoise, at the next junction left into the Rue de l'Avant Garde and at the next junction right into the Rue Jeremie. Near the end of that street was our destination Chez Francois (picture below). Inside are bench seat tables like those you might find in a garden and the fire was being lit and a collection of locals were having an animated discussion. We were to return in the evening and paper table clothes and cutlery were on the tables. It was not long before the place was full. All the meat main courses were cooked on the fire and the conversation, the drink and the food flowed in a very convivial atmosphere.The conversation got louder as the evening went on and a couple from Brittany were next to us and in a mixture of French and English we had a good evening. We rated this place as one not to miss but do make a reservation with Francois at Chez Francois, 2 Rue Jérémie, 50530 Genêts, France Telephone +33 2 33 70 83 98 Email resto@chezfrancois.fr Web site http://www.chezfrancois.fr/

Chez Francois has rooms but we were booked into a B&B which is located in a converted mill. Turning left out the bar and then left again down the Rue du Puits l'Home and at the end of the straight left into Rue du Pave and at a T-junction right onto the D911 it was at the point where the road went around to the right at 13.59 miles. Two working mill wheels one generating electricity were explored - see photo below. 

Below is the view around the other side where the front door is located. The four bedrooms are on the second floor with a communal lounge. The en-suite room we had was spacious, well appointed and the establishment is highly recommended and reasonably priced. The sound of the water wheels made it very atmospheric the wild west saloon style doors into the en-suite facilities caused some amusement. Breakfast was continental and served in the kitchen on the first floor. The proprietors are Louis and Marie Claire Daniel and the address is Le Moulin, 50530 Genets. Telephone 02 33 70 83 78 Email lemoulin.genets@orange.fr