Ducey-lès-Chéris / Mont-Saint-Michel

Discover the final stage of the Veloscenic cycle route: the greenway meanders towards the mouth of the Sélune River. Then begins a festival of glimpses of the Mont Saint-Michel through small Norman villages. The hedgerow countryside gives way to salt meadows, and the sea air gradually makes itself felt. You're almost there — the Marvel of the West is now just a few kilometres away...

 Stage description

Rejoin the greenway leaving Ducey-lès-Chéris to cycle on to Pontaubault, then follow the new cycle path running along the side of the Bay of the Mont Saint-Michel, amidst the salt meadows, or prés salés. Certain stretches are still being laid out at time of writing, so you may have to take the odd diversion along little roads. You finally arrive at the place named Caserne, where you can park your bike and continue to the holy mount via shuttle bus, or then you can ride over the bridge to take a memorable photo of your arrival at the foot of the great abbey nicknamed the Marvel of the West.

 Cyclists are allowed to ride across the bridge but it is forbidden to park your bike on the bridge or at the foot of the ramparts. See our advice on parking your bike during your visit to the Mont Saint-Michel.

 Not to be missed:

• The charming, flowery village of Ducey-lès-Chéris is an historic port where boats pushed along by the tide once moored. As symbols of its strategic and mercantile past, the little town has preserved its imposing Château des Montgommery (open in season, notably featuring its scavenger hunt game, the Ducey Code) and its old bridge, both dating back to the 17th century.
• Pontaubault with its 11-arched bridge, beside which you'll find a lovely picnic area from which to appreciate the landscapes, and which is also a much-appreciated spot from which to observe the tidal bore on days of exceptional tides.
• The Pointe de Roche Torin offering a lovely, unique viewing point across to the holy mount of the Mont Saint-Michel, the neighbouring Tombelaine Rock and the wider bay.
• The Mont de Huisnes German military cemetery, the only German mausoleum in France.
• Le Scriptorial d'Avranches with exhibitions about the collections of manuscripts from the Abbey of the Mont Saint-Michel.
• ... and of course the Mont Saint-Michel itself and its great bay: highlights include tours of the mount's village and abbey, crossing the great bay on foot, and bird watching.

 On the map, activate the Accommodation Useful information Leasure Restauration to discover nearby services and points of interest.

 Food and drink en route

• Ducey-lès-Chéris: shops and a market on Tuesday mornings along the Grande Rue.
• Pontaubault: small local shops in which to buy provisions for a picnic beside the Sélune.
• Caserne: with many shops.

 Bike repair

• Decathlon Avranches, Avranches.
• Planète Vélo, Avranches.
• RBD Location, Céaux.
• Bik'In Baie, Beauvoir.
• Atelier Prépa Vélo, Pontorson. +33 6 99 54 41 93

 Consult the list of all the bike repairers along or near the route.

 Nearby train stations

• Gare de Pontorson (link by bike via greenway along the Couesnon river)
• Gare d'Avranches (link by bike via small roads across the salt meadows, or prés salés)

 See our article on reaching the veloscenic cycle route for more information on options for travelling with a bicycle.