The walled Towns

The tour is classified as a “moderate challenge”, suitable for regular cyclists. The stages range from 34 to 54 km, which is a moderate daily distance. The terrain is hilly in places, typical of inland Brittany (granite, bocage, valleys), but never extreme. The last two stages (34 km each between Combourg and Dinan, then Dinan and Saint-Malo) are deliberately short to allow time for visiting the towns. The electric bike (€280 for 6 days) is a valuable ally for tackling the hills with ease, particularly the 54 km stage between Fougères and Combourg, which crosses the heart of rural Brittany.

Both tours start and finish in Saint-Malo, and both pass through Cancale, Dol-de-Bretagne, Mont-Saint-Michel, Dinan and the Rance Valley. The difference is that ‘Les Cités Médiévales’ adds two major stages not covered by ‘La Route des Corsaires’. After Pontorson, you head due south to Fougères, whose thousand-year-old castle is one of the most impressive medieval fortresses in France, with a detour to the American cemetery at Saint-James. You then travel through the heart of Brittany to Combourg, the castle where Chateaubriand grew up, nestled on the shores of a peaceful lake. These two extra days transform the trip from a coastal tour with a detour to Mont-Saint-Michel into a genuine exploration of inland Brittany and its fortified towns. If you have 6 days, “La Route des Corsaires” at €740 is the compact option. If you have a full week and want Fougères, Combourg and rural Brittany as well, ‘Les Cités Médiévales’ at €980 is the comprehensive option.

Day 1: arrival in Saint-Malo, exploring the ramparts, forts and the history of the corsairs (Jacques Cartier, Surcouf, Chateaubriand). Hotel facing the sea on the Sillon.
Day 2: spectacular coastal drive to Pointe du Grouin with views of the Chausey Islands, a stop for a tasting of deep-sea oysters in Cancale, then Dol-de-Bretagne and its cathedral (dinner included).
Day 3: Mont Dol, the Cherrueix polders, Mont-Saint-Michel (approx. 3-hour visit), then the Couesnon Canal to Pontorson.
Day 4: Heading due south towards Fougères via Montmorel Abbey, Saint-James (American cemetery of 4,410 soldiers) and the Breton dolmens, arriving opposite the thousand-year-old Château de Fougères perched on its rocky outcrop.
Day 5: a journey through the heart of Brittany, past isolated farms, granite manor houses and deciduous woodlands, arriving in Combourg with its lake dominated by the Château de Chateaubriand.
Day 6: the Rance valley via Evran, arriving in Dinan, a medieval Breton gem with its granite buildings and half-timbered houses, overnight stay in a former 16th-century convent.
Day 7: journey down the Rance, a remarkable landscape of sailing boats and fields of artichokes, return to Saint-Malo and the beaches of Le Sillon. Seven days of fortified towns, castles and bocage, with Mont-Saint-Michel as the centrepiece of the trip.

Five major historic towns mark the route. Saint-Malo and its pirate ramparts at the start and finish. Dol-de-Bretagne with its cathedral and medieval alleyways. Fougères and its imposing castle, one of the largest medieval fortresses in Europe, surrounded by the natural moat of the Nançon. Combourg and Chateaubriand’s romantic castle overlooking the lake. And Dinan, arguably the finest example of Breton architecture in France, with its countless granite buildings topped with half-timbering. Mont-Saint-Michel, a fortified island town and thousand-year-old abbey, completes this exceptional panorama. It is a journey through time, from the Middle Ages to the age of privateering, punctuated by castles, ramparts and cobbled streets.

Yes, it is the highlight of Day 3. After crossing the polders of Cherrueix (land reclaimed from the sea), you arrive at the foot of Mont-Saint-Michel. Allow at least 3 hours to visit the ramparts, the abbey and the village. The approach by bike across the bay, with Mont-Saint-Michel gradually rising on the horizon, is unrivalled. After the visit, you’ll head to Pontorson along the Couesnon, the natural border between Normandy and Brittany. The route thus combines the ‘Marvel of Normandy’ with the medieval towns of Brittany in a single journey.

It is one of the most impressive monuments on the route. Fougères Castle is over a thousand years old. Perched on a rocky outcrop surrounded by the waters of the Nançon, which form natural moats, it is one of the largest medieval fortresses in Europe. The ring of ramparts and towers surrounding it is spectacular. Your hotel is located ‘intra-muros’, leaving you plenty of time to visit the fortress and stroll through the narrow streets in the evening, once the passing tourists have left. It is this stop, added to the itinerary compared to “La Route des Corsaires”, that justifies the two extra days and transforms the stay into a true journey through the history of Brittany.

Yes. You’ll spend two nights in Saint-Malo (arriving on Day 1 and returning on Day 7), both times in a hotel overlooking the sea on the Sillon, Saint-Malo’s large sandy beach. The final stage (Day 7, 34 km from Dinan to Saint-Malo) is deliberately short to give you some free time in the afternoon. It’s the perfect opportunity to enjoy the beach, the ramparts and the walled city to celebrate the end of the tour. A sea view supplement of €50 per person is available so you can wake up facing the ocean.

The route passes through two complementary gourmet regions. On the Breton side: Cancale’s deep-sea oysters (Day 2), crêpes and galettes at every stop, galettes with sausages and salted butter caramel in Dinan, Breton cider and Kouign-Amann. On the Normandy side: lamb from the salt marshes of Mont-Saint-Michel Bay. Dinner is included in Dol-de-Bretagne (Day 2). In Fougères, Combourg and Dinan, Normandie Rando recommends the best local spots. This tour is as much a gastronomic journey as it is a historical one.

Normandie Rando transfers your luggage between each stage during the 6 days of cycling (7 transfers in total). You set off light, carrying only your handlebar bag. A comprehensive road book with mapped routes, GPX tracks and a mobile navigation app guide you from stage to stage. Each hire bike comes with a helmet, a full repair kit, lights and a lock. The loop format simplifies the overall logistics: the final luggage transfer takes you back to your starting hotel on the Sillon in Saint-Malo.

Saint-Malo is accessible by train from Paris Montparnasse in 2½ to 3 hours. Your hotel is a 10-minute walk from the station. If you’re travelling by car, the Paul Féval car park is the best option for long-term parking (around €3.30 per day), with free shuttle buses to Le Sillon. The circular route means you depart from Saint-Malo: same station, same car park, no return transfer to organise. It’s logistically very straightforward.

The price includes 7 nights in hotels with breakfasts featuring fresh, local produce, 1 dinner included in Dol-de-Bretagne, luggage transfer between each stage, a comprehensive route book with mapped routes and detailed advice, GPX tracks, access to the mobile navigation app and personalised explanations of the route. On a per-night basis, this works out at €140 per person all-inclusive: accommodation, breakfast, dinner in Dol, luggage logistics, guidance and assistance. For an 8-day loop tour covering five medieval towns, Mont-Saint-Michel, Cancale and the Rance Valley, with the convenience of returning to the starting point, this offers remarkable value for money.

The Standard package offers well-located 2- and 3-star hotels: the Ibis Le Sillon in Saint-Malo (overlooking the sea), the Hôtel de Bretagne in Dol, the Hôtel Montgomery in Pontorson, the Hôtel Le Balzac in Fougères, the Hôtel du Lac in Combourg, and Le Challonge in Dinan. The Comfort package enhances the experience with Le Beaufort or the Hôtel Alba in Saint-Malo, the Hôtel Les Voyageurs in Fougères, the Hôtel du Château in Combourg (opposite Chateaubriand’s castle) and the Hôtel Arvor in Dinan (a historic building within the ramparts). The €170 difference is spread over 7 nights, amounting to approximately €24 extra per night. On an 8-day stay packed with sightseeing and excitement, staying opposite Combourg Castle or in a former convent in Dinan enhances the medieval immersion.

For groups of 4 or more, a discount of €80 per person applies. If you prefer to carry your own luggage, a discount of €160 per person is available (cannot be combined with the group discount). Departures are available every day, offering maximum flexibility. The high season is limited to July and August (€40 surcharge). Bike hire is available at €180 (hybrid) or €280 (e-bike) for 6 days, with delivery and collection included. A €50 sea view supplement is available for the two nights in Saint-Malo.

The tour runs from April to November, with daily departures. Spring (April–May) offers gorse in bloom along the Emerald Coast, moderate crowds at Mont-Saint-Michel and soft light on the granite stones of the medieval towns. Summer allows you to enjoy the beaches of Saint-Malo and a swim. Autumn adorns the forests of Brittany and the Rance Valley with spectacular colours. As Saint-Malo, Cancale, Mont-Saint-Michel and Dinan are very popular destinations, booking several weeks in advance is strongly recommended, particularly in July and August.

Fill in a quote request directly on the tour page. The Normandie Rando team will contact you to tailor your tour: choice of accommodation package, type of bike (hybrid or e-bike), sea view supplement in Saint-Malo, departure dates and any optional extras (extra night in Saint-Malo, Dinan or Fougères…). You can also call 02 31 65 74 08 for a personalised consultation. The quote request is free and non-binding. It’s the first step towards experiencing medieval Brittany in all its depth, from Saint-Malo to Fougères, from Combourg to Dinan, with Mont-Saint-Michel at the heart of the journey.