Mont Saint-Michel and the Cotentin Peninsula Tour

MONT-SAINT-MICHEL

Arrival to Mont Saint-Michel at your leisure.

Before you start your cycling trip, visit this not-to-be-missed site and its famous abbey, a UNESCO World Heritage Site!

From MONT-SAINT-MICHEL to GRANVILLE 64km 318m

At the end of the bay, a small road runs along the sea. It couldn’t be more peaceful, it’s the ideal place for a picnic! Before that, make the effort to go up to Avranches to discover a typical Normandy town with its dark stones and local shops. The charcuterie specialties are very popular and make it easy to put together your lunch.

From GRANVILLE to AGON-COUTAINVILLE 42km 210m

From Granville, cycle towards Donville-les-Bains, with its sea views and picturesque villas, then continue through the dunes of Bréville-sur-Mer and Coudeville-Plage. The route leads to one of the highlights of the tour: the Vanlée submersible road, which passes over the harbor. At high tide, it is partially submerged, offering a unique crossing. Next, you reach Hauteville-sur-Mer, known for its beaches and tranquil atmosphere, before arriving at Régnéville-sur-Mer, where the ruins of an ancient castle and lime kilns stand as a reminder of the village’s maritime history. The route ends in Agon-Coutainville, a charming seaside resort offering beautiful views of the Normandy coastline.

From AGON-COUTAINVILLE to BARNEVILLE-CARTERET 65km 214m

From Agon-Coutainville, this route takes you along small country roads, ideal for discovering typical villages and enjoying the tranquillity of the region. You pass through Blainville-sur-Mer, then Gouville-sur-Mer, famous for its colourful huts, as you pass fields and meadows. On the way to the Lessay moor, you ride through stretches of wild heather, far from busy roads. You then arrive in Lessay, where you can visit the 11th-century Romanesque abbey with its elegant stone vaults. At Saint-Germain-sur-Ay, you have a clear view of the harbour, a tranquil space where the tides reveal mudflats inhabited by a rich biodiversity. Continuing along the minor roads, you reach Portbail and its intimate harbour, with its marina nestling between the dunes and marshes. Before entering Barneville-Carteret, you pass through the Barneville Spit, a sandy stretch that marks the transition to the wilder coastline.

From BARNEVILLE-CARTERET to LES PIEUX 40km 517m

A new sporting stage between Barneville Carteret and Les Pieux. There are plenty of steep climbs on the menu, but magnificent views of the coast and sea make you forget the winding profile.

From LES PIEUX to AUDERVILLE 60km 850m

From Le Pieux, the route leads to Anse de Sciotot, where the beaches stretch between the dunes and the ocean. Following the coast, Flamanville comes into view, with its castle surrounded by gardens, followed by the picturesque and lively port of Diélette. The route continues along the vast dunes of Biville, offering wild views of the sea, to the belvedere at Le Thot, overlooking the coast. Further on, the Mare de Vauville nature reserve is home to bird-filled marshes, and the imposing Château de Vauville adds a touch of history. The climb up to Beaumont-Hague from Herqueville is a sporty one, with superb views of the cliffs. Past the Nez de Jobourg, renowned for its sheer cliffs, the bay of Écalgrain reveals clear waters and a peaceful beach. Finally, the Goury lighthouse marks the final stage, at the tip of the Cap de la Hague.

From AUDERVILLE to CHERBOURG 35km 495m

The route starts in Auderville, with its rolling countryside and a succession of ups and downs. You pass through Jacques Prévert’s garden, a poetic place where flowers and literary inspiration mingle, before discovering his house, a testament to his life and work. The Brasserie waterfall, nestled in the greenery, offers a soothing pause before heading on to Gréville-Hague, famous for its typical stone houses, and after crossing the woods of the Château de Nacqueville, the route reaches Querqueville. Here, the Fort de Querqueville marks the start of the cycle path that runs alongside the Pointe de Querqueville and the Anse. You ride through the hamlet of La Mer and skirt the beach at La Saline. This path leads directly to Le Vœu abbey, before entering Cherbourg, bringing this demanding and varied stage to a close.

From CHERBOURG to SAINT-VAAST-LA-HOUGUE 56km 295m

Leave Cherbourg.

The route follows the Vélomaritime to Château des Ravalet, a Renaissance building surrounded by wooded parkland. The route then follows the course of the river Saire, winding through the Val de Saire, a verdant valley of meadows, hamlets and mills. Temporarily leaving the Vélomaritime, the route leads to Barfleur, famous for its granite houses and typical port. Here, you can linger to discover the church of Saint-Nicolas and taste the local oysters. Back on the Vélomaritime, the route skirts the sea, offering seascapes between pebble beaches and coves. The final kilometers pass through maritime landscapes before arriving at Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue, where the Vauban towers and the UNESCO World Heritage island of Tatihou mark the horizon.

• For a few more km 64km 357m

  The route follows the coast along the busier roads to Bretteville, where the beach opens out onto the calm waters of the English Channel. A climb up to the Pointe du Brick offers a breathtaking panorama of the cliffs and sea. Continuing on, the Cap Lévi fort stands as a reminder of local military history, surrounded by wild moorland and overlooking a secluded cove. The route then crosses Cap Lévi and follows country roads lined with hedgerows to the Pointe de Barfleur. This promontory offers sweeping views of the coastline, and the Chapelle des Marins, nestling close to the waves, is testimony to the local religious heritage. Barfleur, with its granite houses and bustling port, is one of the most beautiful villages in France. The tour ends in Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue, with its seascapes and Vauban Tower, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. An immersion in Norman history and nature.

From SAINT-VAAST-LA-HOUGUE to CARENTAN 64km 238m

From Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue, the La Vélomaritime route follows the small roads of the Regional Natural Park of the Cotentin and Bessin Marshes. Take advantage of your stopover in Quinéville to taste the famous cakes of the artisanal biscuit factory. This itinerary allows you to take a leap in time and learn many facts about the landing of June 6, 1944. You arrive in front of the famous church of Sainte-Mère-Eglise: look up, you can see John Steel’s parachute , American paratrooper. You continue your way to Utah Beach: this 5 km long beach saw the disembarkation of more than 20,000 men and 1,700 vehicles on June 6, 1944. You can also discover, along the way, the Azeville batterie, these fortifications of the Atlantic Wall erected by the Germans at the beginning of the 1940s. Your ride ends in Carentan.

From CARENTAN to SAINT-LO 41km 236m

You leave the Cotentin marshes and its canals to reach the landscapes of the Norman bocage. The landscape evolves towards meadows where horses are kings. Indeed this region is reputed to be the capital of the horse. The Vire Canal accompanies you by winding up to Saint-Lô where the National Stud Farm is located.

From SAINT-LO to VIRE-NORMANDIE 54km 484m

At the exit of Saint-Lô, a peaceful and luxuriant nature surrounds you in the Vire valley which formerly welcomed the navigation of barges and gabarres (flat-bottomed boats). The meadows of sheep, horses and green pastures follow your route on the towpath to the Roches de Ham. This rocky outcrop rising over 100 meters in height offers a unique panorama of the surrounding countryside. At Pont-Farcy, you leave the Vélomaritime to reach Vire by small country roads. Vire and its Porte-Horloge is a pleasant stopover town situated on a rocky promontory overlooking the Vire.

• For a few more km 67km 695m

  In Pont-Farcy, you continue your journey on the Vélomaritime on a challenging route taking a succession of small roads on the Norman hills. Your efforts are be rewarded with sumptuous views of the Norman countryside … and descents! Before reaching Vire, discover the Souleuvre viaduct.

From VIRE-NORMANDIE to SAINT-HILAIRE-DU-HARCOUET 56km 405m

The Vélomaritime heads west out of Vire before plunging south through the authentic landscapes of the Norman countryside. A cool stop inviting you to daydream is a must in Mortain to admire the Little Waterfall, at the confluence of the Cance and the Cançon. Here the river runs down the rocks over a height of more than 30 meters before continuing in a narrow canyon with white water that is crossed from footbridge to footbridge. From this crossroads between Vélomaritime and Véloscénie, you continue your ride until Saint-Hilaire-du-Harcouët where you can make the most of the numerous leisure infrastructures (swimming pool, cinema, equestrian center, …).

From SAINT-HILAIRE-DU-HARCOUET to MONT-SAINT-MICHEL 48km 121m

Towards the sea and the Bay of Mont Saint-Michel. The Vélomaritime joins the mouth of the Sélune river on a charming and pleasant greenway. The Norman bocage leaves room for the salt meadows of the Bay. In the distance, you can see the majestic Mont Saint-Michel. An additional effort then awaits you, on foot this time, to reach the heights and the famous abbey.

MONT-SAINT-MICHEL

It’s the end of your stay after breakfast. You are able to enjoy a morning to visit to the Abbey which sits at the top of the Mount!