G H Randall’s Walks in the Côtes d’Armor guided our walks in mid-Brittany and this one around Moncontour was walk no.7. All his walks proved to be interesting, well described, and easy to follow, and I can recommend the book, especially if used together with the appropriate French ordnance survey map.
The path of ‘l’ecco homo’, also called ‘the road of justice, was a Mediaeval way from Moncontour towards the Tertre Meadow in Tredaniel where criminals/convicts were hanged, I believe, but apart from passing references I can’t find anything else on the internet. The path is the last part of this walk, from Moncontour back to Trédaniel.
We parked at the Mairie in Trédaniel, looked at the church with its curious Calvary, and walked up the hill and out of the village to the Chapel of Notre Dame en Haut.
Nearby is a fountain and after that the walk is a pleasant wander through the woods to Moncontour. Part of the way is alongside a leat which leads into the Pond Prioux and I think fed the mills below the Priory of St Michel.
The Priory of St Michel was the most important church in Moncontour before the Revolution, but situated outside the walls of the town.
This is a pleasant walk and you can follow it with an exploration of the town of Moncontour, and a coffee.
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