Misadventures in France 2010 – Part 5

One of the unadvertised benefits of Chateau Richeux’s (where we checked during Part 4) location is that it is right on the coastal trail that allows you to walk for miles to either town in either direction.

Part of the Sentier des Douaniers, or “custom officer paths,” these paths that run along the cliffs above the beach was used by these custom officers to avoid pirates and they still remain today.

The path is incredibly beautiful and easy to follow. All you have to do is follow the markings on trees and signs and you will be all set.

Depending on where the tide is you can walk along the coast or on the beach the entire way from the chateau to Cancale or the other direction from the chateau to Saint-Méloir-des-Ondes.

We chose Cancale because it was farther away and larger thus more choices for food. We set off around 10:30 and arrived in town just in time for lunch. It is 4.5 kilometers one way. It could have been 10 and I would not have cared because I knew there was a cocotte of moules-frites at the other end of the trail!

The trail is breathtaking and the views are amazing, Mother Nature has blessed this place. There are gentle slopes, green meadows, and a cool breeze to keep you from getting overheated.

We selected a lunch spot the closest to the water that we could get and sat at a table on the interior terrace. We enjoyed a plate of fresh langoustine followed by my beloved mussels. It was a relaxing and enjoyable moment and worth the hike.

On the way back the tide was out so we could walk on the beach the entire 4.5 kilometers back to the chateau. We passed over shells, a called them “shell carnage” my husband called them a “shell cemetery.” It would be a child’s dream to collect shells – there were a million!

Not satisfied with one everything on the menu my husband and I returned to the chateau’s restaurant for their plateau royale. Okay, seriously my husband had been dreaming about having one, particularly one from Brittany for months.

And it was worth the wait. My husband and I had never seen a plateau as copious as the one served at the Chateau Richeux.

It was an epic battle. There was ripping and cracking, sucking and scooping then a rinse and repeat; and still, in the end, we lost. We could not finish it.

I was feeling bad, but then the maître d'hôtel that it was very rare that anyone finished. Our cards were played before we began!

Another round with the roulante des gourmandises, a decaf espresso in the salon and it was definitely time to call it a night. In fact, a day. A magically wonderful Brittan day.