At the Les Ritours site in Champ-du-Boult, two of the five former paper mills are still preserved. The paper mill site includes industrial granite remains, including grinding troughs, water conduits and drainage channels.
When planning their own trip, visitors may wish to focus on renting a holiday apartment in Champ-du-Boult.
Culture and History
The Route du Granit, also known as “La pierre percée”, passes through Champ-du-Boult. The tourist route is approximately 50 kilometres long and runs through the bocage. Champ-du-Boult is known for its granite Ritours and the three-part troughs belonging to a former paper mill.
As part of “Granit – Mémoire de pierre”, “de chant et de pierre” walks are offered. They combine traditional songs with an on-site exploration of granite production.
Trails and Events
The “La route du papier” walk has been held every year in June since 2004. The routes change each year but remain connected to the bocage. Participants are always accompanied by pack donkeys, recalling the animals used by rag-and-bone men. At the same time, the walk commemorates the mills and the many papermakers of the Virène and Dathée valleys.
The event “33 ème Rallye Pédestre de Loisirs pour tous” is described as the 33rd edition.
Further Activities
La Ferme des Enfants runs a play and early-learning area in the former school building in the centre of Champ-du-Boult. It offers art workshops, “bébés lecteurs” and activities for exploring different materials for children aged 0 to 3, accompanied by a responsible adult.
Nature and Landscape
The wet heathland area around Champ-du-Boult also includes Gathemo and Saint-Michel-de-Montjoie. The Sienne and Dathée rivers rise in Champ-du-Boult; together with the preserved bocage and high rainfall, this favours the formation of wet heathland.
The Vallée de la Dathée route is 14.2 kilometres long, easy, takes approximately 3 hours and 45 minutes, and has an elevation gain of 278 metres. It starts at the church car park in Champ-du-Boult and passes through sunken lanes, pastureland and a landscape with granite boulders.
