Informations utiles
Temps de route
31 min
Distance
36 km
Just a stone’s throw from Mont-Saint-Michel, nestled in the heart of the Pontorson municipality, lies the hamlet of Ardevon—a place that holds one of the richest yet least known chapters of the bay’s history. A land of spirituality, pilgrimage, resistance, and tradition, Ardevon was once one of the main access points to the Mont, long before modern parking areas existed. Today, this peaceful village still bears the traces of a history as deep as it is discreet, waiting to be uncovered through its paths, buildings, and landscapes.
Ardevon: Where Waterways and History Meet
The hamlet sits on a natural triangle of wetlands, bordered by the Landais stream to the east and the Couesnon canal to the west. This strategic location made it a major pilgrimage route for centuries.
📌 Visiting tip:
Park in the small lot near Notre-Dame Church in Ardevon, then follow the marked trails around the village to explore the fields alongside the Couesnon—with breathtaking views of the Mont along the way.
Notre-Dame Church: A Survivor Through Time
Notre-Dame Church in Ardevon, modest yet fascinating, is a rare example of rural Romanesque architecture. Inside and around the church, you can find:
- a doorway built in opus spicatum (herringbone masonry),
- ancient tombs in the cemetery,
- a bifid-armed cross, typical of the region,
- a preserved historic baptismal font.
📷 Photo tip:
Capture the bifid cross with Mont-Saint-Michel in the background on a clear day—an unforgettable image.
The Priory and Its Barn: A Unique Monastic Heritage
Once under the authority of Mont-Saint-Michel Abbey, Ardevon’s priory boasted an impressive tithe barn capable of storing up to 15,000 sheaves! The structure is still standing, its massive buttresses a testament to its past.
🏰 One residential wing remains, with sculpted Gothic windows looking out over a space once called “the Preaching Room.”
🎯 Must-see:
- The 1636 dovecote, behind the priory, is a rare surviving witness of the region’s seigniorial and agricultural past.
🗺️ For your article or visit:
If available, add an old map showing the priory’s historical links to Mont-Saint-Michel Abbey—archives from the BNF may be helpful.
A Forgotten Chapter of Military History
Did you know that an English bastion was built in Ardevon during the Hundred Years’ War? In 1420, English troops set up a fortified base here to besiege Mont-Saint-Michel—then one of the last French-held strongholds in the region.
📍 The area known as “La Rive” still carries the memory of this bastion, now lost to time but known to historians.
🕵️♀️ Unusual tip:
Explore the hamlets around Ardevon. Names like “Le Paradis” (“Paradise”) or “Le Pré des Anges” (“The Angels’ Meadow”) reveal the deeply spiritual roots of this area.
The Saint-Gilles Chapel: A Refuge for Body and Soul
In the hamlet of Saint-Gilles, a small medieval chapel stands as a reminder of a former leper hospital. Inside, you’ll find:
- a stained-glass window of the Virgin Mary,
- Gothic statues,
- and a simple yet moving architecture.
⛪ Visiting tip:
If the chapel is closed, take time to admire its surroundings and search for remnants of the medicinal garden once mentioned in ancient texts.
Tips for an Unforgettable Walk
Suggested route:
- Start at Notre-Dame Church in Ardevon.
- Visit the priory.
- Stop at La Rive to reflect on the old English bastion.
- End your walk at Saint-Gilles Chapel.
- Return through the countryside, enjoying scenic views of Mont-Saint-Michel.
🚶 About 5 km, easy trail, perfect in the late afternoon to enjoy golden light over the fields.
🧺 Bonus idea:
Bring a small picnic by the Couesnon or near the old barn for a charming, countryside break.
Why Visit Ardevon?
Ardevon is more than a hamlet—it’s a concentrated storybook of Norman history, a living memory, a threshold between the sacred and the everyday. Here, the stones still speak, and every hedgerow seems to whisper tales from long ago.
And where else can you admire Mont-Saint-Michel while standing on the forgotten lands of the abbots’ ancient domain?Visiter le site web
