Three Saint's Way is the collective  name (created by Pilgrimage Publications) for a number of intersecting routes that ultimately lead pilgrims onto the St James Way in St Jean d'Angely.

Starting in Winchester, England, the route follows what is more commonly known as the Chemin Anglais, starting on St Michael’s Way (also known as the Pilgrim's Trail) to Portsmouth and then continuing in France from Barfleur to Mont St Michel.

From here it transfers to the Plantagenet Way, which ends in St Jean d'Angely at the intersection with the St James Way.

The name Plantagenet is derived from the  common broom plant, known as "planta genista" in Latin.

The House of Plantagenet, also called the House of Anjou, or the First Angevin dynasty, was originally a noble family from France, which ruled the county of Anjou.  The name was first associated with  Geoffrey of Anjou, father of King Henry II of England, either because he wore a sprig of broom in his bonnet, or because he planted broom to improve his hunting covers.

 

Our thanks go to Marion Marples of the Confraternity of the St James Way, for highlighting to us the need for a guide to this alternative route from England and through northern France.