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Published route(s)
L'Estours and L'Artigue
A round-trip route dominated by water, in the cool valley of the Estours and Artigue streams.
The Cirque d'Anglade and the Saubé Hut
This hike offers a variety of landscapes, with woods giving way to mountain pastures as you climb higher, and the beautiful Cirque d'Anglade site to discover.Visorando app recommended.
Rocamadour via quiet paths
This circuit allows you to discover Rocamadour as the pilgrims who came on foot did, the causse to the south of the citadel and the Alzou valley with its old mills.
The Indre Valley between Esvres and Courcay
This is an easy hike that allows you to discover the Indre valley from the heights before descending to the banks of the river. You will discover several villages.
Circular in the Colombian countryside
A beautiful circular route to discover the habitat and nature around Villandry, through the highlands and along the banks of the Cher, with the option of visiting the confluence of the Cher and the Loire and, if you have time, the gardens and the château. The village was called Colombiers in the Middle Ages: the name of its inhabitants remains as a reminder!
Route of the large islands
Discover the islands of Saint-Joachim and some of the islands of Saint-Malo-de-Guersac by bike, with some beautiful views of the Brière marshes.
Bethmale and Ayes: two ponds, two atmospheres
A circular route that allows you to discover a low-altitude pond nestled in the middle of the forest, then a mountain pond in the heart of the mountain pastures, passing by the Campuls hut, and to meet the herds in summer.
Author's note: this hike was published a long time ago: for any changes to the original route, please consult the comments at the end of the file.
On the heights of Azay-le-Rideau
A pleasant walk through woods and fields, allowing you to discover a few hamlets and a lovely view of the Château de la Chatonnière.
The Cabrerets plateau and the Célé valley
Discover the Causse and the beautiful Célé Valley around the superb Pech Merle Cave.
The Vouvray vineyards and the Brenne valley
A hike through the vineyards on the heights of the Brenne valley.
On the heights of Luynes
A beautiful walk through fields, woods and hamlets. Some very beautiful residences, a few old mills in the Bresme valley and a Roman aqueduct.
From La Gloriette to Le Bout du Monde
A route to discover the west of Tours: the Gloriette plain, beautiful residences on the heights between Ballan and Savonnières, the village of Savonnières, the banks of the Cher and the banks of the Loire.
Old Oak Tree Route
A route in the Azay le Rideau region, in the Chinon forest and then on the heights of the Indre valley. Don't miss: two beautiful residences and the remarkable oak tree at Cheillé church.
The Vouvray vineyards in Rochecorbon
A route to discover the Vouvray vineyards, with their winegrowers' houses and a few manor houses, on the heights of the Loire Valley.
L'Echandon and Le Becquet
Discover two streams, the Échandon and the Becquet, near where they join the Indre. Along the route, you will see some beautiful houses, a Gallo-Roman bridge and a Bollée windmill.
Architectural heritage of Tours
A walk to discover the architectural heritage of Tours. Must-see sites, but also pretty, discreet places that I have discovered over the years.
Along the Breuil stream
From Cinq-Mars-la-Pile to Mazière-de-Touraine, follow a beautiful stream, the Breuil, which flows through beautiful meadows and feeds numerous ponds.
Landscapes of Touraine around Cléré-les-Pins
A walk through peaceful countryside, across meadows, fields and woods.
Forests and viewpoints around the raspberry capital
Thurins, the "raspberry capital", is the starting point for this hike to discover the countryside, forests and viewpoints of the Monts du Lyonnais.
The Yzeron Waterfall
Starting from Messimy, on the outskirts of Lyon, this circular route takes you to the small Yzeron waterfall, passing through the hilltop village of Chateauvieux, the Py-Froid viewpoint and the dolmen in the Faix woods.
Author’s note: This description was written some time ago. Please check reviews and makeuse of the Visorando app
Old wall circuit
A beautiful, easy walk on either side of the Bozançon River, where this section of the valley is a succession of ancient terraces structured by low stone walls. A taste of Provence... Old description, see reviews if you are not using the app.
A viewpoint overlooking the Chartreuse de Sainte-Croix-en-Jarez
With easy and quick access from the A7 motorway coming from Lyon, La Chapelle-Villars is an ideal starting point for exploring the Pilat Massif. This route takes you to Sainte-Croix-en-Jarez and offers a beautiful view of the Chartreuse from the heights of Sainte-Croix.
Over ridges and crosses in the Pilat Mountains
Discover some of the crests and passes, often marked with a cross, on this part of the eastern slope of the Pilat Massif. This large circular route passes through Crêt de Quatregrains, Crêt de Montivert, Croix de Monvieux, Croix du Mazet, Croix du Cerisier, Sainte-Croix-en-Jarez, and Crêt de Baronnette.Route change between (3) and (4). See the notices at the bottom of this page.
The Monts du Lyonnais around Saint-Bonnet-le-Froid
A large circular route, very close to Lyon, through fields and forests and across the vast grounds of the Château de Saint-Bonnet. The Visorando app can be useful on certain sections that have been modified from the original route.
The banks of the Sèvre in the land of Bluebeard
A family walk along the banks of the Sèvre Stream, one of the most beautiful rivers in this region.
The Gorges de l'Artière
An easy walk on the outskirts of Clermont-Ferrand in a cool valley.
The banks of the Lot in Saint-Cirq-Lapopie
This walk allows you to discover Saint-Cirq-Lapopie, the River Lot and its towpath, then the limestone plateau above the village. I also suggest a shorter alternative route.
Religious heritage of the capital of Gaul
Take a journey through time, from Romanesque architecture to Neo-Byzantine style, via Gothic, of course, and discover the churches of Lyon's 2nd and 5th arrondissements. The itinerary also takes in many other treasures of Lyon's heritage.
The Petites Choisilles valleys
The route is fairly hilly, often through woods, around the two Petites Choisilles streams. A passage on the heights offers a pretty view of the village of Nouzilly and its wooded hills.
The banks of the Cher in Tours
Far from the city centre, take a stroll to discover the green spaces that dot the banks of the Cher Tourangeau.
The Nitray needle dam
Walk along the banks of the Cher and in the countryside near Tours. Discover the village of Azay-sur-Cher, the Nitray needle dam and Beauvais Castle.
The Pointe du Croisic
A tour of the Pointe du Croisic, at the tip of the Guérande peninsula. Discover the picturesque town, closely linked to fishing and the salt trade, and its superb Côte Sauvage.
From the Petit Maroc to Monsieur Hulot beach
A route to walk alongside the Loire River as it flows into the Atlantic Ocean. In Saint-Nazaire-Plage, the seaside promenade is very popular with Nazairians. It is open to the Loire estuary and its maritime traffic. Further on, on the beautiful coastal path, open to the south, and shaded by pine trees, you sometimes have the feeling of being on the edge of the Mediterranean.
⚠️ Hiking poles prohibited on the Nazairian coastal path
La Brière océane
To the west of the Brière Regional Nature Park, the Brière coast stretches from Pont Mahé beach to the Pen Bé strait. It offers a varied landscape of beaches, shorelines, wild coastlines, moors and salt marshes. A return trip connects to this route for a foray into Morbihan to Pointe du Bile.
Walk around the Étang de Montlosier via the Puys
A walk around the small Étang de Montlosier, passing by three puys: the Puy de Lassolas, the Puy de la Vache and the Puy de Vichatel. Magnificent views of the Chaîne des Puys and the Massif du Sancy.
Please note: Access to the summits of the Puys de la Vache and Lassolas will be closed for works between spring 2026 and early 2028
Please note: the Montlosier car park is closed for works between August 2025 and 2027. Parking is available along the road or at the Col de la Ventouse lay-by near (9)
The Gorce Valley
From the Chaîne des Puys, descend through pastures and valleys into the Gorce stream valley. Beautiful views of the Sancy Massif and the Chaîne des Puys.
Please note: the Montlosier car park is closed for works between August 2025 and 2027. You can park along the road or start from Nébouzat (11).
The Gergovie Plateau from Opme
From Opme, climb up to the limestone plateau of Jussat, then on to the famous Gergovie Plateau for a circular route offering beautiful views of the Chaîne des Puys and the Monts du Forez. Discover the beautiful fortified village of Opme and its castle (remarkable gardens).
Discover Chinon
This route allows you to discover the beautiful architectural heritage of Chinon, as well as the banks of the Vienne, the Île de Tours, the troglodyte dwellings on the hillsides and a foray into the vineyards that also contribute to the reputation of this charming little town.
On the lands of the Princess of Broglie
From Chaumont to Candé (an ideal spot for a picnic) along the banks of the Loire and its tributary, the Beuvron. The return journey takes you along a beautiful forest path, through fields and around the Domaine de Chaumont.
The Amasse valley
Discover the Ambroise river, the Amasse, a small tributary of the Loire which flows into the river here and which was developed from 1856 onwards to prevent flooding in the town during heavy rains.
Beautiful holiday resorts on the banks of the Cher
Near Athée-sur-Cher, the banks of the Cher are dotted with beautiful houses of various periods and styles. These châteaux, manor houses and beautiful farms have mostly been converted into lodges, charming hotels or restaurants. We will leave the riverbank three times to discover three small valleys shaped by tiny tributaries of the Cher.
Puys de Montaudoux and Gravenoire
In the Clermont-Ferrand area, climb the small puys of Montaudoux and Gravenoire, visit Bargouin Park and Royat Thermal Park. This is an easy hike if you skip the climb to the summit of Montaudoux.
The rose bushes of the Indrois
In the Lochois region, Chédigny, the "Village of Roses", is the only village to be classified as a "Remarkable Garden". I invite you to discover it from Azay-sur-Indre, a small historic village located at the confluence of the Indre and Indrois rivers. The route passes through varied landscapes: woods, meadows and fields, floodplains, marshy areas and riverbanks.
In the land of basket makers
I invite you to discover a remarkable village in Touraine, Villaines-les-Rochers, the village of basket makers. A varied itinerary takes you through the hamlets of the village, rich in troglodyte houses where many active basket makers live, the Château du Petit Boulay and the surrounding countryside, rich in streams and woods.
Wild fountain, sacred fountain
Isolated in a landscape reshaped by modern man, a wild fountain, an old oak tree, a stone cross, a forgotten castle, a sacred fountain, a wash house, an oratory, mills, all remnants of a bygone era.
To avoid a long stretch of road, see the alternative route from (11) to (14) in the Practical Information section.
The Allier river in the Puy-de-Dôme region at Pont-du-Château
A long walk along the Allier between Pont-du-Château and Cournon-d'Auvergne. Discover the pretty site of Pont-du-Château, the water pumping station and the natural site of Malmouche.
On the lands of the Marquis de La Fayette
In addition to three beautiful castles, two of which belonged to the Marquis de La Fayette, you will discover a ghost farm, a very old oak tree, a few mills, rocky outcrops, rivers, streams, a spring, a pond and a canal.
The Artière valley
Close to Clermont-Ferrand, rolling meadows dotted with a few farms and a fast-flowing stream, the Ruisseau de Saint-Genès, also known as the Artière.
On the lands of Diane de Poitiers
Discovery of the Cher valley near Chenonceaux. Magnificent view of the Château de Chenonceau from the left bank of the Cher.
Moulins des Mauges
Discover the Moine, a calm river that winds through a green landscape. It is hard to believe today that it was once the most polluted river in France. On the route: a water mill, a windmill, a stream, a tributary of the Moine, and a botanical trail.