West of the Seugne from Clion to Breuillet

The parking area is located in the school car park opposite the Town Hall.

(S/E) Take Place Jean Moulin (Rue du Pré Fleuri on Google Maps) to the right towards the north-east. When you reach the crossroads with Rue de la Gare (D50 road), turn left and continue straight ahead, crossing the railway line carefully at the level crossing. The D50 road is now Avenue Saint-André. Follow it carefully, pass in front of the Church of Saint-André and turn right onto Rue de l'Église immediately afterwards.

(1) From there, the route follows the GR®360 - GRP® de Saintonge. Turn right and, after Rue de l'église, continue straight ahead onto Rue de la Varaize. Continue carefullyalong the road leading out of the village until you reach a sharp left-hand bend where two farm tracks branch off.

(2) At the bend, take the farm track furthest to the right, which heads south-west. Turn left onto the first track between the vineyards. Continue until you reach the road leading to the hamlet of Fontaine.

(3) Turn right and carefully follow Route de Fontaine for 70 to 80 metres before turning onto the path on the left-hand side of the road (at a small building on the right-hand side of the road). The path runs alongside a small stream below the road, following a small cliff. The path joins Rue de Saint-Paul. Take it to the left, then immediately left into Rue de la Chapelle. In front of the chapel, take the path on the left to go to the spring. Continue along the path and, near a small bridge, turn right and join a farm track.

(4) Turn left and follow this path, passing a water reservoir on your left, until it joins a small road. Carefully turn left onto the road heading south-east until you reach the first path on the right.

(5) Turn right. Further on, pass under the railway line, cross a small wood, then walk alongside a vineyard on your left, then one on your right, until you reach a crossroads.

(6) The route leaves the GR®360 - GRP® de Saintonge here. Turn sharply right towards a place called La Tonnelle. Just before you get there, take the path to the left. Continue straight on until you reach the Route de Bourdenne. Follow it to the right until you reach the first path on the left (at the entrance to the hamlet).

(7) Continue along the farm track to the left. Continue straight ahead towards the woods. Cross through them and you will reach the D50 road, Route des Simons. Follow it to the right until you reach a junction with a road on the left.

(8) Take the road on the left, known as Route des Fregons, towards the hamlet of Les Simons. Drive straight through the hamlet and, at the crossroads to the north of it, take the road on the left that leads to the hamlet of Petit Gueffier. Continue along the path that follows the road. The path crosses a small wood and eventually arrives at Route de Chez Caillet.

(9) Carefully follow this road to the right, drive straight through the hamlet and continue straight ahead until you reach a crossroads with four roads and a path where there is a calvary in a triangle of grass in the centre of the crossroads.

(10) Continue left along the road that leads to a football pitch. Turn right just before the pitch and follow the road called Rue du Stade (Rue du Pré Fleuri on Google Maps) towards Clion. Pass the school on your right and return to the car park (S/E).

This hike covers varied terrain and requires suitable footwear.

This route is partially marked in yellow (GR® 360 - GRP® de Saintonge - marked in yellow and red - from point (1) to point (6), except for the short section to see the spring below the Saint-Paul Chapel. It is therefore advisable to follow the directions in the description and on the map, while also paying close attention to the landscape. The waypoints (with their GPS coordinates and distance from the starting point) are helpful for hikers discovering the route.

Hike completed by the author on 26 November 2024.

Clion
Saint André Church.

Communal wash house.

Saint Paul Chapel.