At the confluence of the Thouet and Dive rivers in Brézé

de fr

The village of Brézé lies in the shadow of a castle steeped in history. It was to a member of the Dreux family, owners of Brézé, that Mirabeau addressed his famous reply on 23 June 1789: " We are here by the will of the people, and we shall only leave by force of bayonets."

Grassy or stony towpaths along the Thouet and the Dive Canal.

Details

n°945724
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 10.53 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 05 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 22 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 20 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 50 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 26 m
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ District: Brézé (49260)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 47.168565° / W 0.073624°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 1623ET, 1623SB, 1624SB
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Photos

Brézé Castle

Description of the walk

Departure: Brézé (Moulin de Baffou) - Markings: Yellow

(S/E) From Moulin de Baffou, follow the Canal de la Dive along the flower-lined coast to the barrier at the railway line.

(1) Open the barrier and cross to the other side (close the barrier behind you). Continue straight ahead until you reach the road, then turn left at the Pont de Saint-Just bridge. At the D360 crossroads, turn right.

(2) Cross the Thouet bridge, then turn right immediately. Follow the path for about 1 km.

(3) Cross the footbridge. Continue straight ahead, then turn right to cross the Thouet. Follow the path for about 100 metres.

(4) Turn right again at the hairpin bend and go up the path to the road, then continue to the right.

(5) Take the first road downhill for about 50 metres, then take a path. Follow it for about 450 metres.

(6) Take the Chemin des Ruaux on the right and follow it to the D162.

(7) Cross over and continue straight ahead on the path, which will turn left to join a road opposite the Château de Brézé.

(8) At the road, turn right. Cross the railway line and continue for about 150 metres.

(9) At the crossroads, turn right. Follow this path, which will turn left and pass close to the water treatment plant before joining a road.

(10) Turn right and continue to the starting point (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 31 m - Parking at Moulin de Baffou - Dive (rivière)
  2. 1 : km 0.88 - alt. 30 m - Railway crossing barrier
  3. 2 : km 2.85 - alt. 27 m - Pont du - Thouet (rivière)
  4. 3 : km 4.53 - alt. 28 m - Footbridge
  5. 4 : km 4.88 - alt. 30 m - Path on the right
  6. 5 : km 5.15 - alt. 48 m - Turn right
  7. 6 : km 5.82 - alt. 30 m - Chemin des Ruaux
  8. 7 : km 7.14 - alt. 31 m - Crossing the D162
  9. 8 : km 8.46 - alt. 38 m - The Samoussay Woods
  10. 9 : km 8.9 - alt. 43 m - Crossroads
  11. 10 : km 10.22 - alt. 39 m - Turn right towards the starting point
  12. S/E : km 10.53 - alt. 31 m - Parking at Moulin de Baffou

Notes

Worth a visit

- Brézé Castle
- The manor house of Bois de Saumoussay.
- The flora and fauna.

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 7 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.9 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.1 / 5
Phil.Cormier
Phil.Cormier

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 30, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant, shaded walk along the Thouet and Dive rivers.
On the way back along the Dive, there are various observation points and information boards about the local wildlife.
Two less interesting sections: the first is about 2.5 km long on the Brézé side (path crossing the sunflower fields) where you can see the Château de Brézé from the small road, and the second section, about 1.5 km long, paved along the D360 to reach the bridge that crosses the Thouet (no other route possible), a dangerous section with heavy traffic at rush hour.
Very easy route.

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levycyril
levycyril

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 17, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant walk along the Dive and Thouet rivers. No difficulties.

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Danic
Danic

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 28, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hardly anyone on a very pleasant hike. An interesting start with various observation stations. No problems with the description. The only inconvenience is two areas infested with mosquitoes at this time of year, but that's nature and you have to deal with it.

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balou17
balou17

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 01, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk along the water's edge, under the poplars, then under the ash trees.

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Netra
Netra ★

Hello efervatte, and thank you for your comments.

The route crosses the railway line twice: it would be helpful if you could specify exactly where the "incorrect information" is.

If it is after point (8), I have added WP No. 9 to the crossing in question... which is about 150 metres from the railway line.

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efervatte
efervatte

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 10, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Beautiful hike at the confluence of the Dive and Thouet rivers
but poor information at the railway line
the path on the right is 400 m further on

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Perry95
Perry95

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 24, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Beautiful hike along the Dive and Thouet rivers. Plenty of birds for hikers who enjoy photography
Be careful when staying on the D360, as there is a lot of traffic.
@+

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joceroge
joceroge

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 22, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Easy and very pleasant hike

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