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, the owners of Brézé, that Mirabeau addressed his famous retort on 23 June 1789: ‘We are here by the will of the people and we shall only leave by the force of bayonets.’

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

Details

n°945724
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.54 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 05 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 72 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 66 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 164 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 85 ft
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ City: 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

Start: Brézé (Moulin de Baffou) – Markings: Yellow

(Out and back) From Moulin de Baffou, follow the Canal de la Dive along the flower-lined embankment to the gate by the railway line.

(1) Open the gate and cross over to the other side (close the gate behind you). Continue straight on to the road, then turn left at the Pont de Saint-Just. At the junction with the D360, turn right.

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

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

(4) Take another sharp right-hand bend and follow the path back up to the road, then continue to the right.

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

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

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

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

(9) At the junction, turn right. Follow this path, which turns left and passes near the sewage treatment plant before joining a road.

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

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 102 ft - Parking at Moulin de Baffou - Dive (rivière)
  2. 1 : mi 0.55 - alt. 98 ft - Railway crossing barrier
  3. 2 : mi 1.77 - alt. 89 ft - Bridge of - Thouet (rivière)
  4. 3 : mi 2.82 - alt. 92 ft - Footbridge
  5. 4 : mi 3.03 - alt. 98 ft - Path on the right
  6. 5 : mi 3.2 - alt. 157 ft - Turn right
  7. 6 : mi 3.61 - alt. 98 ft - Chemin des Ruaux
  8. 7 : mi 4.44 - alt. 102 ft - Crossing the D162
  9. 8 : mi 5.26 - alt. 125 ft - The Samoussay Wood
  10. 9 : mi 5.53 - alt. 141 ft - Crossroads
  11. 10 : mi 6.35 - alt. 128 ft - Turn right towards the starting point
  12. S/E : mi 6.54 - alt. 102 ft - Parking at Moulin de Baffou

Notes

Worth a visit

- Brézé Castle
- The Bois de Saumoussay manor house.
- 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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