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To reach the start of this hike, take the D938 at the exit of Fontenay-le-Comte towards La Châtaigneraie. Drive through the village of Pissote and at the first roundabout at the bottom of a hill, turn right towards the Mervent Dam. You will immediately enter the forest and 1 km after the roundabout, you will arrive at the famous Saint-Luc roundabout, known throughout the area. Park in the car park.
(S/E) In the middle of the roundabout, take the forest path to the left of the dam road (it is the only one that goes downhill). This path through the woods leads to the edge of the dam reservoir.
(1) When you reach the water's edge, you have to climb a tiny rock barrier barely a metre high on the left (you can avoid it by taking a small path on the left before the rock barrier) and then continue along the path beside the dam lake. Stay by the water's edge, following the main path which becomes a trail. Pass two coves in succession and you will arrive at a rocky area, still at the water's edge. Continue until you reach what appears to be the end of the path in a cove (2.23 km from the car park). There is a concrete marker with a white-painted top at the foot of a small stream. For your information, a little-used path continues along the lake at this point.
(2) Leave the lake shore and the path climbs steeply to the left and north along this small stream, which is often dry. Cross a footbridge (in good condition in August 2023) and cross the stream. You will come to a wide path which you take to the right to join the cycle path.
(3) Take the cycle path on the right, which leads to a very small road that you take on the left. At the next crossroads, carefully cross the D99 and continue straight ahead on a small road that passes in front of the Maison Forestière de la Joletière and, a little further on, in front of an old abandoned campsite (Camping du Chêne Tord, now permanently closed and occupied by the ONF) located at a crossroads.
(4) Turn left at the Chêne Tord junction and then, at the next junction 100 metres further on, turn right onto a very small road that goes downhill. Stay on this road, which passes close to the Pierre Blanche holiday centre. Follow the small river called La Mère, then the path makes a series of hairpin bends before coming out onto the D99a. Continue right on the road for a few dozen metres and cross the Pont de Diet bridge.
(5) Immediately after the bridge (see note in practical information), take the path on the right that descends to the water's edge and follow this path, staying close to the river (in places, the path veers off slightly to avoid obstacles). You will come to a rocky passage which you can cross using your hands to grip the holes carved into the rock, then continue along the water's edge. At times, the path veers slightly away to avoid steep sections. After a final rocky section, you will reach a crossroads on a flat area. Take the path on the left that goes up into the woods (you can continue straight ahead along the lake, but if the water level is high, the passage opposite Pierre Blanche may be flooded!). The path becomes a trail that leads to a wide avenue, the Allée de Pierre Blanche.
(6) Take this large avenue on the right to a small car park in the middle of the woods (used by climbers) and continue to the right on a stony path that descends. About 300 m further down, leave the path temporarily and turn right to reach the Pierre Blanche climbing wall ( by order of 11/01/2023, the climbing site is closed to the public). The area is protected by railings and offers a beautiful view of the river meandering below.
(7) Return to the stony path and continue along the River Mère. Pass a small house (you have to look up, otherwise you'll miss it) in a hairpin bend. Go up the Ruisseau des Verreries and follow it to reach a footbridge.
(8) Do not take the footbridge, but continue along the stream on the right bank on a very narrow path. This area is beautiful in spring, but the path is quite uneven in places due to erosion. A little further on, you will discover the magnificent Pont du Déluge bridge. The setting is idyllic.
Climb the stairs onto the bridge. Watch out for cars! Cross the stream and, as soon as you leave the bridge, take a small path on the left that leads to the Chêne le Marinier (signposted) after about 300 metres. Make sure you don't mistake it for another oak tree! When you reach the clearing, the real one is just after a crossroads. Continue straight ahead and after 50 metres on the left you will see this majestic oak tree in the middle of a small clearing.
(9) Return to the bridge, cross it and follow the path on the right that runs alongside the Ruisseau des Verreries stream (dry in September 2021 and August 2023). Continue on the right bank for just over a kilometre until you reach a fork in the path in a pretty little clearing (you can see the raised path through the trees slightly to the left). Take the path on the left, which climbs steeply to lead to the large path at Gué de la Levrette.
(10) Turn left onto the gravel driveway of the same name and continue straight ahead along this large driveway. Ignore the first crossroads; the path leads to a tarmac road (the D99, which is very beautiful by car), which you should take to the right.
(11) After about 100 m, leave the tarmac and take a beautiful, wide lane on the left, Allée du Douard, just before the Maison Forestière des Verreries.
(11) Follow this lane until you reach a crossroads. Ignore the Allée de la Belle Cépée on the left, turn right and then immediately left onto a small sandy path that descends to the edge of the Pierre Brune dam reservoir. Walk along the left bank and head towards the dam. The leisure park is a little further down, 300 metres away, with a car park on the left.
(12) Take the road to cross the dam, then immediately after the exit, turn left onto the path with steps. Walk down fifty metres to see the pretty little chapel visible from the dam and then, a little further down, the spring with the inscription "Mon âme à soif de toi" (My soul thirsts for you). Retrace your steps and then climb straight up the stairs (steep passage) to reach the Grotte du Père de Montfort.
(13) Continue up the stairs to a large car park topped by a cross. Cross the car park diagonally to the right to reach a road. Take the road to the dam on the right and, at the entrance to the first bend on what could be called a plateau, leave the road that descends to the dam and turn left. Don't panic, despite the possibility of other paths! Take the middle path to the west, leaving the rightmost and leftmost paths almost in line with the road you have just left (if you take the path further to the right, it will take you to the same place). The best thing to do is to follow the GPX track. The very pleasant sandy path climbs slightly to reach a large square at a crossroads at an elevation of 109 metres (small building in the woods on the right).
(14) From here, it is almost straight ahead to the finish. Follow the very large Allée de la Jaubretière to the left, heading south, to the Carrefour des Minières, cross the Route Forestière de Fourchaud and continue straight ahead on the other very large Allée de Puy Brunet. Cross another road (D99) and continue straight ahead, staying on the main avenue until you reach the Rond-Point de Saint-Luc (S/E).
Visorando member
Association / Club / Walk leader
Difficult 
Easy 
