At Pas de Loup in the Loudun vineyards

Start from Saix church (ample parking).

Yellow markings
Markers or arrows on small dedicated wooden signs at junctions (no markings outside junctions). The markings are one-way, in the direction of this description.

(S/E) Head north along the main street, following the Sentier des Fontaines (hiking sign), and pass the war memorial. At the corner of the cemetery, turn left. Pass a housing estate on your right and, at the next Fork in the road, take the path on the right.

(1) At a left-hand bend in the path, turn right onto a grassy track. Cross a stream, ignore a path branching off to the right and veer left. At a three-way junction, follow the path on the left and walk alongside a vineyard on your right. Continue along a small road and, when it turns right, carry straight on along a path. Ignore a path branching off to the right and emerge onto a small road.

(2) Follow the road to the right, passing a tree nursery some distance to the left. At the next junction, cross a main road and continue straight ahead along a road lined with plane trees towards Château de Pas de Loup.

(3) At the junction, turn left onto Rue des Carrosses. Head uphill, ignoring the side paths, and note several tuffeau stone houses and a few troglodyte cellars. At a sign reading “No vehicles over 6 tonnes”, turn right. Pass No. 14 on your right and continue along a path running alongside a hedge on the right-hand side. Enter a wood, head uphill, ignore a turning on the left, then note a small, isolated vineyard on the left-hand side within the wood.

(4) At the T-junction opposite a large vineyard and beneath a high-voltage power line, turn right. Ignore a path branching off to the left and head down into the woods along a stony path. Follow a wall on your right and, at the T-junction (with a small kiosk-like structure on the left), turn right to reach the entrance to the Château de Pas de Loup.

(5) Then turn left and follow the property wall on your right. Cross a stream, go up the opposite side and follow another wall on your right.

(6) At the corner of the wall, follow the sign on the left for the Pas de Loup Fountain and Grotto. At a Fork in the road, take the left-hand path downhill. Go over a chain and cross a lawn, veering to the right to find the fountain.
N.B. The cave is located to the right behind the fountain; it is of little interest and the path leading to it is overgrown with nettles (as of August 2017).
Retrace your steps to the fork at the corner of a wall.

(6) Continue straight ahead (south) along a tarmac path, with a wall on your right followed by vineyards. At the next junction, continue straight ahead along Rue de la Belle Cave. At a Fork in the road, turn left. Ignore a small lane on the right and take the first left, Rue des Chillois, which climbs slightly.

(7) At a crossroads (with a solitary oak tree), turn right and follow a stony path that winds between the vineyard plots. At the edge of a wood (elevation 93), ignore the paths branching off to the left and turn right. After about 75m, take the first path on the left, which climbs slightly. Leave the vineyard, cross a short stretch of woodland and follow the edge of the meadows. Then follow a road to the right for about 100 metres and, just before a kilometre marker, turn left onto a path running alongside a woodland on the right-hand side.

(8) Take the first path on the right and head down into the woods. At the crossroads, follow the road furthest to the right and leave No. 4 on your left. At the ‘give way’ sign, cross a larger road and continue straight ahead along a wide grassy path.

(9) After the Petits Bodeaux spring (pond, picnic tables on the left), turn right. You’ll come out onto a small road; follow it to the left (calvary on the right). At the junction immediately ahead, take the D19 to the left. Pass the village entrance sign and continue straight on to the church (S/E).

The walk follows well-maintained paths or quiet country lanes: unless the weather is very wet, good trainers or low-cut walking shoes are sufficient for this walk.

No water points or shops were spotted along the route. Shaded picnic tables at the Source des Petits Bodeaux.

The Fontaine de Pas de Loup is located on private property: please respect the site.

A detailed map is useful (at the very least the one accompanying this description).

Walk completed by the author on 17 August 2017.

- Vineyard landscapes.
- In season, blackberry lovers will be in their element.
- Tuffeau stone houses and cave dwellings.
- Sainte-Radegonde Church (12th–18th centuries) (S/E).
- Château de Pas de Loup (5). The best view of the château is from the path leading to the fountain starting at (6).
- Pas de Loup Fountain. Nearby, there is a mark on the ground indicating the passage of the Greenwich Meridian.
- Source des Petits Bodeaux (9).