In the heart of the Saumur-Champigny vineyards

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A hilly route along the hillside through the vineyards. Home to a magnificent 14th-century Romanesque church and the Manoir de Morains, where Marguerite d'Anjou is said to have died. Dampierre-sur-Loire is also renowned as a commune in the Saumur-Champigny appellation.

Please note: section along the Loire River impassable in case of flooding.

Details

n°1042187
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 11.55 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 40 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 119 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 117 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 93 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 27 m
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Photos

View of the Loire from the vineyards
Panorama Dampierre

Description of the walk

Park in the car park near the municipal campsite in Dampierre-sur-Loire - Markings: Yellow - Suitable for hybrid/mountain bikes

(S/E) From the car park, turn left towards the Loire.

(1) Turn left and follow the Loire for about 500 metres. Take the first path on the left (Chemin des Îles). Continue to the D947 road.

(2) Cross over to the other side, then at the crossroads continue straight ahead along Rue de l'Église. Continue straight ahead until you reach the calvary, then turn right. Continue straight ahead along the road. After the bend, turn left and take the path. You will come to a road.

(3) Continue straight ahead on Chemin des Ruettes. At the crossroads, turn right, then continue straight ahead on the small path. You will come to a road.

(4) Turn right. Continue to the crossroads. Turn left onto Rue de Beaulieu. After about 1,200 metres, at the bend, take the small path opposite that runs alongside the vineyards. Continue straight ahead until you reach a larger path. Continue to Route de Champigny.

(5) Turn right, then take the second road on the left. Cross the vineyards until you reach the crossroads.

(6) Turn right, then take the third road on the right. At the crossroads, continue straight ahead. Continue to the end of the road.

(7) Turn left onto Chemin du Sourd. At the end of the road, continue straight ahead, turn right, then turn left onto Chemin des Beauges.

(8) At the end of the road, turn right and continue to the crossroads. Turn left and continue to the Croix de Chaintre crossroads.

(9) Turn left onto Rue de la Croix de Chaintre, then right onto Chemin de Gardi. At the first intersection, turn right. Continue to La Rocardière.

(10) Turn left onto Chemin de la Bosse, then right. Continue to the D145 road.

(11) Continue straight ahead and turn left at the crossroads onto Chemin des Quatre Vents. Take the second road on the left and return to the main road.

(12) Turn left, then immediately right. Continue straight ahead, then take the second path on the right. Continue and turn left at the crossroads. Return to the Montsoreau road.

(12) Turn right, then left to return to the starting point (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 30 m - Car park near the municipal campsite
  2. 1 : km 0.13 - alt. 28 m - La Loire
  3. 2 : km 0.89 - alt. 32 m - Crossing the D947 - Église Saint-Pierre (Dampierre-sur-Loire)
  4. 3 : km 2.12 - alt. 61 m - Turn right at the road
  5. 4 : km 3.66 - alt. 93 m - Route de Champigny
  6. 5 : km 4.34 - alt. 63 m - Crossroads of the Angle Cher path
  7. 6 : km 5.5 - alt. 65 m - Chemin du Sourd on the right
  8. 7 : km 6.64 - alt. 82 m - Turn right
  9. 8 : km 7.48 - alt. 51 m - Croix de Chaintre
  10. 9 : km 7.94 - alt. 55 m - La Rocardière
  11. 10 : km 9.03 - alt. 78 m - Crossing the D145
  12. 11 : km 10.25 - alt. 83 m - Route
  13. 12 : km 11.38 - alt. 32 m - Route de Montsoreau
  14. S/E : km 11.55 - alt. 30 m - Car park near the municipal campsite

Notes

Worth a visit

- Saint-Pierre Church (15th-16th century).
- The cave dwellings on the hillside.
- The Saumur-Champigny appellation vineyard.
- The Fourneaux manor house and its dovecote.
- The Morains manor house (15th century).

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 11 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
Brigitte45
Brigitte45

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 05, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant hike in beautiful weather. Varied landscapes, lovely views and very well marked.
Not very busy route

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Scot69
Scot69
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 19, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

From point 1 to point 4, along the banks of the Loire and the village: very pleasant, beautiful views, lovely light.
From point 4 to point 8, only vineyards with no real relief and no shade (inevitably): a bit tedious after a while.
From point 8 to point 10, a bit more relief, so prettier landscapes and perspective. A bit more shade too.
From point 10 to the end, return to the Loire with some nice views.
This hike is best done when it's not too hot, as you're often out in the open and on rocky ground.
Again, three quarters of the route is accessible by car... not really a footpath.
Personally, I have very mixed feelings about this hike, although it does have the advantage of being very easy.

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Gege5644
Gege5644

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 11, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike, varied and with magnificent views of the Loire and Saumur.

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Ce doeuff
Ce doeuff

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 26, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hike through the Saumur Champigny vineyards. Starting at the banks of the Loire, then tuffeau stone architecture... forest... A beautiful nature walk. Route very well marked in yellow.

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Patoche17
Patoche17

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 19, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Well-marked route - Beautiful view of the Loire. The starting point at the campsite is perfect for a picnic. Interesting 15% incline.

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cathy37
cathy37

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 02, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Beautiful view of the Loire River

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Tinouchka
Tinouchka

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 07, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant walk with no difficulty, very well marked (yellow). Much of the route takes place in the vineyards, so we were able to fully enjoy this beautiful sunny day.
Not crowded at all.
The starting point at the campsite is perfect, and you can have a picnic there.

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FRAISSENET
FRAISSENET

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 20, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A risk of landslides has led to the closure of a passageway. The information is only provided at one of the entrances, for those arriving from the other side!

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Ab0/5364
Ab0/5364

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 02, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

You can't see much on the map, but the route is very well marked.

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serge.
serge.

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 27, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

The route varies in terms of both surface and landscape. There are some steep sections at times as you climb to higher ground to see the Loire.
A pleasant hike.

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Pierrealibert
Pierrealibert

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 29, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Please note that as of 28 April 2019, there was a mandatory diversion of the GR (+ yellow route) between points 1 and 2 at the crossroads where there is a cross after leaving the village. Do not turn right but continue straight ahead for 50 metres before taking a path between the vineyards on the right (before the cemetery).

The diversion is clearly indicated with a sign.

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LEGRANDMARCHEURGRAND
LEGRANDMARCHEURGRAND

Cancelled due to rain. Postponed until the summer.

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