Along the Charente from Saint-Pierre-d'Éxideuil to Civray

Access: Park near Civray, at the Saint-Pierre-d'Éxideuil leisure area on the banks of the Charente.

(S/E) At the park entrance, take the road to the left of the housing estate (next to the tennis court), continue along the path, then turn right at the Y junction towards the D148. Caution: road traffic. Cross the road and head towards Les Bourdeuils. Continue along the road and take the path on the left, just after passing under the Pont Trente-Quatre bridge. The path runs alongside the disused railway line and descends into the valley to join the road that passes under the viaduct.

(1) Continue left along the road, then left at the next fork. Cross the D148 again at Les Bourbes (caution: danger), take the path opposite towards the lake. Continue right, following the property wall.

(2) Continue along the path running alongside the Charente river to see the mill, dovecote and gate of the Léray estate.

(3) Stay on the path that goes around the property and passes through the farm buildings. Turn right towards L'Échelle (and the Saint-Saviol dairy in the background). Turn left.

(4) Cross the Charente via the Pont Bridé bridge. Immediately turn left onto the path that runs along the river at the bottom of the hill, then take the path that joins the road at Bessigny. Continue to the left.

(5) At the next crossroads, take the white path on the right. Pass in front of the fountain (on the left side of the meadow) and continue along the path on the left to join the Dalidant road.

(6) Take a short detour to the bridge and return to continue left towards Chez Redon. Take the first path on the left to reach the Fontlusseau fountain and the mill roads. Opposite the fountain, continue along the path on the right which leads to a meadow (unfenced) to reach the communal land of the leisure area.

(7) Here you have two options:
- take the footbridge to reach the starting point opposite (S/E),
- or continue along the path running alongside the river and join the Chez Redon path.

(8) A little further on, take the path on the right that climbs up to Pellevoisin. At the end of the hamlet, continue along the road that winds to the left. At the bottom of the descent, turn right onto the path that climbs up, then left towards the Maison Neuve farm.

(9) Take the road on the right towards the water tower (secondary school, gymnasium), then the one on the left to reach Rue du Porteau Rouge. At the crossroads (plumbing workshop), take Rue Henri Dunant, which runs alongside the secondary school. At the bottom, turn left and continue to the Boulevard Carnot crossroads.

(10) Turn right, reach the crossroads with the footbridges and continue along the paths to reach the square opposite the church.

(11) Enjoy the town centre and visit the magnificent church. On leaving the church, continue along the footpaths along the Charente river to the beach.

(12) Return to the church square, leave via Rue du Commerce and join Rue Duplessis. Go down it on the left. Cross the Charente on the Grand Pont with a view of the Moulin Neuf and its causeway. Return via the Boulevard Carnot crossroads.

(10) Turn right onto Rue du Moulin Neuf and follow it to reach the Charente at La Bonneterie via Les Chambons.

(13) Cross the ford, jumping from stone to stone, or use the footbridge, and continue along the path towards the mill.

(14) Go around the mill and join the Route du Moulin Minot. First turn right then left to join the D148. Caution: road traffic. Cross the road and continue straight ahead to the gatekeeper's cottage. Continue left to reach the village hall, go around the village school, head up towards the town hall and reach the church square.

(15) Go down Rue des Loisirs to return to the leisure area car park (S/E).

This hike includes many unmarked crossroads. It is essential to follow your progress on the map.
This hike is not possible when the Charente river is in flood, as many sections are flooded.
In winter, you can cross the flooded Chaluppe valley via the viaduct (and take the road to Les Champs or Les Hommes Guillaumes to return to the lake.
On the paved country roads, you will not encounter many people and will be minimally inconvenienced by vehicles.

(S/E) Annual festival on the first weekend of August, with fireworks.

The viaduct was built in 1885 for the railway line. It spans the Chaluppe valley, a stream that flows during the wet winter months due to rising groundwater levels. The valley is generally dry in summer.

(2) The Château de l'Etang (private), 19th century former "dependancy" of the Jousserant de Lairé family, an important seigneurial family from the Civraisien region. Built on a dried-up pond. Numerous springs feed the Chaluppe here, before flowing into the Charente.

(3) The Château de Leray (private), 16th to 20th century, listed as a historic monument in 1932 for the facades and roofs of the main building with its corner turret, the entrance gate and the castle's dovecote. There is also said to be a dog oven, used to dry the pack. The motto SPES MEA DEUM (Hope in God) is inscribed on the porch above the armoury in 1605.

(6) The Dalidant mill, seen from the stone bridge built at the beginning of the 20th century, following the collapse of the old bridge, of which one pier and other remains still exist. It remained in operation (as a flour mill) until the early 1980s before being converted into a dwelling.

After (10) Footbridges, beautiful views towards the Barres bridges.

(11) Saint-Nicolas Church, a jewel of 12th-century Romanesque art with numerous sculptures and a colourful painted interior. Market on the square on Tuesday mornings (and Fridays, but smaller). As you wander around, there are beautiful houses to admire, such as those on Rue Louis XIII.

(12) At the end of July, the three-day Au Fil du Son festival takes place behind the church: more than 10,000 festival-goers, including 4,000 young campers, and around 20 groups of artists perform on two stages (in 2018: Vianney, IAM, Catherine Ringer, Shaka Ponk, Synapson, etc.).

Before (10) on the way back Viewpoint over the Charente, the mill and the town.

(14) The Minot mill, rebuilt at the end of the 19th century, remained in operation (as a flour mill) until the mid-1980s. It has remained unchanged since then.

(15) The 11th-century Saint Pierre church in the centre of a very old cemetery, its forecourt with its medieval stone table in the shade of its hundred-year-old Sully lime tree.