Around Saint-Simon-de-Bordes and the River Maine

The parking area is located in the car park of the Salle des Fêtes in Saint-Simon-de-Bordes.
Alternatively, there are other parking options in the village (near the town hall on the main street, for example).

(S/E) Leave the car park and head towards Rue de la Salle des Fêtes, turn right and walk past the school.
When you reach the crossroads with the main street, turn right and walk past the church. Continue carefully along the Agudelle road, which turns sharply to the left and descends. After a right-hand bend, you will see a large tree-lined car park on the right.

Turn right, cross the car park and pass the small building (toilets - closed in winter) on the left to take the path that goes around the small lake.
Return to the car park, go to the exit, cross the Agudelle road carefully and take the farm track opposite, which goes up the Maine river on the right. Continue straight on until you reach the road at a place called Le Moulin Rompu.

(2) Turn right onto the road and cross the Maine via the bridge. The road climbs up onto the plateau and passes through a place called Les Ormeaux.
When you reach the Agudelle road, turn left and then almost immediately left again onto a farm track. This track heads towards a small wood, running along its edge on the right and then on the left until it joins the road leading to Chez Drouet.

(3) Turn right. Do the same shortly afterwards at the next crossroads. The small, quiet road leads to Agudelle, passing by the cemetery located around the church (car park opposite the cemetery and church).
Turn right onto the road leading to Saint-Simon-de-Bordes. After the last houses in Agudelle, the road curves to the right while two roads join on the left. Take the second one towards Chez Gillet.

(4) When you arrive in front of the beautiful Chez Gillet property, leave all the roads and take the farm track opposite, slightly to the left, which starts by following the hedge of the property. This is the Saintonge^GRP®® (yellow and red markings) which leads to Chez Ridois on the other side of a small wood.
Cross the woods via a beautiful forest path. Further on, the path runs along the edge of the woods with crops on the right, including vines.

(5) When you reach the end of the woods (vineyards on both sides of the path), take the path on the right that runs diagonally between two cultivated plots. After crossing a small wood, it leads directly to Chez Métay.
At the edge of the woods, take the D253 opposite. Almost immediately, the road turns right at a right angle: continue straight on along the small road towards Chez Métay and Chez Daupont.

(6) Leave the dead-end road on the right that leads to Chez Daupont and continue on the left on the small road that goes around a few houses before turning into a farm track that descends the side of the valley to cross the Maine on a small bridge.
After crossing the Maine, the track climbs a little, then turns right and runs alongside the river. The farm track passes through a place called Cacherat, where it turns into a road.

(7) On leaving Cacherat, take the small road on the right which leads directly to Saint-Simon-de-Bordes.
After passing the first houses, the small road leads to the church and joins the main street.
Go around the church on the right and then take Rue de la Salle des Fêtes after passing the school.

The return to the car park at the village hall (S/E) marks the end of this walk.

It is also possible to park next to the church in Agudelle. In this case, adapt the description to this starting point located between points (3) and (4).

This hike does not present any particular difficulties but requires suitable footwear, as the paths can be muddy in wet weather. This unmarked route nevertheless follows sections of other marked routes (e.g. the^GRP®® de Saintonge): it is therefore advisable to follow the route according to the description and map.

Hike completed by the author on 8 December 2017.

Saint Simon de Bordes

Château de Saint-Simon
The Château de Saint-Simon de Bordes was built by Marie-Charles du Chilleau, Lord of Airvault, Sainte-Lheurine, Moings, Villexaxier, Saint-Simon, and Governor of Saint-Domingue. The château was sold during the Revolution as national property. After being burned down on the night of 28 to 29 September 1889, certain modifications were made, notably 19th-century style windows.

Saint-Simon-de-Bordes Church

The church, a 12th-century building, was listed as a historic monument by decree on 5 December 2000. The two arms of the transept were rebuilt in the 19th century.
The bell tower of Saint-Simon-de-Bordes was destroyed during the Second World War and replaced by another. Because the bell tower of Villexavier had also disappeared, the two bells were accidentally exchanged afterwards: if you look closely at the Saint-Simon bell, you can see "Villexavier" engraved on it, along with a date.

Les Six Épis

Les Six Épis is a residence that belonged to Fernand Larquier, a doctor of law, solicitor, former magistrate, mayor of Saint-Simon-de-Bordes and deputy for Charente-Maritime from 1902 to 1914, and a great defender of home distillers.

Agudelle

- The Church of Saint-Eutrope, whose construction began in the 12th century, has been listed as a historic monument since 31 December 1986. A polychrome wooden statue of Saint-Eutrope dating from the 17th or 18th century has been listed since 21 January 1980. It was restored in 1988 by Christian Karoutzos. The church houses a bronze bell dating from 1556, which has been listed as a historic monument since 5 December 1908.
- The Tower House, dating from the 19th century.