Around the sanctuary in Saint-Georges-des-Gardes

Park in the CollinéA hall car park, walk around it and you will find the starting point. You will see the panorama of the surrounding area a short distance away, as well as the church. All you have to do is follow the blue markings.

(S/E) From the starting point, follow the path that runs alongside the football pitch. At the crossroads with Rue du Monastère, if you haven't visited it yet, turn left and head for Notre-Dame des Gardes Abbey.

(1) Return to the crossroads and continue left along Rue du Monastère, which begins to descend.
Follow the tarmac road downhill for about 400 metres. After a right-hand bend followed by a left-hand bend, you will see a path on your left.

(2) Take the grassy path on the left. Once at Haute Garde, turn left and then immediately right onto the path that runs alongside the Bois de la Garde and leads to the crossroads near a building materials depot.

(3) Back on the tarmac road, turn right, then left, then left again at La Picoulière.
Then take a path along the fields. After a right turn in the groves, you will reach a fork shortly before arriving in the village of Saint Georges des Gardes.

(4) Turn right, then right/left to reach Rue de la Védrie.

(5) Immediately turn left onto Rue d'Anjou. Follow the signs through the village's paths and streets, leaving the church and cemetery a few dozen metres to your right, and cross Rue de la Vielle Fontaine to reach the local football stadium.

(6) Turn left and go around it to the north and then to the east until you reach the D265, Rue du Moulin. Turn left until you reach Puy de la Garde.

(7) You now have two options:

• Option 1: continue straight ahead to reach the town centre via Rue du Moulin and Rue Beau Soleil, then turn left at CollinéA. This shortens the circular route by about 6 km.

• Option 2: Turn right onto the road that goes downhill. Turn left at the next intersection, then once you reach the D133, turn left until you reach the ponds.

(8) Leave the road and turn left after the ponds onto the dirt track. This leads to a place called La Braudière at a T-junction.

(9) Turn right and after about 400 metres you will find the Yellow trail to Planche Grelet on your right.
Follow the path to the chapel of the same name.

(10) Back on the marked trails at the Chapelle Grelet, turn left and follow the stream from the Pont aux Jards bridge. At the bridge, turn right and cross La Boutière. Continue to La Virée.

(11) Turn left, then take the left fork to discover the beautiful Jardin des Chirons.

(12) At the crossroads, turn left to reach L'Aunay and then the D265 a little further on. Turn left and return to the village of Les Gardes at the next right turn.
Once you have passed the entrance sign, take the path on the right that leads back up to the starting point (S/E).

To conclude this beautiful hike, gather at the La Colline picnic area for a well-deserved picnic!

Picnic area at the Coulée Verte in Saint-Georges-des-Gardes

The Coulée Verte leisure area offers children a cabin with a slide, several spring-loaded animals, a large shaded area for playing ball and a seesaw.
There are also picnic tables, benches and shaded areas.

The little extra: a very pretty view of the Farfadet area and the surrounding countryside.

(1) Abbaye des Gardes shop
The sisters are delighted to welcome you to their shop, where you will find products made by them and many other monasteries, as well as a few local specialities and a range of health foods.

La Colline picnic area
Behind the CollinéA hall - at the start and finish points.
This area consists of: two single spring toys, an elephant slide, a roundabout, a climbing frame for children aged 6 and over, a table tennis table, a giant taquin game for children aged 6 and over, a BMX track for children aged 10 and over, and a football pitch.
Practical information: picnic tables, benches, shade and toilets at La Maison des Energies.
The little extra: a nearby observatory offering panoramic views of the surrounding countryside. Weather information is available at La Maison des Energies.

The Château de la Tourlandry
About a 20-minute walk from L'Aunay (off the marked trail) when you take the longer route.
Since 2008, the site, in the heart of the village of La Tourlandry, has been brought back to life under the leadership of its dynamic owners. The château is a hybrid venue, serving as tourist accommodation, a cultural centre with a permanent exhibition on the history of science and technology from the Second Empire to the digital age, and a visitor centre. The grounds are also worth exploring, with their plants and water-filled ditches.

(1) Abbaye des Gardes and observatory
A place of pilgrimage, the sanctuary offers a vast panorama from the top of its towers. The church, built around 1920, has beautiful stained glass windows and a crowned Virgin and Child. Nearby, a hill offers a 360° panorama of the surrounding area. You are at the top of Anjou! Interpretation panels help you to understand the landscape.

(10) La Planche Grelet
In 1697, a tenant farmer, overcome with fear in this place, called on the Virgin Mary for help. Saved, he placed a statuette in the hollow of an elm tree. In the 19th century, his descendants had this chapel built in this green setting, which is now maintained by an association.

(12) Le Jardin des Chirons
A pleasant spot where "scree", numerous granite blocks found in the surrounding fields, are gathered. You will find them near the Grelet Chapel in particular.