Walk around Châteaubriant

Park in the Super U car park on Route de Saint-Aubin, on the petrol station side.

(S/E) Walk along the right-hand side of Route de Saint-Aubin (D34) until you reach the police station. Take the path on the right, at the corner of the building, and continue straight ahead. Cross a small bridge over the Chère and follow the path to the right.

(1) Continue along the path on the left, Chemin de la Goupillière, which climbs and passes close to the landscaped cemetery on the left. Continue straight ahead. Cross the Route des Légendes de Béré housing estate. At the end, take the pedestrian crossing, turn right onto the path and you will come out onto the D163, Rue du Faubourg de Béré.

(2) Cross carefully at the pedestrian crossing and take the path through the green space that joins Rue de Saint-Brieuc. Follow this road to the left until you reach Rue de Brest. Turn right and continue until you reach Rue du Moulin de Béré.

(3) First turn left then right onto Rue de Metz. At the end of this street, first turn left then right again to enter the hospital grounds.

(4) Go down the path on the left that goes around the boarding school. Go down to the car park, cross it and continue on the path opposite. Turn right onto the footpath that leads to the Étang de Choisel.

(5) At the end of the pond, take the small path that goes uphill, passing in front of the public toilets. At the top, go around the two small ponds on the right. At the last pond, do not go all the way around it, but continue straight ahead to the Aquachoisel water park. Continue along the path on the left.

(6) Leave the Espace Aquachoisel via the footpath on the right. On your left, you will see the Hippodrome de la Métaierie Neuve racecourse, followed by the Bois de la Galissonnière woods. Continue along the path that goes around the Espace Choisel and takes you back to the Étangs de Choisel ponds, passing Rue Guy Moquet, D41.

(7) Take the path on the left, which goes around the lake, then cross Rue Guy Moquet again to reach the Étang de Choisel and continue on the left, with the lake on your right. At the end of the lake, go left via the steps and you will come out on Rue Guy Moquet.

(8) Cross at the pedestrian crossing and continue opposite on Chemin de Choisel, which turns right, then turn left onto Rue Charles Goudé and then Rue des Déportés Résistants, continuing to the right.

(9) At the traffic lights, go up the street on the left, Rue du Mal Foch, until you reach the second street on the right, Rue Louis Aubin, and follow it in a circular pattern until you reach Rue des Déportés Résistants.

(10) Turn left and head down towards the castle. Turn left onto Promenade du Duc D'Aumale, between the bottom of the castle and La Chère. Continue with the river on your left.

(11) Just before a railway underpass, take the path that passes in front of the public toilets and climbs up some steps to a park next to the castle. From the park, join the road on the right towards the castle entrance.

(12) At the roundabout, take Rue de la Gare on the left, pass in front of it and head towards the car park on the same side. Cross the car park and continue on the Voie Verte at the end.

(13) Carefully cross Rue du 8 Mai 1945, which can be very busy at certain times, using the pedestrian crossing, and continue along the Voie Verte for a few dozen metres. Leave the Voie Verte and take the narrower path on the right. Cross two streets, continuing straight ahead. On your right is the Ville aux Roses district of Châteaubriant.

(14) Cross the road, taking care, and turn right onto the path that runs alongside the road. Pass the police station and turn left into the car park near the petrol station (S/E).

Picnics are possible around the ponds.

Public toilets after (5), at the end of the pond, and after (11), at the end of the Promenade du Duc d'Aumale.

The trail is not difficult, but it is best to wear good shoes and, depending on the season, bring clothing to protect yourself from the cold, heat or rain.

Tourist office: 29 Place Charles de Gaulle, 44110 Châteaubriant, opposite the Château.

Château de Châteaubriant.