Pauline’s Walk – Route de Sienne

From Angoulême, take the D939 and drive to the Rochebeaucourt junction. Head towards the village and park in the Rochebeaucourt municipal car park.

(S/E) Opposite, on the other side of the road, take the Impasse du Château to the first junction.

(1) Turn right at this junction, at the corner of Les Blanquets. Enter the park grounds opposite and, after crossing the stream, follow the path to the right until you reach the gate of the Leggett Training Centre, situated on the site of the former castle.

(2) Pass the Malakoff Tower (the last remaining part of the castle) on your right and wind your way up the small, steep path on the left through the park. Walk through the greenery along the rocky slope, dotted with natural caves. Follow the path to the end to reach the wide, leafy avenue also known as the ‘Avenue de la Vertu’.

(3) Follow it to the Arc de Triomphe.

(4) Facing the Arc de Triomphe, turn right onto the path leading to the sluices separating the River Nizonne from its former course.

(5) Cross this weir and enter the vast meadow, which was once home to fish-farming ponds. Walk across it. You’ll arrive at the courtyard of the old castle; turn left to reach the car park (S/E).

An easy walk requiring no special equipment.
A bakery serving drinks is 20 metres from the car park.

Opposite the castle ruins, its restored former Orangery and gardens (private property).
The Malakoff Tower, also known as the campanile or the “Tower of Rats”, is the last remaining structure of the Renaissance castle.
At the start of the Allée de la Vertu, the jetty for pleasure boats on the canal running parallel to the Nizonne.
At the end of the same avenue stands the Triumphal Arch, erected by the Count of Béarn in honour of Pauline de Tourzel.
The ponds of the former fish farm.