Béceleuf walks

A pleasant walk starting from Béceleuf, with its Romanesque church, exploring the Autize Valley with its dovecotes, castles and manor houses, not to mention the numerous wash houses and mills in this area rich in heritage and nature, such as the Chêne de Pouzay. As you walk, be sure to look out for the Gâtine barriers, reminders of the past.

A pleasant walk offering beautiful views.

Beautiful views and a few wash houses enhance this route, the first part of which is shared with the Logis de Pichenin trail.

A route close to the river with beautiful shaded paths.

During this hike, you will discover numerous fountains and wash houses, of course, but also the castle and park of Dilay, the Doré, Saumort and Autize valleys, the Pouzay house and dovecote, the Chaillot arboretum and perhaps... La Galipote.

A pretty, hilly route, mainly shaded, which leads through the countryside between three rivers, from the village of Fourbeau to Les Ritraisses via two different paths.

A pleasant hike in hilly terrain around the Egray River and its tributaries. It offers beautiful landscapes and allows you to discover a rich heritage of ancient buildings (Château de la Pimpelière, houses, farm buildings, etc.). The natural heritage is not to be outdone, with the Planche de Rochard and the Rochers de la Chaise, for example.

South-west of the Gâtine Parthenaise, starting from Coulonges-sur-l'Autize, this hike takes you from the plains of southern Vendée to the more hilly Gâtine Parthenaise, from farmland to bocage.

A route that follows the River Autize, passes near Château des Moulières, then takes a footpath and reaches the village of Tourteron via agricultural tracks. After a detour to the fountain and wash house in Tourteron, the walk continues across the plain dotted with wind turbines, then follows or runs alongside an old railway line, passes under a viaduct and returns along the meadows bordering the Autize to the Moulin de Dray before climbing back up to Saint-Pompain.

A peaceful walk through the Pamplie countryside, between fields and forests.

You will first follow the right bank of the Sèvre Niortaise to the Pont de Gué Moreau. There, you will take theGR®36, which will lead you back to the Château de Coudray-Salbard. Following a shaded path, you will climb up behind the château to the hamlet of Le Peu, reaching the Fontaine Braye. Continuing along theGR®, you will walk through a cool, lush valley. As you climb back up onto the plateau, you will leave theGR® and return to Ternanteuil to reach the car park where you started.

Mélusine accompanies you near her castle in Coudray-Salbart, along the peaceful banks of the Sèvre Niortaise, towards old hamlets and ancient dwellings with imposing dovecotes.

A hike in the Secondigny National Forest, dotted with foxgloves and ending with magnificent views of the Pays de Gâtine.

You can admire the Romanesque church of Sciecq before crossing the Sèvre Niortaise on a chain boat. You will then see the Château de Mursay, where Françoise d'Aubigné was raised, before walking along a shaded path overlooking the river. In the village of Surimeau, you will cross the Sèvre again at the Moulin d'Âne and take the Chemin des Pêcheurs between the Sèvre and the Bois des Touches to reach the Moulin de Compéré before heading back up towards Chantemerle and returning to the starting point. Please note: the chain boat will be removed on Friday 8 September 2023 for maintenance. It will probably not be put back until the end of March next year, except perhaps for Heritage Days. (information from town staff) There is no alternative crossing available...

A route through hills, hedgerows, forests, streams and green valleys with numerous views of the "little Switzerland" of Beugnon.

A pleasant walk exploring the restored wash houses, between the Roche and Musson valleys. This route takes you past the Romanesque church, the Tree of Liberty and the Hosanna cross in the village, then on to the wash house at Boisne, the wash house at La Perdillière, the wash house at Chazais and the wash house at La Roche, as well as the underground river. The route offers varied scenery and a chance to experience the natural beauty of this lovely corner of the Gâtine region.

Former mining basin, Faymoreau Petite Cité de Caractère in Vendée. Worth visiting for its geological history, its mining museum, its miners' houses and its miners' chapel with its stained glass windows. A walk through the countryside on an old railway line, along the banks of the river "La Vendée" and through orchards.

Starting from the Faymoreau Mining Centre, this route follows the mine path (an old railway line) and then continues through the countryside and orchards to reach the national forest (to be avoided during the hunting season).

From the ruins of the old fortified castle, passing by the Church of Sainte-Eulalie (a listed historic monument), follow the Peux, a network of small footpaths with evocative names: Peu des Demoiselles, Peu des Ânesses, Peu de chez Gognar, Peu de Gâte-Bourse… you will discover the village of Benet, which stretches across two hills crossed by Rue de la Combe, beneath which flows the Vrizon.

A beautiful hike to discover Cherveux with its temple, castle, well and Ripe-Cul staircase, the Plan pump (1880) and a sundial (1836). Along the route, you will find several family cemeteries, the Trousse Chemise wash house, the Mousson valley, the old Truite windmill, the Cherveux - Saint-Christophe lake, hundred-year-old chestnut trees and the Logis de Seneuil.

A bucolic route with some elevation, partly following the paths marked out by the municipality around the Brangeard, Marcusson and Musson rivers. Some sections are steep and others may be flooded depending on the season.

This route follows the cycle path along the Sèvre Niortaise, from La Roussille to Magné, then returns via the Marais de Peigland and Marais de Saint-Rémy to the village of La Tiffardière, near the starting point.

Walking along the Rigole d'Aziré to the Courdault canal, then returning via the Marais des Nattes, you may spot some nutria, purple herons or lapwings, and perhaps even a deer or two.

This is an easy, short walk that allows you to discover the wild side of the Green Venice. In the heart of nature, you will always be close to the water, in the shade of pollarded ash trees and poplars. And you may even be lucky enough to spot some nutria or deer.

A pleasant hike in the Sèvre Niortaise Valley, on the outskirts of Niort. Despite the city being quite close, this route allows you to discover a preserved natural area with good paths. The alternating passage between small hills and valley bottoms offers beautiful landscapes. Along the way, you will get a beautiful view of the Château de Vandelaigne and a few other architectural gems.

A pleasant little route through the orchards of Secondigny.

Taking the cycle paths and theGR®36via Belle Île, you will follow the banks of the Sèvre Niortaise and the Noron lake. Numerous vegetable gardens and beautiful residences line part of this route.

This hike will take you along the meandering Chambon, Musson and Sèvre Niortaise rivers, passing through villages with beautifully restored stone houses and paths that cross vast plains of cereal crops stretching as far as the eye can see.

A walk in the wild marshes of Le Mazeau, criss-crossed by a multitude of canals and ditches. Here, summer and winter alike, the light is always beautiful through the poplar plantations!