Circular around Saint-Aignan

A hilly hike between famous châteaux and their vineyards, with beautiful views of the Dordogne and charming little hamlets...

Details

408920
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.97 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 15 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 128 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 122 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 84 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 21 m

Photos

Description of the walk

(S/E) Park at the village hall (next to the church) and turn left towards the church when you exit. At the T-junction, turn left then right towards Tasta. Continue to Château Mazéris.

(1) Go around it on the left, walk along the wine cellars and, at the exit, walk a few metres to the right on the road until you reach the entrance to the château. Turn right for a few metres, then take the white path on the left that descends through the vineyards. At the bottom, continue along this path which climbs back up between the bushes. Be careful at Tauby at the Y-junction, stay on the path, ignore the one on the left, and climb a little further.

(2) At Château le Mausse, cross the road at the corner of the building and take the path opposite that goes downhill. At the bottom of the road, turn left, passing Barrabaque and Caillau.

(3) At the top of the hill, just before the T-junction, take the path on the right and enjoy the magnificent view over the Dordogne valley. There's even a bench available!
Head down towards Château Bodet and, just before the buildings, turn left northwards towards the D246 (be careful of the bend and heavy traffic). Cross the road and walk a few metres to the right, then take the path opposite and cross the next road.

(4) Just before Château Laguë, take the path on the left, cross the road in front of the entrance to Château Sauvage, then head towards Bren. There, continue straight on along the road, pass La Venelle and you will arrive at Gagnard.

(5) Turn right to rejoin the road, then turn right at the Y junction towards Vigne. Continue to the next T-junction.

(6) Turn left towards Gandineau, cross over, turn right and rejoin the road. At the T-junction, turn right towards Coustolle.

(7) Leave the road and go around the buildings on the right, take the path on the right towards the pond.

(8) Before reaching La Valade, turn left, pass in front of the hamlet and continue towards the hamlet of Vincent. At the entrance, at the T-junction, go around to the right and rejoin the road leading to the water tower.

(9) Turn right towards the water tower and immediately afterwards, turn left, leave the road and take the path to the road.

(10) At the X-shaped crossroads, turn left, cross the D246, turn right and then left. In Signat, turn left to join the road leading to the village hall and car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 64 m - Parking at the village hall
  2. 1 : km 1.2 - alt. 53 m - Château Mazéris, go around to the left
  3. 2 : km 2.43 - alt. 60 m - Château Le Mausse, path opposite
  4. 3 : km 3.33 - alt. 53 m - On the right before the road
  5. 4 : km 4.41 - alt. 58 m - Path on the left
  6. 5 : km 5.4 - alt. 42 m - On the right
  7. 6 : km 6.02 - alt. 31 m - T-junction on the left
  8. 7 : km 6.52 - alt. 42 m - Coustolle: go around to the right
  9. 8 : km 7.01 - alt. 28 m - Left towards La Valade
  10. 9 : km 7.78 - alt. 77 m - Turn right onto the road towards the water tower
  11. 10 : km 9.02 - alt. 79 m - X-shaped crossroads on the left towards D246
  12. S/E : km 9.97 - alt. 64 m - Parking at the village hall

Notes

Important: this route is off the beaten track. All the landmarks mentioned in the description (place names, castle names, but also high-voltage power lines, bridges, etc.) are shown on the corresponding IGN 1:25,000 map, but are not always shown on the reduced map.
We strongly recommend that you either purchase the map or use the app on a smartphone, which will also allow you to be geolocated at all times so you can track your movements accurately.
The route may cross or follow other marked trails. It is tempting to follow the markings! Unless otherwise specified, do not stray from the route.
The use of walking sticks can be very useful and reassuring. In addition to providing stability, they improve the distribution of effort.

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 18 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.4 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
User 7565961

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 24, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful hike that I was already familiar with. It is just hilly enough to be accessible to everyone, and the views of the vineyards and the Dordogne are well worth the detour.

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isèrevercors
isèrevercors

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 27, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

We had already done this hike in 2019, which was enjoyable, but there have been changes: the Jeandeman Castle is now off-limits.
level 3, never mind, we took the mill path (Fronsac hike) to the end and found the passage to the plain castle - now owned by a Chinese person? (very well renovated) so no access on the path along the castle, we went down lower and passed through the vineyards. There we found some cute little llamas, beautiful black dwarf sheep and adorable little goats in an enclosure. Then we rejoined the path further on. Great hike. And picnic by the river.

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User 26166299

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 04, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant route, surrounded by vineyards and wine estates. Lovely views over the Dordogne. Fairly easy to follow with the walking guide.

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Marie-Renée VALLET
Marie-Renée VALLET

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 30, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Walk taken on Friday, 26 July 2024.
A very beautiful walk with lovely views, very pleasant and without any difficulties.

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bx86
bx86

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 07, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Good evening,
today's walk was a bit chilly with a north wind, as confirmed by the weather station located at point 10.
I had already done this walk in May 2018, so no worries there, except that it was less flowery and green, of course, but still very interesting, with rolling hills, pretty châteaux in the Fronsadais region, and a few mill ruins.
The heavy rain of the previous days made some sections muddy, but nothing more than that.
Thank you for this walk.

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Jean Lou Genestal
Jean Lou Genestal

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 05, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Superb and very pleasant. Good signage. Wonderful scenery.

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Lilas33
Lilas33

I also live near Libourne and am interested in hiking around Libourne, Saint André de Cubzac, Saint Germain du Puch, Entre deux mers... .

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Lilas33
Lilas33

Thank you very much, Bernard.
Have a good evening

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Bruno33500
Bruno33500

Thank you, that's very kind of you...
I currently have 73 published hikes, so you can continue exploring!
Bruno33500

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Lilas33
Lilas33

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 23, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the author of this itinerary.
Thanks to him, I was able to share this route with friends.
I encourage him to suggest new routes

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Jean-Alfred
Jean-Alfred

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 28, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike with many castles to see and stunning scenery.

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3M
3M

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 06, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We did this walk in the morning. A superb route with magnificent views. I highly recommend it. There are lots of castles to see

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jean-louis michel
jean-louis michel

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 26, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

As other hikers have already pointed out, the section after Château Mazeris is really problematic. After going back and forth so many times, I ended up getting to know the area really well!
Apart from that, it's a superb, very varied route. There is little tarmac, which is a great choice, but the downside is that some sections, vineyard paths, etc., are very easy to lose.
If you allow at least an hour more than the advertised time, it's a superb hike.

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Closparadis
Closparadis

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 28, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

wine-growing landscape with a view of LIBOURNE
peaceful on Sundays, wine châteaux
varied, very pleasant landscape
the weak point: sections on the road, vehicles travelling too fast

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Apedou
Apedou

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 07, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Common route with a green and yellow marked circular loop, except for the final section (St Aignan circular).
A varied and very peaceful hike.

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