Saint-Martin-de-Fressengeas Circular Botanical Loop

Starting point at the town hall square in Saint-Martin-de-Fressengeas: small car park available.

(S/E) With your back to the town hall, take the road on the right.

Blue signposts along the entire route

(1) At the three-way junction, turn left towards Bourg Vieux. Follow this road downhill and leave the village. Continue until you reach the halfway point up the slope and, just before a left-hand bend, leave the road and take a path on the right which descends to the bottom of the valley.

(2) Cross the Ruisseau de la Benché at the ford and head up the hillside opposite. The path runs alongside a woodland on the right-hand side and continues across fields. At the junction, turn right onto the tarmac road. Pass the farm on the right and continue uphill towards a farm building to the left of the road.

(3) Just below this building, turn left onto a path leading to the ‘Sentier de découverte de l’Âge’, which begins at the edge of the woodland. Ignore the paths that cross this nature trail. Walk down to a stream, then head back up to the hamlet of l’Âge.

(4) First take the road on the left, and at the well, turn right. On leaving the hamlet, at a crossroads, turn right, following the fences. Continue along this path, first through the woods, then along the edge. The path cuts across the middle of the meadows and climbs up along the edge of the woods opposite until it reaches a tarmac road.

(5) Turn right and, about ten metres further on, take a new path on the right through the woods. It crosses fields and comes out onto another road (D98). Take this road to the left and continue to the next junction. Turn right towards Saint-Martin-de-Fressengeas and walk a few metres.

(6) Immediately after the fence by the house, turn left onto the Bois de la Croix Botanical Trail. It descends through a small wood where the flora is described on information boards. At the end of this trail, take the path that climbs up to the right, passing through meadows and woodland. It joins another path; take this to the left to continue climbing. At the top of the hill, follow the road that continues from the path and you’ll reach a crossroads after passing a farm.

(7) Turn left onto a road that descends alongside industrial buildings. Continue along the edge of a meadow and, at the bottom of the meadow, in a left-hand bend, take the path that branches off to the right and joins another road leading back up to the entrance to Saint-Martin-de-Fressengeas. Continue along this road until you reach the first junction you passed on the way out.

(1) Carry on straight ahead to the village centre (S/E).

This circular walk follows country lanes maintained by the local association Amis Chemin, which is also responsible for labelling the trees and woodland plants. https://www.saint-martin-de-fressengeas....
Maps of the routes signposted by the association are available in a postbox located opposite the town hall.

Catering and shops (bakery) in the village of Saint-Martin-de-Fressengeas.
Picnic tables behind the town hall and the village church.

Along both nature trails, information boards list the names and characteristics of the trees and woodland plants most commonly found in the region.
In Saint-Martin-de-Fressengeas, the Romanesque church is open during the day.
Behind the town hall, don’t miss the lovely view over the Queue d’Âne valley.