The ‘circular tour of Bornéo’ in the commune of Roussay

Park in the square by Roussay church.

(S/E) Facing the church, head to the left, then carry on straight ahead at the junction onto the main road. At the end of the road, before the T-junction with the D146, take the path on the right that runs alongside the road. This leads to a small road. Carry on straight ahead, passing the Bastille, where the Ferme d’Activité des Mauges is located

(1) Carry on along this road and soon take the path on the right. You will arrive at the Ferme des Rabottières. Walk past the livestock building until you reach the junction where a road meets a path.

(2) Turn left and follow the track. Go round the old village of La Baconnière, passing the old La Baconnière uranium quarry on your left. The track continues along a tarmac section until it reaches the RD64.

(3) Take care when crossing. Continue to the hamlet of La Malécotière, pass through it and take the track to the left of the houses. Follow the track uphill until you reach a junction. Turn left to reach the crossroads with the road leading to La Papinière and La Turmelière. This crossroads has five different directions.

(4) Cross the road and take the road on the right leading to La Petit Cherpaie. Continue for 400 metres until you reach another road. Cross it and take the path on the right towards La Cherpraie. Follow a wide circular path, keeping to the right at all times. You are now on the section of path formerly known as Bornéo. Stay on this path, keeping to the right, to reach the village of La Turmelière.

(5) At the chapel, take the road on the left for about 150 metres and, at the next junction, turn right. A little further on, take the dirt track on the left, leaving the road leading to the hamlet of L’Humeau on your right. Pass a second chapel, L’Humeau. Continue along this track until you reach the junction with the Chemin des Justices.

(6) Turn right. At the RD64, cross carefully and turn right. Walk along the left-hand side of the road, then leave it to turn left onto the path towards La Basse Boissière. Once in the hamlet, head straight on along the path that descends towards La Moine. You will reach the Ruisseau de la Baconnière.

(7) Follow the stream to the left, cross the small bridges, then reach Normandeau by turning slightly to the right.
Continue along the path which climbs back up to the hamlet of La Chaise.

(8) Stay on the road to reach the village of Roussay and the church square (S/E).

The Mauges Activity Farm (near La Bastille)
A residential care home on the farm established in 2008, this facility cares for people with intellectual disabilities, particularly those with Fragile X syndrome. Every autumn, the Mauges Activity Farm benefits from the proceeds of the Fête des Cucurbitacées, held in the village of La Chaise in Roussay.

The Baconnière Quarry: A former uranium mine with several open-cast pits and underground tunnels, it was in operation from 1976 to 1981. Over 500 tonnes of uranium were extracted and processed at the SIMO plant in L’Écarpière, Gétigné. Nearby, the former Anjougerie quarry has been converted into a diving centre.

La Turmelière Chapel: The château and chapel were built around 1860 by the Baudry family. Monsignor Baudry, Bishop of Périgueux, had the chapel added. It is owned and maintained by all the property owners in the village of La Turmelière (private chapel).

The Normandeau Watermill: this mill at Normandeau stands on the north bank of the River Moine; a submersible causeway partially blocks the riverbed. This mill was coupled with a windmill in the^mid-18th century. It was decommissioned in 1856 and then, from 1902, used by the Aumon-Martin factory (Roussay) to generate the electricity required for this textile mill. Following the electrification of Roussay, the watermill was used as a flour mill until 1946. It was subsequently abandoned and later converted into a dwelling.