Cléry-Saint-André circular along the banks of the Loire via La Verdaille

The walk starts on the forecourt of the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Cléry-Saint-André (car park to the south of the basilica).

(S/E) Follow the Pas Dunois, which leads to Rue du Cloître to the south of the basilica. Pass the Pas Cachon and then Rue des Soupirs on your right and follow Rue de la Gare to the left until you reach the crossroads. Take Rue des Ruelles northwards to the main road (Rue du Maréchal Foch), then turn right onto it. Turn left into Rue de Saint-André in front of the police station, which joins the^GR®655East (red and white markings). Continue to the junction with the Sentier des Murailles.

(1) Continue along Rue Saint-André, ignore Rue des Hauts Bergerets on the left and reach the junction with Rue des Champs Moreau. Turn left onto this road until the T-junction. Follow Rue de la Vieille Voie to the left.

(2) Take the path on the right which crosses the Petit Ardoux, then leave the^GR® by taking the first path on the left, until you reach the embankment designed to contain the Loire’s floodwaters.

(3) Turn left and take the path immediately on the right down to the Loire. At the junction with the “La Loire à Vélo” route, recognisable by its light-coloured surface, turn left, then follow the path immediately on the right to the banks of the Loire.

(4) Take the path upstream and make sure to follow it as close to the river as possible. Ignore the paths on the right until you reach a junction with a forest track on the right, after the Grands Biaunais (apple orchards).

(5) Turn right onto the forest track, which is distinct from the previous, narrower paths. This leads to the embankment at La Fosse Longue. Follow the embankment to the right, passing La Verdaille (the embankment becomes^{the GR®655}East), La Bretellerie, until you reach Champremeau.

(6) Follow the^GR® (red and white markings) to the basilica, first taking the street that descends to the left, then the path that goes round the farm and heads south-east. Ignore the path on the left. At the T-junction, turn right to rejoin the route taken on the way there.

(2) Take Rue de la Vieille Voie on the left, then Rue des Champs Moreau on the right. Continue out of the woods to Champ Moreau.
At the junction, continue right along Rue de Saint André, ignoring Rue des Hauts Bergerets, until you reach the first crossroads.

(1) Turn right onto the Sentier des Murailles. This winding alley widens. Follow it south-west, ignoring the various side streets, until you reach Rue de la Poule Blanche, which you will follow as an extension of the Sentier des Murailles until you reach a crossroads.

(7) At the junction with Rue de Meung, turn left towards the basilica. At the junction with Rue du Maréchal Foch, turn right to the basilica forecourt to return to the starting point (S/E).

The path running alongside the Loire is dangerous in strong winds due to the risk of falling branches and trees. It is difficult to navigate when the Loire is in flood.

This walk can be shortened by starting and finishing at Champ Moreau, in which case the distance is 10.83 km.

The banks of the Loire are living, fragile environments that must be preserved.

A remarkable example of Flamboyant Gothic architecture, the Basilica of Notre Dame was favoured by the kings of France, and Louis XI chose to be buried there.

The wild banks of the Loire are home to numerous animal species, including beavers and kingfishers. The vegetation on the banks and islands is very rich. The riparian forest (the forest formation bordering watercourses) is lush, with numerous vines and a wide variety of trees and shrubs such as black poplar and smooth elm. In spring, the banks are adorned with blooming wood anemones.