Circular around the vineyards around Souzay

In the heart of the Saumur Champigny AOC, between vineyards, wines and troglodyte dwellings. Discover the village of Souzay, its heritage and the diversity of our Loire landscapes.

Details

n°13673071

Creation:
21 Aug 2021

Last update:
02 Sep 2026

Last review:
10 Aug 2025

Activity: Walking
Distance: 5.07 mi
Average duration: 2h 30
Difficulty: Easy
Back to start: Yes
Ascent: + 210 ft
Descent: - 207 ft
Highest point: 279 ft
Lowest point: 89 ft

Country: France
City: Souzay-Champigny (49400)
Start/End: N 47.236665° / W 0.00735°
IGN map(s): Ref. 1623ET, 1623SB
Hour-by-hour weather

Avalanche risk assessment bulletin

Discover Visorando Premium

Downloads

Open in the mobile app

Download GPX GPX

Download PDF PDF

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the car park on the banks of the Loire, opposite Souzay Town Hall.

(S/E) Cross the Loire, if the ford allows, to do a short circular route on the Île de Souzay. Take the path signposted ‘La Ferme du Port’ then follow the main path back to the car park.

(S/E) Head left back towards the town hall and take the ‘Parcours troglodytique’ trail. Join the Chemin des Écoliers.

(1) Turn left onto this path, then turn right onto Rue Jean Prévert to reach Rue des Hauts Bouts. Turn left onto this street to eventually rejoin the D947, which is also known as Rue des Ducs d’Anjou. Turn right onto this street to reach the junction with Chemin de la Chaumine.

(2) Turn right onto this path, then left onto the Chemin de Bel Air. You will then come to a path at a right angle, running between the vines of the Saumur Champigny vineyard. Turn right onto it. Further on, you will reach the junction with^{the GR®®3}, signposted in red and white. Continue straight ahead on the^GR®®, then turn right after the hamlet known as ‘Le Sang de Bœuf’ and the power line to reach a multi-way junction.

(3) Leave the^GR®® and take the path opposite. Turn left onto the road to reach a crossroads marked by a cross, where you’ll rejoin the GR®^®.

(4) Turn right back onto the^GR®®, pass through the hamlet of Les Maligrates and reach another crossroads.

(5) Leave the^GR®® again and continue to the right through the vineyards to reach the Champignonnière sheds.

(6) Continue through the vineyards to reach the troglodyte houses near the Château du Hureau.

(7) Join the Troglodyte Trail on the right to reach the Pin Parasol. Follow the path to the right, then the one on the left between the walls. Head back down towards a troglodyte dwelling that is sure to surprise you. Continue to Rue du Château to reach the Château de Souzay.

(8) Follow the route of ‘La Loire à Vélo’ and the ‘Parcours Troglodytique’ closely. At the wine barrel, turn left onto the Ruelle des Pêcheurs to reach the car park on the banks of the Loire (S/E).

Waypoints

S/E : mi 0 - alt. 95 ft - Car park on the banks of - La Loire
1 : mi 1 - alt. 105 ft - Chemin des Écoliers
2 : mi 1.43 - alt. 105 ft - Chemin de la Chaumine
3 : mi 2.54 - alt. 177 ft - Crossroads
4 : mi 2.99 - alt. 272 ft - GR junction
5 : mi 3.43 - alt. 272 ft - Crossroads after Les Maligrates
6 : mi 3.84 - alt. 157 ft - Mushroom farm
7 : mi 4.33 - alt. 177 ft - Château du Hurau
8 : mi 4.76 - alt. 115 ft - Château de Souzay
S/E : mi 5.07 - alt. 95 ft - Car park on the banks of the Loire

Notes

Shaded picnic areas:
- next to the car park on the banks of the Loire,
- two-thirds of the way along the route, on the edge of the forest.
Toilets with drinking fountains next to the Town Hall and in the cave dwellings.

Worth a visit

(S/E) The village of Souzay with its cave dwellings, its cave dwelling trail and its Saumur Champigny vineyard.
Between (7) and (8), the cave-dwelling trail and its old high street.
(8) the semi-troglodyte castle where Marguerite d’Anjou, daughter of King René and Queen of England, is said to have died in 1482
(S/E) Take in the view of the village at dusk and retrace the cave-house trail at night.
You’ll pass close to the Domaine de la Bessière; if you’d like to stock up your wine cellar with Saumur Champigny and white Saumur wines, be sure to make an appointment in advance.

Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5

Based on 14 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.3 / 5

Ease of following the route
4.2 / 5

Route interest
4.7 / 5

tddelabessiere

10 Aug 2025 at 14:42 7200

Hello,
Thank you, we look forward to welcoming you.
Best regards,
TD

Machine-translated

User 8210560

04 Aug 2025 at 09:08 7200 • Edited: 04 Aug 2025 at 09:10 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 26, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Excellent hike, easy and VERY interesting in its diversity. It stands out from others in the area. On a Saturday during the holidays, we only came across a few people. Thank you!

Machine-translated

redcam

27 Jun 2025 at 23:14 7200

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 10, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Lovely walk amongst the vineyards close to Saumur

Machine-translated

tddelabessiere

03 Jun 2025 at 10:44 7200

It's true that we have many marked routes in the Saumur area, including the GR3, Gr de pays, circular routes and VVT routes and horse routes, the European D'Artagnan Route, not to mention the Loire à Vélo cycle route. Adding more seems complicated to me, which is why it's a good idea to use the "Viso rando" app and/or prepare and read the itinerary several times before setting off. I hope you were able to hear our cicadas and smell the sweet scent that is currently wafting through the vineyards due to the flowering of the vines. However, I note that you enjoyed the route, which is the main thing, and that your comments will be useful to future hikers. See you soon, TD

Machine-translated

User 2212672

02 Jun 2025 at 18:38 7200 • Edited: 03 Jun 2025 at 13:27 7200

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 02, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

hike made on 1 June. The signposting follows the GR and different signposts for other hikes (GR, yellow and orange signposts). You have to read the itinerary several times to understand it properly. At the end of the circuit, we crossed the vineyards on sight, due to the ~~lack of signposting. Usually the Visorando hikes are well signposted~~, not this one. But it was a very pleasant walk.

Machine-translated

Tamanini

23 Apr 2025 at 19:44 7200

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 13, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

To be repeated soon in May with several
Hikers from Poitou

Machine-translated

tddelabessiere

21 Jan 2024 at 21:19 3600

Hello,
Come back when the weather is better to enjoy the panoramic view of the Loire Valley and the Allonnes region.
We look forward to seeing you again. Kind regards, TD

Machine-translated

YouLo

21 Jan 2024 at 15:55 3600

Overall rating : 4.5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 21, 2024
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A walk full of surprises! Beautiful panoramic views of the vineyards and a grand finale with the discovery of these hidden treasures that are the troglodyte houses.
During the winter season, we were unable to complete the first part of the walk on the island.
Many thanks for this wonderful discovery of the troglodyte houses.

Machine-translated

achelduvexin

30 Oct 2023 at 11:17 3600

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 30, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely route, and the return trip via the cave dwellings is fantastic!

Machine-translated

kartavan

23 Oct 2023 at 11:33 7200

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 21, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

a beautiful walk among the vineyards. The cave dwellings and the enclosed vineyard are magnificent.
sometimes difficult to find your way with the explanations.
It is not possible to use Viso rando because it consumes too much energy.

Machine-translated

tddelabessiere

08 Aug 2023 at 11:10 7200

Great, I'm glad you enjoyed the hike.
We look forward to seeing you again.
Yours viticulturally.
TD

Machine-translated

visorandoneuse

08 Aug 2023 at 09:31 7200 • Edited: 08 Aug 2023 at 09:34 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 28, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful parish-specific to Brittany hike between the Loire and the vineyard hillsides. The grand finale was arriving at the troglodyte houses
in Souzay, which I discovered thanks to the app! One small downside: the app, which I also tested on other hikes
, so make sure your smartphone is fully charged before you set off! I highly recommend it.

Machine-translated

tddelabessiere

28 Jul 2023 at 10:24 7200

Hello,
Thank you for your feedback and recommendations. It is indeed best to check the weather forecast before setting off on a hike and to set off early in the morning on hot days, as there is not much shade in the vineyards. Similarly, on stormy days, it is best not to go into the forest or the mountains...
The "Clos d'entre les murs", owned by Château de Parnay, is unique. It is a bonus of this hike with the troglodytes. For lovers of good wine, our vintages are more affordable and offer good value for money.
We look forward to welcoming you to the estate.
Best regards, Th. Dézé

Machine-translated

randonneur_beta

11 Jul 2023 at 11:10 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 07, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

An easy hike, but done on 7 July in scorching heat. Not recommended on hot days as there is little shade between the start and finish points. The cave passages at the end of the hike were appreciated for their coolness.
NOTE: For wine lovers, the route passes by the "Clos d'entre les murs" vineyard, which produces a highly sought-after but extremely expensive white wine.
Otherwise, the route can be followed using the Visorando app on a smartphone, which limits the risk of errors.

Machine-translated

tddelabessiere

20 Jul 2022 at 11:32 7200

Hello,
Thank you for your feedback
We look forward to welcoming you to the estate
Kind regards
Th. Dézé

Machine-translated