The Châtelier circular starting from Saint-Benoît-la-Forêt

Park in the car park by the village church.

(S/E) Head north along the D139, with your back to the church. Take the^first road on the left towards La Parenterie and, after the hamlet, keep right and enter the forest.

(1) Take the path branching off to the right, marked by the red arrow of the Discovery Trail. At the next junction, keep right on the Discovery Trail. Turn right onto the Route Forestière d’Olivier, then turn right onto the^first path. You will then reach another path junction.

(2) Head left; this is still the Discovery Trail. Follow the edge of the national forest, marked by the clearly visible boundary ditch. Then the path, still marked by a red hand indicating the direction (pay close attention), veers left and winds through a stand of maritime pines, then oaks. You will reach the D139 road.

(3) Cross it with great care. Continue straight ahead until you reach a path running perpendicular to the road: turn left here, leaving the signposted Discovery Trail. Continue on and, before reaching the road, you will come to a junction with a path – it is actually a track.

(4) Take it to the right; this path marks the boundary between two forest plots. The number 215 is displayed on the tree at the corner of this plot: you must pass in front of it, keeping it on your left.
Take care here: this is the trickiest part of the route. Depending on the season, the ground can be wet and requires waterproof walking boots. After skirting a large clearing on your right, head back into the undergrowth, down into a damp valley where the path seems to disappear. Look for a tree bearing the number 215, which is somewhat faded. Continue in the same direction until you cross a small stream, then join a path running perpendicular to the original direction, which descends alongside this little stream. Follow it to the right to reach a larger stream, which marks the end of the tricky section.
Cross this stream then head up the opposite side to reach the hamlet of Le Châtelier via a well-marked but sometimes damp and muddy path.

(5) Turn left at the fork. After entering the woods, you’ll reach a large clearing. Turn right onto the road. Continue straight on until you reach the Carroi Cossard crossroads, where there is a mobile phone mast.

(6) Take the^first road on the right, follow it very carefully and leave it quickly to take the^first forest track on the left. Walk through the woods, past the football ground, and reach the Croix Potevin roundabout.

(7) Cross it carefully and head straight on into Rue du Bourg, pass the town hall and continue for a few metres to reach the car park at Place de l’Église (S/E).

The start of the trail features a few information boards about the forest. These form part of a more comprehensive interpretive trail, marked by a red hand symbol, which helps visitors better understand how the forest functions and is managed.
More information is available on the Anjou Touraine Regional Nature Park website.
French forests are under severe strain due to recurring prolonged droughts caused by climate change. In summer, you can see many trees dying, with no leaves at the top – a condition foresters call ‘crown dieback’ – or with very sparse foliage.