Circular walk in the Boizé Forest and along the banks of the Vienne

A lovely, easy route (80 per cent on paths) that follows the trails through the Boizé Forest, then along the banks of the River Vienne, returning via the national forest and the ruins of Mongoger Castle. Don’t miss the remarkable stop at the Caves Furettes to admire the troglodyte dwellings, now occupied by holidaymakers.

Details

n°688080
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  • Mountain biking
    Activity: Mountain biking
  • ↔
    Distance: 20.48 mi
  • ◔
    Duration according to the author: 2.5 hrs 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 653 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 659 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 371 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 115 ft
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ City: Saint-Épain (37800)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 47.14448° / E 0.536765°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 1723ET, 1823SB, 1824SB

  • ◶
    Type of surface: Not specified
  • ⇧
    Bike carrying: Not specified
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Not specified
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Photos

Description of the route

Park at Place de la Mairie in Saint-Épain.

(S/E) Head due south on the D57 and continue along Rue de la Loge as far as the tennis courts.

(1) Turn right just after the tennis courts and follow the path uphill towards the “Bois de Boizé”. Join the D208 after La Biauderie.

(2) Turn left onto the D208 towards Trogues.

(3) Leave the D208 and turn right onto the “Bois de Boizé” track, heading towards “Narbonne”.

(4) Turn right onto the track, then follow the road towards the village of Trogues.

(5) On reaching Trogues, at the church, turn left onto the D109 for 200 metres, then turn right onto the track which runs alongside the River Vienne for 3.5 km.

(6) Turn left and carry on straight ahead along theGR®48.

(7) After the “Biscotière”, turn right and, just before the “Joumeraie” farm, continue left along the path towards the D760.

(8) Cross the D760, carry on straight ahead past the “Célonnière” farm and take the first path on the left.

(9) Take the track on the right, going round Bouillet.

(10) Cross the D57, then follow the path on the right which runs alongside the “Manse” stream.

(11) Take the D210 on the right, pass the “Moulin des Roches” and turn left onto the “Caves Furettes” track.

(12) Just before the Milletière farm, turn left onto the road, then take the path that runs alongside the “Montgoger” State Forest.

(13) Turn right and, after 200 metres, turn left onto the track that takes you back towards the Montgoger Forest.

(14) Walk alongside the forest and, just before the ruins of Montgoger Castle, take the small “l’Homelaye” road on the right until you reach the D21.

(15) Turn right and, after 50m, take the steep path slightly to the left. Once on the plateau, turn left towards “La Guetterie”, then towards “Les Picaults” and “La Deniserie”.

(16) Turn right onto the D21 and, after 500 metres, take the road to the left towards “Moulin de l’Étang”.

(17) Turn right and head back towards Saint-Épain to return to the car park where you started (S/E)..

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 190 ft - Town Hall Square
  2. 1 : mi 0.62 - alt. 197 ft - Tennis court
  3. 2 : mi 2.15 - alt. 299 ft - La Biauderie.
  4. 3 : mi 2.38 - alt. 276 ft - Le Pas de St Martin
  5. 4 : mi 3.78 - alt. 226 ft - La Narbonne
  6. 5 : mi 4.57 - alt. 167 ft - Trogues Church
  7. 6 : mi 6.66 - alt. 128 ft - GR48 junction
  8. 7 : mi 7.77 - alt. 197 ft - La Haute Martinère - Refuge du Pigeonnier
  9. 8 : mi 8.31 - alt. 269 ft - Crossing the D760
  10. 9 : mi 9.77 - alt. 266 ft - Crossroads of the Five Paths
  11. 10 : mi 10.6 - alt. 249 ft - Crossing the D57
  12. 11 : mi 11.74 - alt. 194 ft - Gués de Maubuis – Sarcophagus quarries
  13. 12 : mi 12.76 - alt. 292 ft - La Milletière
  14. 13 : mi 14.68 - alt. 371 ft - Carrefour du Bois de l’Allier
  15. 14 : mi 15.77 - alt. 341 ft - Crossroads at the Montgoger Wood
  16. 15 : mi 17.23 - alt. 226 ft - La Déturbe
  17. 16 : mi 18.84 - alt. 220 ft - La Deniserie – Ruins of Montgoger Castle
  18. 17 : mi 19.28 - alt. 213 ft - Le Moulin de l’Etang – Watermill ruins
  19. S/E : mi 20.48 - alt. 190 ft - Town Hall Square - Fontaine

Notes

Deneux car park: 300 metres from the town hall, Rue des Deneux.
Camping and caravanning: by the village pond.
Provisions: All shops in the village centre.

Worth a visit

Ruins of Montgoger Castle. You’ll find an information board at the foot of the castle, by the side of the small road. Private site not open to visitors.

The “Caves Furettes” cave dwellings: A highlight of this walk; the dwellings have now been converted into summer homes or cellars.

Les Roches Watermill: A beautifully restored mill, open to visitors twice a year and, in particular, on ‘Heritage Day’.

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Reviews and comments

5 / 5
Based on 1 review

Reliability of the description
5 / 5
Ease of following the route
5 / 5
Route interest
5 / 5
blondin69
blondin69

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 04, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A really lovely walk – 90 per cent of it is on paths and through the forest!! That said, whilst it’s not particularly difficult, the last 12 km do climb quite a bit! Be careful between points 5 and 6: there are three trees on the path; you can easily go round the last two, but you’ll need to step over the first one – though it’s easy enough. I did the walk almost entirely using the GPS and the arrow markers, and it was spot on! A brilliant walk – very pretty and very well signposted!!! Just be careful at the moment on Saturdays or Sundays, as I came across quite a few hunting hides at the start!!

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