Castle, pond and manor house in Andrezé

(S/E) Start at Place du Clocher near the car park of Andrezé church, follow the white markings.

Take Rue de la Poste. At the junction, continue straight on into Rue du Pontreau.

(1) At the second junction, turn right into the Passage de la Vallée de la Noue.
Turn left onto Rue d’Anjou, head right, then join Rue du Pont Marais, which you follow to the left until you reach the edge of the village.

At the wayside shrine, take the path on the right then turn left to go round the sewage treatment plant. Further on, you’ll rejoin the tarmac road: on your right, you’ll see the ruins of the Château des Hayes Gasselin.

(2) Turn right and continue for about 300 m. Turn left onto the track; do not continue along the path. Go round the Bois de la Marotière on the left and turn left to reach the Bois Viau, which you cross.

(3) Head right towards the Étang de la Couderaie, which you will go all the way round. Pass the hamlet of Bois Ham on your right.

(4) Cross the road carefully, then continue along the path directly opposite. Turn left onto the path to reach the hamlet of Grand Bois d’Asnières. Return to the tarmac road, cross the D91 carefully, then head through the farmland to the next junction. Turn right across the fields and continue to the tarmac road.

(5) Turn left onto the tarmac road and follow it carefully for nearly a kilometre, passing under some power lines.

(6) At the T-junction, keep left and cross the Ruisseau de l’Étang. You will see the Manoir de la Chaperonnière on your right.

(7) Head left along the path for about 800 m. At the next junction, turn right twice to reach the Ruisseau de la Goupillière, which you follow on the left for about 150 m.

(8) At the crossroads, turn right and continue along the edge of the woods. Go round the woods on the right until you reach the Chemin de Jallais.

(9) Turn left onto the tarmac road. At the bend in this road, turn left onto the track, then turn right twice along the edge of the field.

(10) Turn left and continue for 300 m until you reach the hairpin bend.

(11) Continue to the right across the fields for about 1 km.

(12) At the wayside shrine, turn left onto the path behind the houses, go 80 m and then turn right between the houses. Cross Rue de la Besnardière, go straight on along the path until you reach Rue du Pontreau on the right.

(13) Follow this street to the left.

(1) Continue straight on until you reach Place du Clocher near the car park of Andrezé church (S/E).

29% of the route is tarmac.

Étang de la Couderaie: of very ancient origin, this 10-hectare lake offers a peaceful and pleasant setting for all anglers and walkers. An area equipped with tables is available for picnics and snacks.

Manoir de la Chaperonnière: in 1832, Jacques-Joseph de Cathelineau, son of the Vendée general Jacques Cathelineau, was murdered there by the gendarmes of Louis-Philippe I during the royalist uprising in support of the Duchess of Berry. The ruined château was sold to the Louis Courtois de Beaupréau family around 1850 to be converted into a country residence. The manor was partially restored and remained in the Courtois family until 1978, the year it was listed as a Historic Monument.

Château des Hayes Gasselin: the building was constructed in the 14th and 16th centuries. Consisting of a fortress surrounded by a moat, of which only ruins remain today, the château included a chapel. It was destroyed in 1794 by Republican soldiers. The château was listed as a Historic Monument by decree of 16 February 1970.