The Aubance trail between the vineyards and the Beaulieu Forest

In Soulaine-sur-Aubance, Salle Cortequise car park.

(S/E) Exit the car park at the top, follow the road to the left for a few metres and quickly take the path downhill to the left. Further on, take the path that climbs to the right, leaving the path that leads to the Château de la Constantinière on your left, and continue to a four-way intersection.

(1) Take the path on the left marked with red and green signs. Follow it past a farm to a small road.

(2) Turn right. The small road becomes a path. It leads to the D130 road. Cross carefully and take the path opposite to the Croix de Saint-Jacques (restored by the association of the same name).

(3) A path on the left opens up before you. Follow it to the chapel, turn right and then quickly left, following the purple markings, which are not always very visible. The beginning is paved, but at the bend, continue straight ahead on a path until you reach a T-junction that marks the entrance to the Beaulieu Forest.

(4) Turn right and follow the purple markings carefully as they wind through the northern part of the forest to the D120 road.

(5) Carefully take this road on the right.

(6) A path branches off to the left towards a riding centre. Follow it, walk past the centre and then a pond on your right (admire the horses, which will certainly come to say hello), then walk slightly uphill. At the small road, turn left for a few metres and, at the left-hand bend (take care), take the path that branches off to the right, still following the purple markings.

(7) Enter the vineyards of the Aubance hillsides. Don't miss the large tree; leave it on your right. Continue straight on to the hamlet of Aubinière. After the Bois de l'Évéché, the route leaves the purple markings. (We are now in the Domaine de Saint-Melaine-sur-Aubance.)

(8) Turn right onto the small road that crosses Aubinière to Croix Moreau, a crossroads of several marked routes.

(9) Turn left downhill, cross the Rivière Proutière, go up the path and, at an intersection, turn slightly right.

(10) Be careful, it is very tempting to continue straight ahead. Turn slightly right into the vineyard until you reach the D127. Take this road on the left and you will come to a crossroads very close to the hamlet of Les Brosses.

(11) Turn right and return to the vineyard. Turn left at the intersection towards Saint-Melaine until you reach the D123 road.

(12) Take it on the right and then quickly leave it on the left, following the yellow markings. Follow the path to a small road serving houses. Follow it on the right. Continue to follow the yellow markings, leaving the road on the left.

(13) Cross the Aubance, go up the path that runs alongside the grounds of Le Bas Versillé castle.

(14) Turn left to descend towards the Aubance but without crossing it, then turn right. Do not be misled by a "Private Property" sign. Walk along the schist cliff, a remarkable site. Continue straight ahead at the intersection, even if the yellow markings encourage you to turn right, and continue to the well-equipped picnic area.

(15) Take a well-deserved rest, then leave the area by crossing under the D127 road. Go up a footpath and then onto the pavement. Pass four small streets on your right, then turn left. A few metres further on, turn right, then left into a dead-end street. Almost at the end, cross a small square and take the path until you reach a tarmac road.

(16) Turn right and then, at the first crossroads, turn left. Continue until you see a sign for "La Mare Biotte". Go down to the left to Impasse de la Mare Biotte and follow it to the right. It becomes a path and joins the D127.

(17) Cross carefully. Take a few steps to the left, then turn right. Walk up to a ruined mill. Admire the beautiful view. Leave the mill on your right. Join the purple markings. Go down the path via Les Huttières.

(18) At the bottom of the descent, turn right. Cross the Aubance again and walk uphill, admiring the Château de Noizé. Cross the hamlet of Les Baluères. Follow the purple markings as they lead you to some old dwellings. Follow the D120 road to the left for a few dozen metres.

(19) Turn right onto a path overlooking the surrounding landscape.

(20) Turn left at the intersection towards Fontenille. The path becomes tarmac. Follow it to the cemetery in Soulaine-sur-Aubance. Walk down the D120 to the car park (S/E).

The Beaulieu-sur-Layon forest.
The vineyards on the slopes of Aubance.
The vineyards.
Aubance and its hillsides.
The Château de Noizé.