Chemin des lavoirs in Coulonges-sur-l'Autize

The starting point is at Cité du Parc des Genêts in Coulonges-sur-l'Autize, located on the D25 (Rue de Parthenay).

(S/E) Take the path heading north-east up to the first crossroads.

(1) Follow the road opposite, cross the hamlet of La Grille and, at the next crossroads, continue straight ahead along the path. Ignore the side paths branching off to the sides.

(2) Turn left onto the path that descends and runs alongside a small wood where the ground may be slippery and/or muddy depending on the weather conditions of the previous days. Cross the Ruisseau le Doré and you will find a first wash house on your right. Head back up the path towards Dilay. On your left, a well is visible.

(3) Turn right into Impasse de Dilay, come to an old oven and go round it to take the path behind it. This path leads you to Impasse du Bois Roquet.

(4) At the end of the cul-de-sac, opposite the castle’s entrance gate, turn right onto the road and you’ll reach the second wash house.

(5) Turn left onto a path that climbs, pass under a power line and continue to the D129.

(6) Follow it to the left for about twenty metres and turn onto the path on your left leading to the marble quarry.

(7) Go down the path on the left leading to a wash house and retrace your steps to take the path on your left as it climbs. When you see the Villedé water tower, turn onto the path on your left, go under a power line and reach a crossroads.

(8) Turn left and continue to the first path on the right.

(9) Take this path and continue to the entrance to the hamlet of Perigny.

(10) Take the path on the left; after about twenty metres, a grassy path leads you to the Périgny wash house. After a return trip, take the path on your left again and continue to the next side path.

(11) Turn left then right onto a road, passing through the hamlet of Les Hautes Fougères. At the end of the road, turn left, pass Touche-Vache and come out onto a road; follow it to the left.

(12) After passing a house, take the first path on the right, cross the D25 with care, then continue straight ahead. Turn left onto the small road and you will reach the Logis de Magné and the Magné wash house. Continue straight on along the Chemin du Lavoir.

(13) At the end of the road, turn right and, before the railway bridge, take the path on the right which runs alongside the old railway line. Continue to the bridge.

(14) Turn left, cross over the railway line and, after a left-hand bend in the road, take the path on the right

(15) Turn left onto a grassy path. At the end of this, follow the small road to the left, then a path on your left leads you to the Sezais wash house. Take the small road to the left again.

(16) At the crossroads, take the first street on the left, then turn right onto Chemin des Vallées. At the end of this street, turn left onto Chemin de la Maisonnette.

(17) Facing the railway line, take the path on the right that runs alongside it. Pass close to the Grande Cheminée. After this, the path splits into two at a three-way junction. Continue left to follow the old railway line. The small road takes you onto the D25.

(18) Walk up it on the left, then cross it carefully at the Cités du Pain Perdu and the Parc des Genêts to return to the car park (S/E).

This route may include muddy paths following periods of heavy rain. This is particularly the case between (2) and (3); furthermore, the path here can be slippery on the descent.

Between points (6) and (8), the route runs close to the high-voltage power line. Between (10) and (11), the path can also be very muddy.

In total, you will see six wash houses, an old kiln (at Dilay), and you will pass by Dilay Castle.

At La Marbrière (in the commune of Ardin), a Terra Aventura geocache has been set up.

In Magné (in the municipality of Coulonges-sur-l'Autize), you will pass by the Logis de Magné.

La Grande Cheminée is a remnant of the commune’s industrial past (a lime kiln).