Chemin des Rauches along the Loire

Park in the car park by the footbridge over the Loire in Saint-Père-sur-Loire.

(S/E) From the footbridge car park, head towards the banks of the Loire and take the path that passes under the footbridge (GR® signposting). At the square, turn left and follow Rue du Vieux Bourg straight ahead.

(1) Cross the D60 carefully at the top of the dyke and continue straight ahead on Rue de Sologne. After a short stop at the church, continue along Rue du Docteur Ségelle, pass the school and continue straight ahead along Rue du Gâtinais.

(2) Turn right onto Rue du Maine. At the end of the street, go around the roundabout on the left, cross the D948 and follow it to the left on the right-hand pavement.

(3) Turn right into the cul-de-sac and continue straight ahead on the dirt track. In the countryside, keep left, then at the end of this track in the woods, turn right.

(4) At the crossroads, turn left and follow the road straight ahead. After the woods, turn right onto a dirt road.

(5) At the end of the road, turn right onto a gravel road. At the end of this road, take the small road to the left.

(6) At the edge of the woods, turn right, first onto the small road and then straight ahead onto the gravel road along the ponds of the old quarry.

(7) After 900 m on this unpaved road in the open (watch out for heavy vehicles that may use this road), turn right onto a dirt road that takes you back into the shade of the woods. For more than 2 km, this road crosses woods, borders meadows, fields and a pond. The landscape resembles the nearby Sologne region.

(8) Before climbing the dyke (taken by the RD), turn right to follow the foot of the dyke through the grass. Then take the small road to the left, cross the D119 with caution and descend on the other side of the dyke to follow the edge of the Loire.

(9) Follow the GR® to the right, using the Château de Sully as a landmark.

(10) Cross the D948 at the foot of the Pont de Sully to reach the starting car park straight ahead along the banks of the Loire (S/E).

In Saint-Père-sur-Loire: picnic tables and benches in the public garden on the banks of the Loire; café in front of the town hall; supermarket.

- Contemporary church of Saint-Père: open every day.