The Aigonnay Washhouse Trails

It’s all in the title! No fewer than eight wash houses on this circular route.
There are numerous springs in this area, which are said to have given the village its name: “Aigues” meaning water and “O’nay”, to spring forth.
A small stream called the Aigonnay flows through Écrebis, where there used to be a mill; it joins the Lambon, which flows to the south-west.

Details

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Creation:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 11.95 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 55 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 177 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 177 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 135 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 80 m
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ City: Aigonnay (79370)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 46.329955° / W 0.257679°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 1628SB
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Photos

Description of the walk

Park below the tennis courts.

(S/E) Leave the town hall on your left and head up the road. Just after, between numbers 2 and 3 on the cul-de-sac, take the small grassy path leading down to the right, which opens onto a cul-de-sac. Continue to the end of the cul-de-sac and look for the fountain on the left.

(1) At the end of the alley, turn left onto a stony path which joins the Route de Magné; follow this to the right. Walk through the hamlet.

(2) At the end, turn left and walk past the Magné pond, on your left. Continue downhill and turn right at the junction. Walk past the mill, then the Pinegor wash house at a place called Écrebis, and arrive at a junction.

(3) Turn left and, at the road, follow it to the left. Cross the Sottinet bridge over the Aigonnay and follow the road towards Montaillon as far as Écravois, without going into the village.

(4) Before thefirst house, turn right, cross the Lambon and head up to the left. Pass the Fontaine Blanche, continue, then head back down to the left along the road.

(5) At Antogné, cross the Lambon again, passing between the two houses, follow the path, then turn left onto the road and walk for 150 m. On the right, a stony alley leads to the main street of Montaillon. At the end of this alley, turn right and follow the Route de Charcogne until you reach a path on the right.

(6) Head down the path to the Pesâte wash house. Continue on, go back up to Rue de Charcogné, and carry on to No. 9. Take a detour to the right to admire the Grande Fontaine wash house, accessible via a flight of steps.

(7) At the D124, head down to the right along the stony path, cross the Lambon, then follow the path back up, keeping to the left, to rejoin the D124. Cross carefully, follow the path opposite, until you reach the Route de Buffageasse. Follow this down to the D124 and keep to the right to take the narrow lane after No. 49.

(8) Head off to the right. Cross the Lison bridge over the Lambon river to reach Chemin de la Pelletrie. Turn left, then follow Route de la Groie to the right until you reach the path on the left which joins the D304.

(9) Turn left onto the D304, pass the Trot wash house, follow the Route du Trot and turn right onto the Chemin de la Voûte.
At this junction, follow Route du Trot for 100 m, then take a short detour to admire the Mirandaine wash house.
Continue through the vineyard woods and across the Marcholières stream until you reach a fork. Turn left to join the D124.

(10) Turn right onto it, then turn left onto the Route du Marandeau and pass the wash house. Continue to the Route de la Balderie. Turn left, pass the Aubas wash house and continue straight on to La Rivière.

(11) At the junction with the Route de la Rivière, make a round trip to the restored pump on the left. At No. 15, the grassy path on the left leads to the Arrigon wash house. Turn left onto the Route de Truite Anguille, turn right onto a stony path and follow it up to the Trébot wash house.

(12) Turn right onto Rue de Trébot and walk up to the town hall (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 129 m - Car park below the tennis courts
  2. 1 : km 0.53 - alt. 132 m - Fountain
  3. 2 : km 1.16 - alt. 121 m - Magné walk
  4. 3 : km 2 - alt. 96 m - Junction
  5. 4 : km 2.89 - alt. 112 m - First house in Écravois
  6. 5 : km 3.83 - alt. 85 m - Antogné
  7. 6 : km 4.76 - alt. 116 m - Path on the right
  8. 7 : km 5.28 - alt. 111 m - D124
  9. 8 : km 5.94 - alt. 91 m - Junction at the Lison bridge
  10. 9 : km 7.42 - alt. 122 m - D304
  11. 10 : km 9.3 - alt. 133 m - Virsay
  12. 11 : km 10.76 - alt. 95 m - The River
  13. 12 : km 11.49 - alt. 119 m - Junction
  14. S/E : km 11.95 - alt. 129 m - Car park below the tennis courts

Notes

You can park easily near the start, below the tennis court. This walk takes you along stony paths, so it’s best to wear sturdy footwear.
And even though there are numerous wash houses along the route, bring your own water bottle and do not fill it at these wash houses!

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 4 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.3 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.3 / 5
Route interest
5 / 5
Aigondigné-79
Aigondigné-79

Hello,
Thank you for your message; that’s a very good alternative route suggestion. It’s true that, depending on the season, conditions aren’t always the same or easy. It’s a pleasant walk at the start of the season. Your comments are very important.
Thanks again and enjoy your walk!

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jlfaure
jlfaure

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 19, 2022
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Thank you for this lovely route. Do make sure to take the short detours to see the Grande Fontaine wash house, accessible via a flight of steps (before the waypoint (7)), as well as the Arrigon wash house, accessible via a grassy path to the left at a place called La Rivière, shortly after the waypoint (11)
It should be noted, however, that the path through the Bois des Vignes is very, very wet (likely due to a spring on the path) and continues with ruts through tall grass that has not yet been mown, all the way to the road leading to point (10).
Having retraced this route a second time on 22 April, we avoided this section by taking the path to the left after the hamlet of La Couture to reach the road and arrive at La Rivière.

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2MC
2MC

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 27, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk in glorious sunshine.
We went from valley to valley, following or crossing pretty streams. There are indeed numerous fountains and wash houses (some of which are now just ruins...), the majority of which have been well restored.
Note that at point 7, it says to take the alleyway after no. 49; in fact, this alleyway is located between no. 45 and no. 41...
In summary, a very pleasant walk that would benefit from signposting for those who are not used to interpreting a map in relation to the landscape.

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philouis
philouis

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 17, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A superb walk between the wash houses and the Lambon. Not much tarmac, which is nice.
Just a slight doubt near Montaillon, close to the Lambon: No. 49 doesn’t seem to exist; it’s probably better to treat it as No. 41.

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alrandeaupyr
alrandeaupyr
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

a lovely route to explore the wash houses and villages.

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