Paths to wash houses and fountains around Ardin

During this hike, you will discover numerous fountains and wash houses, of course, but also the castle and park of Dilay, the Doré, Saumort and Autize valleys, the Pouzay house and dovecote, the Chaillot arboretum and perhaps... La Galipote.

Details

854595
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 12.62 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 05 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 175 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 179 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 116 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 40 m
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ District: Ardin (79160)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 46.475449° / W 0.551646°
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Photos

Description of the walk

Start from the car park at the Salle des Fêtes, Rue de Vrigne aux Bois.

(S/E) Go up Rue de Vrigne aux Bois, passing the entrance to the stadium. Turn right onto Rue Armand Barlet, then immediately left. Cross the D129 and continue on the path opposite (GRP® du Sud Gâtine, marked in yellow and red).

(1) Just before the stream, leave the GRP® and take the path on the right into the Doré valley. When you reach the hamlet of La Grande Vergne, note the view of Dilay Castle and its very old cedar tree. Turn left at the crossroads to quickly reach the Fontaine Sainte-Anne.

(2) Then turn left to climb up to the village of Dilay. Opposite the entrance to the castle, descend to the left into the Impasse du Bois Roquet. After 50 metres, take the alley on the right to reach Rue de l'Abreuvoir. Turn right and, when the bank turns right, follow the path on the left down to the fountain and the watering trough.

(3) Retrace your steps and continue straight ahead on Rue de l'Abreuvoir. At the end, turn right onto Rue du Château and immediately left onto Rue de la Noue Girard. Turn right at the last farm, then right again opposite the gate.

(4) At the pumping station, turn right. After about 50 metres, turn right at the La Villedé wash house and, just above it, La Marbrière. Continue east and, at the hamlet of La Villedé, cross the D129 and follow Rue du Puits. At the end, turn right onto Route de Fontbriand. Take the second road on the left, about 200 metres after the previous junction.

(5) When you reach the road, turn right and ignore a path on the left. (To avoid the road, you can take this path in dry weather as it allows you to ford the Saumort. Further on, rejoin the original route using the map or by downloading the alternative route: Along the Doré, Saumort and Autise rivers.
At the next crossroads, turn left and cross the hamlets of Le Soucier and La Montagne. After the last houses, take the road on the left towards La Bressonnière.

(6) Continue on the path after the hamlet. Descend into the valley and follow the Saumort. After about 700 m, the route joins the GRP® du Sud Gâtine at the footbridge leading to Roc Cervelle. Do not cross the river and continue south-southwest with theGRP®® ( red and yellow markings). Ignore the turn-off to the right towards La Maillette and continue straight ahead at the crossroads.

(7) When you reach the hamlet of Mortay, descend to the left along the Chemin des Touchettes. At the bottom of the path, after about 100 metres, turn left. After about 250 metres, take the footbridge on the right that crosses the Autize to reach Rochard.

(8) Turn right and climb the steep hill to Pouzay. Opposite the pond bordered by two weeping willows, take the rocky path on the right. Pass the dovecote and descend towards the Autize.

(9) Take the footbridge over the Autize and pass the Moulin de Pouzay (dogs off the leash...). Continue along the road beside the river and take the first path on the left. After 150 m, turn right onto a small steep path which joins a more passable track at the top.

(10) After about 300m, leave the GRP® and enter the arboretum on the left, passing between two stones.
A little further on, go around the tennis court on the left, then a pond, and you will reach the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 59 m - Parking: Salle des Fêtes
  2. 1 : km 0.76 - alt. 54 m - Grassy path on the right
  3. 2 : km 2.76 - alt. 74 m - Sainte-Anne fountain
  4. 3 : km 3.29 - alt. 77 m - Fountain
  5. 4 : km 4.48 - alt. 89 m - Pumping station and Marbrière
  6. 5 : km 6.51 - alt. 65 m - Turn right at the road.
  7. 6 : km 7.99 - alt. 91 m - Fountain and wash house at La Bressonnière. Towards - Saumort (rivière) - Affluent de l'Autise
  8. 7 : km 9.78 - alt. 59 m - On the left, Chemin des Touchettes
  9. 8 : km 10.28 - alt. 53 m - Turn right towards Pouzay.
  10. 9 : km 11.33 - alt. 42 m - Footbridge over the - Autise (rivière)
  11. 10 : km 12.02 - alt. 65 m - On the left, arboretum
  12. S/E : km 12.62 - alt. 59 m - Parking: Salle des Fêtes

Notes

The route is marked in yellow in general and yellow and red for the GRP® section.

Alternative route through the Saumort valley.
This alternative route through the valley avoids a large section of road, adding 600 m to the hike.
After the (5), immediately take the path on the left on the road. The trail crosses the Saumort twice and comes out at the Montagne or rejoins the original circuit after the (6). The trails are not marked, so use a map.
Caution! The absence of a footbridge at the first crossing means that passage is only possible in summer.

Worth a visit

The Sainte-Anne fountain (2), dating from 1764, is unusual due to the octagonal shape of its wash house.
Opposite, the Château de Dilay, rebuilt in the early 18th century, was owned by the Rochejaquelein family, leaders of the Vendée uprising in 1789.

A detour through the narrow streets of the village of Dilay (3) allows you to see a fountain, a drinking trough and, a little further on, a wash house with a picnic area nearby.

The Villedé pumping station (Ville d'eau) supplies the commune with drinking water. (4). Next to it is the wash house and above it, La Marbrerie. This marble quarry, the only one in Poitou-Charentes, was in operation until the early 20th century. An educational display has recently been installed.

(6) Fountain currently being restored and interesting view of the Saumort valley.

In the hamlet of Mortay (7), you can make a round trip to visit the upper and lower Mortay wash houses.

After the hamlet of Pouzay, there is a curious dovecote by the side of the path. An oak tree has replaced its roof. (listed as a remarkable tree of France). This dovecote has 2,700 nesting boxes, which could accommodate around 5,000 pigeons (in the days of the lords). Feel free to stop off for a visit, it's free!

The Chaillot Arboretum (10), a conservatory of forest and ornamental tree species from around the world, is a place for relaxation and recreation.

Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 14 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.9 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
R+J
R+J
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 29, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A magnificent hike, very varied with an incredible dovecote at the end.

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josiane cousin
josiane cousin
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 21, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Well-marked hike and very pleasant route despite a few minor difficulties.

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Luane
Luane

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 31, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike with just the right amount of elevation gain to make it interesting.

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josiane cousin
josiane cousin

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 29, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very varied hike, a little steep in places, best done in dry weather.

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manu79
manu79

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 29, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A relatively easy hike with little elevation gain. Very pleasant, with a magnificent dovecote at the end of the trail where you can enjoy a picnic.

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TINO1779
TINO1779

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 17, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

For a gentle start to the day... Beautiful walk... Very well signposted... Definitely worth doing, if only to see the dovecote... A magnificent building.

The stud farm before the dovecote (near the pond and willow trees) is also a very beautiful building... It's a shame the doors were closed.

There is an alternative route at one point but it is not signposted... Does anyone know about it? Is there a GPX track available?

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mimiphiphi
mimiphiphi

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 18, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike offering a variety of landscapes. We also discovered an old stud farm next to the dovecote, which is worth mentioning, as well as two mills.

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Sneg
Sneg

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 13, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very beautiful walk! Precise and interesting directions. I loved the hamlets, the wash houses, the paths, the narrow streets, the famous dovecote, the paths through the fields... but how dry it was! Thank you for this tour.

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raton laveur
raton laveur

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 26, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

One of the most beautiful routes I've done in a while.

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marie-paule denis
marie-paule denis

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 12, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very pleasant hike in beautiful surroundings. We will definitely do it again.

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SYL8559
SYL8559

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 30, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Thanks Visorando for these hiking ideas
A pleasant route at 19 degrees, which was just right. A mix of sun and shade. Part of the route was done at night during the "galipotes". No surprises compared to the description! Hilly with a few small climbs and beautiful views, well worth doing to discover the Ardin hinterland and the "colombier" on the way back, which is a must-see!

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philouis
philouis

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 25, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

BEAUTIFUL ROUTE PARISH SPECIFIC TO BRITTANY.
A beautiful discovery during the Marbrère d'Ardin circuit.
WALK DONE IN BEAUTIFUL WEATHER, DRY PATH. ON THE PLUS SIDE, VERY LITTLE TAR.

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pburguy
pburguy

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 25, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A beautiful hike between the plains and the Gâtine region, very well signposted.

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Archelaos79
Archelaos79

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 18, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Very muddy, even flooded, but a challenging and very enjoyable route. The start gives you a glimpse of what's to come. I really enjoyed this hike. The description is very clear and the directions are very precise. It's impossible to get lost.

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