Route de Sévigné from La Paquelais

Park at the Jules Verne car park in La Paquelais

(S/E) From the car park, cross the road carefully heading towards Nantes. Turn right onto Chemin de la Briantière. The tarmac road turns into a path. Continue until you reach a crossroads.

(1) Turn immediately right towards Bois de la Herse and you will come to a four-way crossroads.

(2) Turn left. At one point, you will walk along the edge of the Gesvres on your left. Cross it using a footbridge on the left. The path climbs and leads you to a small road at a place called Le Brossais.

(3). Turn right onto the small road, then right again at the first entrance you come to. After a few metres, take the path that opens up on the left. Continue straight ahead until you reach a four-way crossroads. Take the main path on the far left. Follow this path until you reach a road on the left. Follow it until you reach the first path on the right, which will take you to La Jamblinière

(4). Turn left onto the road, then immediately right at the first road you come to. It turns into a path at the end. Continue until you reach a small road, where you turn right. Walk until you reach another road, which you take on the left. Stay on the left-hand side, walking carefully until you reach a cross shortly afterwards. You are now in Bel Air.

(5) Take the road immediately on the right. Continue on the right-hand side of this road until you come to a wide path on your left, which you should take. The path winds a little, passes under a power line and finally arrives at a new path. You will see a sign marked "la Coulée".

(6) Turn left. Continue until you reach Route des Randonneurs, which you will cross to take a wide path on your left. Continue straight ahead, ignoring an entrance on the left, to arrive at Chemin du Chêne Thorail. Turn right and you will come to a small road at La Rimbertière.

(7) Turn left and continue until you come to an entrance on the right (Impasse de la Grande Close), which you will take. This cul-de-sac turns into a path that branches off to the left. Follow it straight ahead until you reach the entrance to the hamlet of La Faverie du Buron, which will be on your right.

(8) Take the path to the left. At one point, you will pass a golf course on your right. A little further on, follow the walls on your right. Behind them lies Château du Buron, barely visible.

(9) The path, which continues straight ahead for a while, turns left at a right angle and leads you to the Métairie du Buron.

(10) Turn left onto a path and follow it straight ahead until you reach a small road at La Fouchaisière.

(11) Turn right, then immediately left onto a wide path and continue straight ahead. Shortly after passing under a power line, you will come to a crossroads.

(12) Take the path marked "Chemin de Sévigné" straight ahead. It turns into a narrower path that leads to a wide path where you will turn right. Continue until you reach the D42. Cross it carefully and continue straight ahead. Turn left at the first path you come to, then left again at the next intersection. The path first turns left then right. Continue straight ahead until you reach the D42. Then turn right, cross the Route de la Levée des Dons carefully to reach Valais. Turn left until you come to a large calvary on your right.

(13) Pass to the right of it to take a small path that begins after the apple press. The path descends. At the first crossroads, turn left. The path continues to descend and arrives at a stream. Then turn right. The path winds a little and takes you to Rue du Laurier. Turn right onto the road and you will arrive at Moulin de la Rivière.

(14) Turn left onto the first path you come to and walk past a group of houses. The path climbs gently. You will come to a crossroads

(15) Turn right, rejoin the road and walk gently uphill to the Jules Verne car park (S/E).

Jules Verne car park, Rue Jules Verne, 44360 La Paquelais

It is possible to get to La Paquelais by bus. The Aléop 371 buses stop at the Jules Verne car park, but there are very few each day. Be sure to check the timetable!

Several hiking trails intersect and criss-cross along the route. Follow the yellow markings and the signs for "Route de Sévigné".

Some sections can be very muddy in wet weather. Wear appropriate footwear.

In Valais, you can see a large calvary and an old apple press. Other more modern works await you.

Alternative
After La Fouchaisière, at the point (12), you can turn left (instead of going straight ahead). Follow the purple "Liaison du Méridien" markings. You will arrive at the D42. Cross it carefully, turn left and you will find the path that leads to Valais on your right. You will also find the yellow markings for the "Route de Sévigné". You will save nearly 2 km!