Circuit des Bois de Saint-Pierre

Departure: Salle François Rabelais in Smarves.
Turn right out of the car park onto Rue des Coteaux. Walk past the cemetery. At the T-junction, turn right towards Port-Seguin. In the bend, walk past an orientation table.

(1) After 400 metres, leave the road leading down to Port-Seguin and take the^GRP®® path (red and yellow markings) on the left, which leads to the plateau. When you reach Les Sources, continue along the road.

(2) Cross the crossroads, pass the sports complex, then the tennis courts and archery range, and continue along the white protected passageway alongside the road. Cross the road. After 200 metres, leave the road and continue along the path opposite for 500 metres, passing under the power line. At the T-junction, turn right. Then turn left onto the road until you reach the Ajoncs crossroads.
(3) Turn right onto the cycle path. Go through the tunnel under the D741. At the exit, turn right, still on the cycle path, towards Les Roches Prémarie.

(4) At Les EuIées (back on the^GRP®®), take the path on your left. At the three-way junction, turn left and enter the Bois de Saint-Pierre estate. Follow the white limestone path for 300 metres, then turn right onto the grassy path.

(5) At the crossroads with the greenway (which connects Smarves to Nieuil l'Espoir), leave the^GRP®® on your right and take the Fontfrère valley path, which runs straight ahead (north-north-east) downhill into the forest. Follow this path for about 500 m, ignoring the paths on the left. At the crossroads, take the Allée du Château on the left (north-west). Follow it for about 700 m to the castle. Enter the park and exit on the opposite side.

(6) At the park exit, on the square, there is a view of the pond; go down the road and after 10 metres, turn right onto the pedestrian access (signposted). When you reach the car park at the bottom, take THE PATH on the left and go to the other end, then go up to the right along the road to the D741.

(7) At Les Quatre Assiettes, cross the D741 with caution, pass in front of the restaurant and take Rue des Quatre Assiettes to the high-voltage power line. Then, at the pylon, take a tarmac path on the left for 100 metres to the retirement home.

(8) Then follow the white limestone path to the right to go around the retirement home, keeping the playground on your right.

(9) After passing under the power line, take the small passage on the right between the thuja hedge and the school's skateboard track, then turn right again. At the end, turn left onto Rue Charles de Gaulle, then at the fork, turn left onto Rue Rabelais, Place de la Mairie, and head towards Rue de l'Église to reach the Espace François Rabelais car park (S/E).

Good walking shoes are sufficient for this hike.
Water points and refreshments available at Saint Pierre Castle.

(1) At the orientation table in front, view of Ligugé and its granite outcrops.
(6) The Château de Saint-Pierre: panoramic view, animal park, eco-sensory interpretation trail.
The Bois de Saint-Pierre, a forest owned by the city of Poitiers.
A leisure centre that respects the natural character of the site.
An area of 248 hectares made up of two zones.
- The developed area, covering 75 hectares, consists of an animal park, outdoor swimming pools, a pony club, open spaces with playgrounds and picnic areas, mini golf and an orienteering course.
- The wilderness area is reserved for walking (8 km of dedicated footpaths).
A 2-hectare pond open for fishing.

Town centre: old wash house fed by a spring.

10-bed self-catering accommodation: Les Marronniers stopover lodge.
Located in a 3-hectare park, near the church and town centre with all amenities, close to the Espace François Rabelais.
It is housed in a house built in the 1900s.