Route of Châteaux starting from Saint-Genest-d’Ambière

From Lencloître, take the D725 towards Scorbé-Clairvaux. Turn left halfway towards Saint-Genest-d’Ambière. Park by the church.

(S/E) Set off to the left along the Grand’rue (portico at no. 38) and, at the three-way junction, take the Route de la Chinière. At the next junction, turn left onto the Route de la White Cross and follow this road out into the countryside until you reach the Route de Sossay (ignore one junction).

(1) Cross the road and head straight on along a stony path. Ignore the path on the left and cross over a stream. Stay on the grassy path, ignoring the adjacent paths, until you reach the edge of the woods. Walk through a section of the woods alongside a stream, then emerge on the other side.

(2) At the edge of the woodland, turn right and follow the edge of the copse along a stonier path. There is a view of the surrounding fields in the distance. Ignore a path branching off to the right. Continue straight on and climb up to the hamlet of l’Aubonnière.

(3) Continue along the road and head back down alongside a woodland with views of the opposite hillside. At the junction with the busier D42, cross carefully and turn right. Shortly afterwards, turn left towards La Gazillière.

(4) Carry on straight ahead after the house along a gravel track. Stay on this track until you reach the next hamlet, Puygarreau, ignoring the other paths.

(5) At the entrance to the hamlet, pass to the right of a pond and an oven. Head straight ahead and cross the village with its tall buildings. At the estate gate, turn left onto the Route des Puys. Follow the park’s boundary wall. Leave the Chemin d’Ecuré on your left. At the three-way junction, with a view of the village of Saint-Genest and a few water towers, take the road on the right in front of the fortified farm of Les Saboureaux.

(6) At the next junction, on the corner by the old school, turn right towards Les Caves. Follow the bend to the left and walk past a low wall topped by a turret. Note an inscription for travellers on the next wall. Walk alongside a wooded property and enjoy the new view over another, more undulating hillside, until you reach the crossroads. Turn right at the next junction, then keep left at the following one . You’ll reach the end of the road.

(7) Turn left, walking alongside a farm meadow. At the next junction, cross the road and take the gravelled path opposite, running between meadows and an abandoned house. At the corner by a walnut tree, turn right onto a grassy path through the fields, with farms dotted here and there in the distance. Walk downhill, passing a wooded property on the left (Ferme Piolant).

(8) Carry on, cross the road and take a grassy path to the left. At the junction of paths, turn sharply left onto the one running perpendicular to the power line further ahead. Ignore the path leading to the left and walk past an electricity pylon.

(9) After the bend, follow a hedge running alongside a stream, then turn left. Head uphill between a copse and a fenced-off plot. Stay on the same path, with a view of a water tower on your left. At the crossroads, keep going straight on until you reach Château d’Abin.

(10) Carry on. When you reach the road (D 42), cross it carefully and take a grassy path. Enter a tree-lined lane. At the three-way junction, turn right; immediately afterwards, turn left onto a stony path to leave the forest and reach a junction with another path.

(11) Continue along this path. Head uphill towards the houses at the entrance to the village. Stay on the Route de la Boutinière. At the junction, head straight on along Rue de la Croix Boutet. At Carrefour Joyeux, turn left and then left again onto the Grand’rue to reach the finish. (S/E)

Follow the yellow markings.
- In the village, there is a bakery and local amenities.
- Town Hall Park, picnic areas.

Puygarreau Castle.
Abin Castle.