Jaunay-Marigny Cave Dwellings Route

Start at Place de la Mairie, near the church.

(S/E) Follow the D20 towards Lencloître (pavement). After passing the school (on the right-hand side), turn left onto Chemin de la Baron. Continue straight ahead. At the cross, turn right.

(1) Shortly afterwards, near the castle, take the path on the left. You’ll come out onto a road; follow it to the right and pass through the hamlet of Méoc.

(2) When the road bends to the left, take the path on the right which climbs quite steeply (not shown at the start on the IGN map). Continue straight on, past the horse paddock to the edge of the forest.

(3) Turn left and continue straight on, ignoring a turn-off on the left. Reach the hamlet of Truet and cross it straight through via the small road leading to the crossroads with the Croix de Truet.

(4) Follow the road to the right. After about 600 m, turn right onto Rue des Troglodytes. This street soon bends to the left. Continue along this street, keeping to the right at each junction.

(5) Pass in front of the Porte de la Tour Signy (set back about 20 metres from the road on the right) and continue along the road until the junction with the Route de la Plaine.

(6) Turn left, then immediately right onto the path. Then go left, then right. At the T-junction (elevation 115), turn right. Go uphill and rejoin the D20 road

(7) Follow the road to the left. Ignore a turn-off on the left and go straight on (east). At the junction, turn right and you will immediately come to another junction (waymark on the left).

(8) Then turn left. At the cross, follow the path straight ahead and immediately turn right. Walk alongside vineyards on your right, then on both sides. At the crossroads on the edge of a wood, go straight on to the hamlet of La Vau.

(9) Turn left then continue straight on down into the plain (path not marked on the map). At the junction, take the path straight ahead to the next junction.

(10) At the junction, turn right, then immediately left. The path runs alongside a small wood before reaching the hamlet of La Grande Lande.

(11) When you reach the houses, take the road on the right. Pass the hamlet of Les Varennes and reach the hamlet of Chilly, at the foot of the hill.

(12) Then take the path on the left (opposite the house). Go straight on, leaving the limestone path on your right. At the junction, turn right onto the small tarmac road. Continue straight on
600 m until you reach the junction with the D21.

(13) At the top of the hill, at the Stop sign, turn right onto the D21. At the cross, take the white track on the left. At the castle gate, continue straight on along the track.

(14) At the end of the track, follow the D82 to the right until you reach the village (S/E).

Places to see along the route: The Tower of Signy.
This monumental gate is the sole remnant of what was undoubtedly a stately residence of great importance. The gate’s grand and triumphant architecture suggests it dates from the early 17th century. It is thought to be the work of pupils of the “Androuet du Cerceau”, the architects of the Henri IV Bridge in Châtellerault.