Circuit in the Retz National Forest from Coyolles

A beautiful hike in the Retz National Forest, starting from Coyolles and its Church of the Nativity, its manor house with guest rooms; passing through Boursonne, its castle and church, and the former14th-century Abbey of Bourgfontaine.
The GPX track may be useful in the forest.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 17.79 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 30 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 140 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 137 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 154 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 84 m
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ District: Coyolles (02600)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 49.23462° / E 3.041847°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 2512OT
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Description of the walk

Car park and start of the GR®11 hike at Place de l'Église in Coyolles.

(S/E) With your back tothe Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin, turn left towards the Coyolles Manor (16th century) and turn right onto Rue du Vieux Château, which becomes Rue de Queue d'Ham. Ignore the two paths on the left and right and, at the end of the street, continue straight ahead on the footpath.

(1) When you reach the crossroads, take the path on the right, leaving the path on the left, and cross the next crossroads.

(2) Carefully cross the level crossing via the D51E and leave it, as well as the GR®11, by taking the second path on the right (Route du Château). Leave a crossroads and carefully cross Route Tortue.

(3) When you reach a crossroads (Rond des Dames), cross Route Droite carefully, take thefirst path on the left (Route de Boursonne) and ignore two crossroads.

(4) In Boursonne, take the road on the right, pass a road on the left, further on at the crossroads, turn left onto Chemin des Écuries. At the end, turn left onto Rue de l'Église (D51), pass Saint-Pierre Church on your right, cross the crossroads at the pedestrian crossing and, after 50 m on the D51, turn right onto thefirst road.

(5) Turn right onto Rue Lucien Hubaut (D51) and take thefirst road on the right. Continue straight ahead, enter the Forêt de Retz, turn left at the next crossroads (Laie des Novices) and ignore a road on the left and a crossroads, then pass a road on the right and one on the left.

(6) Turn right onto Route de Queue d'Ham, pass the path on the left and continue straight ahead across the Carrefour de Billemont crossroads.

(7) Turn left onto Laie de Billemont, ignore two paths on the left and right and cross the Carrefour de Précy à Mont.

(8) Turn left onto Laie du Poirier d'oignon, then cross Route de Virlet carefully and continue straight ahead at the next crossroads.

(9) Entrance to the Ancienne Chartreuse on the left (private property) – no trespassing. Continue straight ahead.

(10) At the Petit Marais crossroads, cross Route Chrétiennette and continue straight ahead.

(11) Cross the road carefully at the Carrefour d'Oignon.

(12) At the Carrefour du Poirier d'Oignon, turn left onto the GR®11, Route Tortue, pass the Carrefour de Magenta and pass a crossroads and two paths on the right.

(13) At Carrefour des Faisans, turn right, then at the next crossroads, turn left onto Laie de la Bruyère and leave a path on your left.

(14) At Carrefour de la Sorcière, turn right and, further on, cross the level crossing carefully, leaving the GR®11. Cross a road carefully, then a crossroads, and leave a path on your left. Join the path you took on the way there, Rue de la Queue d'Ham.

(1) Retrace your steps to return toPlace de l'Église (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 101 m - Church Square
  2. 1 : km 0.57 - alt. 87 m - Crossroads of the circular
  3. 2 : km 1.42 - alt. 114 m - Level crossing
  4. 3 : km 2.93 - alt. 151 m - Rond des Dames
  5. 4 : km 4.17 - alt. 135 m - Boursonnes
  6. 5 : km 5.5 - alt. 143 m - Lucien Rubaut Street
  7. 6 : km 7.78 - alt. 109 m - Queue d'Ham Road,
  8. 7 : km 8.73 - alt. 115 m - Laie de Billemont
  9. 8 : km 10.14 - alt. 140 m - Laie du Poirier d'Oignon
  10. 9 : km 11.27 - alt. 154 m - Entrance to the former Carthusian monastery (private property)
  11. 10 : km 12.03 - alt. 149 m - Crossroads of the Petit Marais
  12. 11 : km 12.68 - alt. 147 m - Oignon crossroads
  13. 12 : km 13.09 - alt. 151 m - Carrefour du Poirier d'Oignon
  14. 13 : km 14.89 - alt. 118 m - Carrefour des Faisans,
  15. 14 : km 15.88 - alt. 107 m - Crossroads of the Witch
  16. S/E : km 17.79 - alt. 101 m - Church Square

Worth a visit

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

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