La route du Jongleur

(S/E) From the village square, in front of the library and opposite the village café, take the path to the left of the bakery. At the end of this first path, in front of the school, take the pavement to the left.

(1) Cross Rue de Sologne and follow Rue des Moulins straight ahead. Then, at the Fork in the road, turn right onto Rue de la Lande.

(2) Cross the D951 (watch out for traffic) and take the path opposite, continuing straight ahead. At the end of the path, turn right onto the small road. Then, at the bend, follow the path straight ahead towards the plain.

(3) Continue along the small road to the right for 350 metres. Then turn left onto Route de Viglain (take care, as there may be some traffic).

(4) After 440 metres, turn right. Pass in front of the Château de la Brosse and, at the end of the road, veer left, pass in front of the Domaine de l’Orme and carry on straight ahead towards the forest.

(5) At the entrance to the forest, carry on straight ahead along the gravel track. Then, when you reach Château du Gilloy (private property), turn left twice. After the new pond, carry on straight ahead along the main track.

(6) When you reach the road, follow it to the right for 380 metres, then take the first path on the left. Keep following this main path as it crosses the forest.

(7) At the end of this grassy track, turn left onto the white limestone track and follow it for quite some time.

(8) At a place called La Renaissance, turn left onto the GRP® Sentier Historique de la Vallée des Rois (marked in red and yellow) and carry on straight ahead.

(9) Cross the D951 (watch out for traffic) and take the path opposite. At the end of this path, turn right onto Rue du Leu, then left onto Rue des Pêcheurs.

(10) At the pretty port of Bouteille, follow the road to the left: a small path on the embankment on the Loire side offers a bit of safety and a lovely view of the Loire.

(11) At La Tuilerie (a listed historic monument), leave the embankment and continue along the main D107 road to the left. Leave this road and take the limestone track on the left, which passes in front of the Bel Air windmill.

(12) At the end of the limestone track, turn left onto the road. After 300 m along this road, take the path on the right which runs alongside the Ruisseau du Leu for over 2 km, following the GRP® (marked in yellow and red).

(13) Continue straight on along the path that runs alongside the stream. Before the village hall, turn left onto the footbridge and the path that leads directly up to the village square (S/E).

At the start: public toilets, café and grocery shop.

At the Bel Air windmill: picnic tables.

Neuvy Treasure: information panels on the history and composition of this archaeological find, made in 1861 in the village. It is one of the most remarkable collections of bronze statues from the Gallic period. It is on display at the Museum of History and Archaeology in the Hôtel Cabu in Orléans. Whilst the centrepiece is a horse over one metre tall, several figurines depict elegant, dynamic poses, such as the juggler or the tall dancer.

Château de la Brosse: surrounded by a moat, this 15th-century castle boasts a remarkable entrance gate (private property; not open to the public).

Ancien Port de Bouteille: overlooking the Loire, this hamlet of boatmen is full of charm with its pretty, traditional houses adorned with flowers, its boat slipway, its former tile works (listed as a Historic Monument) and the Bel Air windmill (another possible starting point).