Coussay walks

A heritage hike in the countryside and woods of Haut Poitou with two Renaissance-style castles up close and a Romanesque church. Route designed and marked by the Vienne departmental committee of the FFRP.

In the heart of the Scevolles Forest and starting from the Étang de Guesnes, three trails, developed and signposted by the Communauté de Communes du Loudunais, are open to the public (except during January). The route described here is the longest of the three. It winds through the forest, allowing you to discover the diversity of its tree populations. Numerous information boards line this route, which is ideal for children or anyone with a curiosity about nature.

A walk mainly through fields, offering sweeping views of the countryside. There is no shortage of heritage sites, including a church, a manor house and some beautiful houses.

A mainly woodland walk, offering the benefit of shade from a variety of trees. It largely follows the "Sentier des Sables et des Terres Blanches", designed and signposted by the Loudunais Community of Communes.

An easy hike that mainly takes place amongst cultivated fields and vineyard plots on the hillsides. The church in Lencloître adds a superb touch of heritage. Route designed and signposted by the Grand Châtellerault Tourist Office, under the name "Entre Vignes et Jardins" and number 24.

This walk takes you through the Moulin Pochas falun site, which was used as a sandpit, and then continues with a short stroll across the plain through the fields. The site is not really a mill in the usual sense (such as a flour mill), but rather an ancient natural geological site consisting of falunières – quarries of ancient marine deposits (clay-sand cliffs known as faluns) – dating back some 15 million years. It is a unique testament in Poitou to the era when a shallow sea (the Mer des Faluns) covered the region. The site consists of ancient shell sand quarries containing marine fossils such as shells, corals, etc.

With its many panoramic views of the villages, the pretty surrounding hamlets and its paths that are by turns wooded and undulating, this route certainly lives up to its name.

A short walk along field paths, forest trails and small roads, taking in a Neolithic polishing stone, a few cave dwellings and a beautiful church. This hike partly follows a route designed and marked out by the Grand Châtellerault Tourist Office.

A walk through the countryside, criss-crossing the River Dive. A wealth of heritage awaits: a Romanesque church, an old fortified dwelling, a castle, oratories, a chapel…

A short hike mainly through fields, discovering a beautiful Romanesque church (later remodelled) and a beautiful Renaissance castle. There are a few views of the countryside.

As you walk through Ambigaria (the former name of the commune of Saint-Genest), you’ll pass through market gardens and fields of asparagus. Along the way, you’ll come across Puygareau Castle, fortified from 1434 onwards, with its two towers and 15th-century residential quarters. At the Château d’Abin, you’ll see an old hemp kiln; the hemp-growing industry was a major part of the local economy in the 19th century.

An easy walk, mainly through cultivated fields, with beautiful farmhouses dotted here and there. Route designed and signposted by the Grand Châtellerault Tourist Office.

Through fields and woods, a peaceful circular route that takes in two small castles and a beautiful dovecote. Route designed and signposted by the Grand Châtellerault Tourist Office, and certified by the Vienne departmental committee of the FFRP.

After climbing a hill offering sweeping views, the route takes you through former marshes now used for market gardening. A few castles dot the route, the highlight of which is the Gallo-Roman site, whose ruins, whilst not spectacular, are moving.

Route proposed by the municipality of Jaunay-Marigny and certified by the Vienne Departmental Hiking Committee. A route exploring the troglodytic landscapes, created by the exploitation of the Tuffeau quarries, with beautiful views over the Envigne valley. The route is marked in green, starting from the Marigny-Brizay town hall.

A hike mainly through fields, with two beautiful heritage sites, the Collegiate Church of Saint-Georges (12th century) at the start and a dovecote a little over halfway along the route. There are some beautiful views along the way.