From Benet to Port d’Aziré

Park at the Champ de Foire car park (Place du Marché).

(S/E) Cross Rue de la Combe and head up to the left, walking alongside the front of the large house.
Continue along the path to reach Impasse du Château, then Rue du Guerfou.

(1) Cross Rue du Guerfou and take Chemin de la Crié, then turn right into Rue de La Crié.
Head towards the water tower at the end of the street and turn left onto Rue des Merciers. Ignore Rue du Cail on your right and carry on to the next street.

(2) Turn right onto Rue de la Tonnelle. Carry on to the next junction and turn left, then right a little further on, past the farm. Continue straight on until you reach the road linking Courdault to Villeneuve (Benet).

(3) Turn right and then immediately left towards Aziré. Ignore the road branching off to the left and carry on towards the village of Aziré. Enter the village and continue straight on along Rue Alfred Roux. After the Stop sign, you’ll reach the harbour at the end of a lane lined with plane trees; continue to the wash house to the right of the harbour.

(4) Turn round to return to the start of the plane-tree-lined avenue and turn right onto Rue du Port. Cross Route du Mazeau to stay on Rue du Port. A little further on, turn right onto Chemin de Pierre Plate.

(5) Turn right and then immediately left onto the small road (agricultural right of way closed to traffic).

(6) Carefully cross the D68a and head left onto the footpath to the right of the road. Ignore the first path on the right (Seuré) and take the small road on the right about 100 m further on (agricultural right of way). Join the Grand Rue de Villeneuve, turn left onto it and, after 50 m, turn right. Carry on straight ahead round the bend onto a track that joins the Route du Mazeau (D25).

(7) Turn left, follow the road carefully, then turn right at the roundabout.

(8) Turn left onto Rue Basse. Cross the Route de Coulon (D25D) with care and continue along Rue de la Quarantaine. Stay on this street until you reach Rue de la Cure.

(9) Turn left into Rue de Mervent, then turn right twice, staying on Rue de Mervent.

(10) Take the pedestrian ramp on the left, above the community hall, to reach the car park below (S/E).

No special equipment required.
(4) A refreshing stop at Port d’Aziré. Shelter at the wash house, picnic tables, dry toilets and a small car park.

Avoid hot summer afternoons, as much of this route is unshaded.

The Church of Sainte-Eulalie in Benet is well worth a visit (Romanesque on the outside, Gothic on the inside).
From Port d’Aziré, a signposted walk leads towards the Marais Poitevin.