From the Loire to the Authion

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A flat route between the banks of the Loire and the Authion. It allows you to explore the birthplace of Aristide du Petit Thouars and its heritage.

Please note: Paths along the banks of the Loire are impassable during periods of high water

Details

n°945253
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 8.14 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 45 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 20 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 20 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 98 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 69 ft
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Photos

The Loire
Saint Martin de la Place

Description of the walk

Start: Saint-Martin-de-la-Place (the harbour) – Green signposts – Suitable for hybrid and mountain bikes.

(S/E) From the harbour, head back up towards the road. Take Rue de Port opposite and, at the second junction, continue straight on along Rue de la Mairie. Cross the railway line.

(1) Turn right and follow the road straight on until you reach the bend at a place called La Clairgeaudière. Follow the path to the junction and veer left.

(2) At the junction, turn right and carry on straight ahead. Cross a road and continue along the path, which is circular and curves widely to the right before joining a wider track.

(3) Turn left and carry on to the road.

(4) Turn left, pass the entrance to the Château de la Poupardière, and carry on to the next junction.

(5) At the bridge, carry on straight ahead along Rue des Courants. After about 100 metres, turn right to rejoin the path along the water’s edge and carry on for about 800 metres.

(6) Turn left as you leave the riverbank and walk along the field to rejoin the path.

(7) At the crossroads in the hamlet of La Haute Prée, turn right, then left about 600 metres further on.

(8) At the junction with the Chemin du Vieil Authion, turn left and follow the path straight on until you reach the road. Turn right and follow the road. Cross the railway line and continue along Rue Thibault until you reach the Loire embankment (D952).

(9) Turn right and, at the pedestrian crossing, cross to the opposite side and head down to the banks of the Loire.

(10) At the riverbank, turn sharply left and follow the path to the harbour (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 89 ft - The Port - La Loire
  2. 1 : mi 0.23 - alt. 82 ft - Road past the railway line
  3. 2 : mi 0.84 - alt. 79 ft - Les Banglouses
  4. 3 : mi 1.98 - alt. 79 ft - Wider path, on the left
  5. 4 : mi 2.14 - alt. 79 ft - On the banks of the Authion
  6. 5 : mi 3.44 - alt. 79 ft - Le Gué de Frêne Bridge
  7. 6 : mi 4.21 - alt. 69 ft - Path on the left
  8. 7 : mi 4.61 - alt. 75 ft - La Haute Prée
  9. 8 : mi 5.4 - alt. 79 ft - Junction with Chemin du Vieil Authion
  10. 9 : mi 6.53 - alt. 95 ft - View of the Loire, on the right
  11. 10 : mi 6.64 - alt. 92 ft - The banks of the Loire
  12. S/E : mi 8.14 - alt. 89 ft - The harbour

Notes

Saumur Val de Loire Tourism – Gennes-Val-de-Loire
2, rue des ponts - Les Rosiers-sur-Loire - 49350 GENNES-VAL-DE-LOIRE
Tel. 02 41 51 09 10
Opening hours

Saumur Val de Loire Tourisme
8 bis quai Carnot – CS 54032 – 49415 Saumur Cedex
Tel. +33 (0)2 41 40 20 60 – Fax. +33 (0)2 41 40 20 69
Opening hours

www.saumur-tourisme.com

Worth a visit

- Banks of the Loire
- Domaine de la Blairie
- Château de Boumois

Reviews and comments

3.2 / 5
Based on 6 reviews
Reliability of the description
3.4 / 5
Ease of following the route
3.2 / 5
Route interest
3 / 5
Denis26
Denis26 ★

Thank you for your comments; I have just amended the itinerary accordingly.

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User 3740499

Overall rating : 1.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 25, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Route interest : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Very busy route : No

Hello, I did this walk at the end of August 2026. According to my smartwatch, I covered 15.5 km in 2 hours and 48 minutes. It’s classified as ‘moderate’, even though it’s completely flat and has no tricky sections, stones or anything else; I’d classify it as ‘easy’!
However, in point 4 of the description, ‘path not shown on the IGN map’, it would be better to write: NO PATH… WALK ALONG THE EDGE OF THE FIELDS, CLEARING A PATH THROUGH THE VEGETATION… TROUSERS RECOMMENDED

Furthermore, in the ‘Sights’ section, it states: ‘Boumois Castle’ – WHICH IS NOT THE CASE! (I cycled to the castle; it’s not in this area)

Furthermore, only the final few kilometres along the banks of the Loire are of interest in terms of the scenery
the rest – the fields, the forest edge, the banks of the Authion – offer no particular highlights in terms of flora or fauna

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User 2734911

Overall rating : 3.5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 14, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

poorly marked route, areas near the canal inaccessible, we had to take the road
it's a shame, as the rest of the route was very beautiful

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Redo from start
Redo from start
• Edited:

Overall rating : 3.5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 23, 2020
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

There are a few stretches along the Authion that are well worth a detour, though these are set against a large part of the walk through or alongside maize fields that aren’t necessarily all that interesting.

The signposting is sometimes conspicuous by its absence; luckily I had the GPS route to find my way

However, the whole experience is saved by the last 2–3 km along the banks of the Loire, which is always magnificent!

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grandin
grandin ★

Thank you, JMCetCC, for this review.

It is possible that Saumur Val de Loire Tourisme may be able to maintain this route.

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JMCetCC
JMCetCC

Overall rating : 2.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 14, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

We were disappointed with the section following the Authion. The signposting was obscured, making it impossible to follow the route along the banks of
the Authion from point 4 to point 5 (we had to take the road!); we couldn’t reach point 8: no signposting and the path was non-existent and completely unmaintained, so we had to retrace our steps and take the road once again!

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sergio49
sergio49

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 27, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A walk to enjoy, preferably in the morning during the summer

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pascalszapu
pascalszapu

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 24, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing

A monotonous landscape.

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