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Start at Place du Mail in Montsoreau.
(S/E) Head to the Quai de Loire and walk up the river towards the château. Return to the road via the ramp at the end of the quay. The château towers above you a few dozen metres away, like a cliff by the water's edge.
Turn right onto Rue Jean de Chambes, which passes under the bridge leading to the château. This steep little street leads to Place des Diligences. Opposite the town hall, turn left in front of the long glass building with the Union sign, which houses one of the few boules de fort games still in use. Walk up the square to the top, pass in front of the Hôtel Bussy, then walk down Rue Jehanne d'Arc until you reach Rue du Puits Saint-Michel. Here, the tuffeau stone gives each house the appearance of a château.
(1) At the bottom of Rue Jehanne d'Arc, you change commune, and therefore department and region. Turn left onto the small street, which also serves as a drainage channel, and climb back up to the riverside path via one of the two side staircases. Cross the road and descend to the quay via the staircase opposite.
If the water level allows, follow the riverbank along the grassy path that runs alongside it. This will take you to what was once the port of Candes-Saint-Martin. On the other bank is the sandy point created by the confluence of the Vienne and Loire rivers.
With your back to the river, walk up Rue Saint-Martin, which leads to the majestic porch of the collegiate church.
(2) This monumental church was built on the site where Saint Martin died and is well worth a visit.
Then go around the building on the right and continue up the hill along Rue Saint-Maurice. You will pass several remarkable buildings, notable at least for their porches. Cross the street and take the stairs up to Rue de la Cour Dimière, turning right once you reach the top.
Continue left to reach the square in front of the cemetery, and turn right onto Rue du Puits Saint-Michel. This road passes above the village of Candes-Saint-Martin, but from up there, you can no longer see the Loire. The view extends over the vine-covered hillsides. As you descend, you will come to a small valley that marks the municipal boundary and, after a steep descent, you will reach a small street.
(3) Cross it and take the small path that veers left between the uphill street and a property entrance. This path crosses the valley under a hedge of hazelnut trees, in the middle of a few gardens.
At the first path you come to, turn right and follow this path for about a hundred metres. Just before a house with a curious façade decorated with large ogives, turn left onto the paved path that climbs between the flowers. After a bend, it leads to Rue de la Bonnardière. Turn right and continue along Chemin du Coteau. This street overlooks the houses of the village of Montsoreau and offers superb views of the château and the Loire. On the cliff side, there is a succession of cave dwellings.
(4) At the three-way junction, continue left along Ruelle Bussy d'Amboise until you reach Ruelle de la Motte. Go down this street to the right until you find Rue André Obey, which you follow to the left. At the junction with Route de Fontevrault, turn right. Place du Mail is only a few metres away (S/E).
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