Exploring the surroundings of La Thévinière in Gesté

This walking trail is located in the commune of Gesté, a charming village in the Mauges region, where you can discover the Étang de la Thévinière and the Château du Plessis.

Please note: the path is closed during the hunting season.

Details

4437345
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Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 8.43 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 30 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 22 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 21 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 102 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 78 m
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ District: Gesté (49600)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 47.161223° / W 1.094584°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 1323SB, 1324SB, 1423SB, 1424SB
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Photos

Description of the walk

Car park near the Thévinière Pond at a place called Le Grand Moulin via the D67.

Follow the green signposts

(S/E) As you leave the car park, turn left and head down the road to the Thévinière farm.

(1) Turn right onto the tarmac road (D67) towards Gesté. At the top of the hill, turn left onto a lane lined with oak trees leading to Château du Plessis. When you reach the château, there is a small pond on your left.

(2) Continue straight on and enter the woods. Further on, continue to skirt around them, staying on the tarmac road. At the fork, turn left then carry on straight ahead, ignoring the paths branching off to the right, until you reach the junction about 400 m further on.

(3) At the junction, head left whilst continuing along the tarmac road until you reach La Bourie, which you cross.

(4) As you leave the hamlet, turn right then left, and continue to the hamlet of La Grolière.

(5) Turn left and follow the tarmac road. When you reach the junction with the D67, take it to the right for a few metres, then turn left towards La Nouzillerie.
Once you reach La Nouzillerie, head straight along the path through the fields. After about 400 m, turn left onto the tarmac road.

(6) Head right towards La Faye Moreau and then continue along the tarmac road, keeping to the right. At the Y-junction, keep left until you reach the next junction a few dozen metres further on.

(7) Leave the road on the left onto the track and continue through the hedgerows across the fields, straight on to the Sanguèze stream, which flows into the Étang de la Thévinière.

(8) Turn left for a few metres to reach the lake again, then continue along the bank. You can also (as shown on the map) turn onto the path on the right, then left across the fields to the junction.

(9) You can continue straight on to the road which leads left to the car park or (see the map), turn left until you reach the lake again, which you will follow to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 89 m - Thévinière Pond Area - Sanguèze (rivière) à finaliser
  2. 1 : km 0.32 - alt. 82 m - La Thévinière Farm
  3. 2 : km 1.62 - alt. 83 m - Château du Plessis
  4. 3 : km 2.61 - alt. 93 m - T-junction
  5. 4 : km 3.24 - alt. 90 m - La Bourie
  6. 5 : km 4.05 - alt. 89 m - La Grolière
  7. 6 : km 5.9 - alt. 90 m - T-junction
  8. 7 : km 6.41 - alt. 95 m - Crossroads
  9. 8 : km 6.88 - alt. 88 m - Étang de la Thévinière
  10. 9 : km 7.74 - alt. 93 m - Crossroads
  11. S/E : km 8.43 - alt. 89 m - Thévinière Pond Area

Notes

Please note: this route is not accessible during the hunting season

Worth a visit

La Thévinière park and lake: A place for relaxation, socialising and play... This site offers a range of activities: walks, picnics, a playground... This 16-hectare lake, set in the heart of an exceptional natural landscape, is a true haven of peace and tranquillity.

The Château du Plessis

Reviews and comments

3.6 / 5
Based on 10 reviews

Reliability of the description
3.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
3.7 / 5
Route interest
3.5 / 5
Gerro49
Gerro49

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 11, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Interesting route, but too much tarmac. A possible shortcut is indicated by prohibition signs (already reported by others)

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SAUTEJEAU Philippe
SAUTEJEAU Philippe

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 31, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A pleasant route, but the signposts are hard to spot. It’s very damp along the Thévinière pond.

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manuuher
manuuher

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 23, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

The real appeal of this route lies in its start and finish, namely the areas around the lake and the castle.
The rest consists of a series of small tarmac roads, which are certainly quiet but not particularly picturesque.
You can do a much shorter circular route around these two sites or cycle the rest of the route.

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gelinoto
gelinoto

Do not use during the hunting season, and when there has been too much rain – the path is impassable!!!!!!!!

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gelinoto
gelinoto

a lovely walk

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Ôsez Mauges
Ôsez Mauges

Thank you for your feedback; we will pass on this issue regarding the lack of signage to the local council.
Have a nice day.
Marie on behalf of the Ôsez Mauges team

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Bretaudeau
Bretaudeau

Overall rating : 2 / 5

Date of your route : May 09, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

The main problem is the poor signposting. It’s a shame, as the route must be lovely. We were with a group of walkers and had to turn back. The signposting needs improving.

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philouis
philouis

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 26, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely, easy walk with plenty of shade, beautiful paths and a finish by the lake, which is a bit low on water this summer of 2022, just like the dry Sanguèze.

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Olivee
Olivee

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 20, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The walk was clearly marked on the map. However, on the way, near La Bourie, we came across two aggressive dogs coming out of the farmyard, blocking our path. The resulting detour was quite long and rather uninteresting.

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19071949
19071949

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 02, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

lack of signage

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Le barbu en marche
Le barbu en marche

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 29, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Lots of roads and tarmac paths.
Green signposting is sometimes non-existent.
An easy and pleasant walk, particularly the path to Plessis Castle and the end of the route near Thévinière Pond.

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TONIO EUSKADI
TONIO EUSKADI

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 28, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : No

There are plenty of stretches on roads, and thankfully the route is very well marked on the map, as the green signposts that are supposed to show the way are nowhere to be seen.

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mllfopa
mllfopa

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 10, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The description is missing a crucial detail: the route is not accessible during the hunting season, as several paths and tracks are closed; as a result, we had to take roads in order to complete the route.
The (private) paths are only open from 28 February to 1 March.

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