From the old village of Vénat to the Thouérat lock

Discover the hidden side of Saint-Yrieix sur Charente. Depart from the village of Vénat, with its church and beautiful houses sheltered behind their porches, to reach the banks of the Charente River and the Thouérat lock. A varied route that combines nature and heritage and has some wonderful surprises in store (viewpoints, fountains). The countryside in the city!

Details

n°4412715

Creation:
10 Dec 2020

Last update:
04 Jan 2026

Last review:
17 Aug 2024

Activity: Walking
Distance: 7.76 km
Average duration: 2h 25
Difficulty: Easy
Back to start: Yes
Ascent: + 73 m
Descent: - 73 m
Highest point: 95 m
Lowest point: 28 m

Country: France
District: Saint-Yrieix-sur-Charente (16710)
Start/End: N 45.688853° / E 0.115018°
Hour-by-hour weather

Avalanche risk assessment bulletin

Discover Visorando Premium

Downloads

Open in the mobile app

Download GPX GPX

Download PDF PDF

Photos

Description of the walk

Departure from the village of Vénat. Car park behind the church.

(S/E) Opposite the church, go up to the left of the war memorial, Rue de la Coutille, for 50 metres. Turn left into Rue la Fontaine des Pots, which continues as a dirt track (Chemin rural de Venat).

(1) After 200 metres, turn right (Chemin rural de Venat au Pain Perdu). Pass in front of the Fontaine des Pots and continue for about 1 kilometre, parallel to the N1141.

(2) Take the bridge on the right, under the N1141, to reach Rue du Petit Rouillac. Cross the road and follow the path to the right that runs alongside the road for about 200 m. Follow the path that turns left and then heads right towards the new Bois de la Roche housing estate. At the corner of the first house, turn left onto Chemin de la Roche (tarmac road).

(3) Cross the Route de Saint-Jean d'Angély and go down Rue de la Combe Garnier, which winds through the woods to join Rue de Royan (N141).

(4) Cross the road, turn right, then immediately take Chemin de l'Écluse on the left. You will arrive at the towpath.

(5) Turn right and pass in front of the Thouérat lock, sometimes spelled Touérat. Continue along the riverbank to the Halte-repos. Take the road on the right, which leads back to the Royan road (N141).

(6) Continue for about 150 m on the right, cross the road opposite the La Plaine bus stop and take the small Rue de Chausse-Loup, which continues along a beautiful path that winds through the Combe of the same name (fountain worth seeing; see "Nearby" below). The path climbs a fairly steep slope to the Saint-Jean d'Angély road.

(7) Follow the road to the right for about 100 metres and after the Le Poteau sign, cross and take Allée des Pins on the left (marked as a no-entry road). Take the path on the right after the last house and the fence, pass behind the housing estate to reach Rue de la Coutille.

(8) Head downhill to the left towards the old village of Venat, passing under the N 1141. Take the time to visit this charming village (example route below) (S/E).

Waypoints

S/E : km 0 - alt. 54 m - Église Saint-Yrieix (Saint-Yrieix-sur-Charente)
1 : km 0.5 - alt. 54 m - Fourche
2 : km 1.34 - alt. 68 m - Crossing under the N1141
3 : km 2.14 - alt. 77 m - Crossing Rue de Saint-Jean d'Angély
4 : km 3.28 - alt. 31 m - Route N141
5 : km 3.6 - alt. 29 m - Towpath - Charente (river) - Charente (f - Charente (fleuve)
6 : km 4.45 - alt. 33 m - Junction with the Royan road (N141)
7 : km 6.37 - alt. 90 m - Crossing Rue de Saint-Jean d'Angely
8 : km 7.07 - alt. 87 m - Rue de la Coutille
S/E : km 7.76 - alt. 54 m - Église Saint-Yrieix (Saint-Yrieix-sur-Charente)

Notes

The towpath is a little wet in heavy rain but very passable. In heavy rain, water overflows onto a short section at the junction of the road and the Chausse-Loup path.

Worth a visit

The Pots fountain owes its name to the processing of hemp stalks, which were used to make fabrics in the 19th century. The process consisted of placing the stalks in pots and then depositing them in a basin, hence the name of this fountain, which was later converted into a wash house.

The Thouérat lock is one of around twenty lock chambers installed in the 18th century between Angoulême and Rochefort to make the river navigable. Many goods were transported by barge until the early 20th century (salt, wine, wood, porcelain, ironworks products, etc.). Today, only pleasure boaters use them. It is a pleasant, shaded spot, ideal for relaxation. An explanation of how to pass through the locks: https://www.lacharente.fr/fileadmin/user...

Don't miss the Fontaine de l'Oisillon. In the middle of the Combe, take the path on the right in front of the pond (protected by a fence). It climbs for about 150 m through beautiful, perfectly clear undergrowth. On the left, you can see a beautiful dry stone shelter under which the discreet Fontaine de l'Oisillon is hidden.

(7) The village of Vénat is expanding today, but you have to wander through the streets of the old village to discover its beautiful houses, well sheltered behind their huge porches. For example, you can take Rue Jean Ravanaud opposite the church on the left. You will pass the old village grocery store and café, which has now been restored (https://www.lepicerie-de-venat.com). Then take Rue Maurice Michaud on the right, turn right at the end into Rue du Grand Puits, then right again into Rue de Chez Migounet (second on the right), and turn right again to return to the church square.
A former chapel converted into a parish church in 1848, the church remained the only place of worship in the commune of Saint-Yrieix until 1950. Behind the church, on Rue des Écoles, stands the former town hall and school, built in 1857, which now houses the Clairefontaine nursery school. The town hall was transferred to Place des Rochers in 1978 (http://www.saintyrieixsurcharente.fr/).

Nearby is the Château de la Pouyade, built in 1870 on the site of a former noble house. Occupied by the Germans during the Second World War, it was confiscated and sold to the community of the Apostolic Sisters of the Good Shepherd. In 1990, the institution ceased its activities and the château was converted into a hotel and seminar centre (https://www.chateaudelapouyade.fr).

Reviews and comments

4.2 / 5

Based on 6 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.2 / 5

Ease of following the route
4.2 / 5

Route interest
4.3 / 5

Marchal16

17 Aug 2024 at 17:33 7200

Hello and thank you, GuguiVava, for your comments and the information regarding point 7. I am sorry, I was unaware of this change/obstruction to the route. I have amended the description in line with your suggestion, adding a few details. There should no longer be any problems for future hikers. Thank you again, best regards.

Machine-translated

madydou

16 Aug 2024 at 17:30 7200

Hello,
Thank you for your feedback and new information.
I will copy your comments from (7) and replace them in the description, pending approval from the author.
Kind regards

Machine-translated

GuiguiVava

16 Aug 2024 at 16:41 7200 • Edited: 17 Aug 2024 at 09:03 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 16, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hello, we loved this hike. The regular shaded paths make it very comfortable in summer. The natural surroundings and the lock are lovely. The little spot called "la coulée douce" is a great place to stop for a drink or a bite to eat. It's a real bonus (but do check the opening days). There is very little traffic on the road, except for a short stretch at the end when you have to go down through the old village of Vénat to reach the little village.
Be careful at passage no. 7: (Go straight across, walk 100 metres and turn right at the corner of the last house onto a small path). The last house has built a low wall with a gate that completely encroaches on this path, making it impossible to access.
At passage no. 7, I would say: cross and turn right, then walk about 100m and take the next street on the left. Take the passage marked with a no-entry sign for vehicles and turn right at the corner of the last house onto the famous little path. Follow this path, which passes behind residential houses, to reach Rue de la Coutille.
To be redone!

Machine-translated

Marchal16

30 Jan 2023 at 10:48 3600 • Edited: 30 Jan 2023 at 11:13 3600

Thank you all for your comments. Indeed, the viewpoint and fountain (which I discovered by chance) are not marked by signs. You will therefore need to rely on the information provided below the description in the "Nearby" section. A quick note: be careful when climbing up to the viewpoint, as I recently came across some young mountain bikers coming down very fast without signalling. So be careful, just in case...

Machine-translated

053996

17 Jan 2023 at 11:03 3600

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 17, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

It's a shame that the viewpoint and the second fountain are poorly signposted.

Machine-translated

PAPY SUNN DE BRIE

27 Jan 2022 at 12:04 3600

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 31, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A parish specific to Brittany, but still very pleasant, walk before New Year's Eve.

Machine-translated

Florikawalk

19 Apr 2021 at 19:14 7200

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 12, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

I think it's very difficult to create a satisfactory route. Very precise and numerous landmarks must be provided so that hikers who rely on the description can follow it without making mistakes. However, the problem with this type of description is that if you miss or don't understand one of the directions, you're doomed for the rest of the hike (even with a map).

In our case, we would have got lost twice if the GPS hadn't told us which direction to go (or which direction to turn back).

Personally, I found that this route included a lot of roads, but I am very grateful to the hiker who posted it on the website, as they deserve credit for taking the time to do so.

Machine-translated

Pharmanain

01 Feb 2021 at 20:43 3600

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 31, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very good, varied route between two wooded valleys, two preserved fountains and the authentic, rich village of Venat and the Charente river and its lock. Varied terrain, with a mix of vegetation (trees and fields) and urban developments. A great experience, although very muddy in winter weather, so waterproof walking boots are a must!

Machine-translated