Country:
District:
To reach the starting point of this hike, take the D938 at the exit of Fontenay-le-Comte towards La Châtaigneraie. Go through the village of Pissote and at the first roundabout at the bottom of a hill, turn right towards the Mervent Dam. You will immediately enter the forest and 1 km after the roundabout, you will arrive at the famous Rond-Point de Saint-Luc, known throughout the area. Park in the car park.
(S/E) Take the road to the Mervent Dam (signposted), which is one-way for cars. The road descends rapidly towards the dam, which you cross. Continue along the road, which climbs steeply with two hairpin bends for about 300 metres.
(1) Take the path on the left, which runs parallel to the road that continues to climb to the right. This path descends to the banks of the dam's reservoir. Turn right onto the path that runs along the left bank. From here, stay as close to the lake as possible.
(2) After about a kilometre, make a short detour to a peninsula.
(3) Pass the confluence of the Vendée and Mère rivers and continue along the path to Pont de Perrure, the first road bridge you come to, without taking any of the paths coming from the right. This path is sometimes steep in its second half, with a few rocky passages that are not particularly difficult.
(4) Do not cross the Pont de Perrure bridge, but take the road on the right for 200 metres to enter the forest on the right at a small car park via a small path.
(5) About 50 metres further on, at the first trail junction, turn left. The Fontaine à l'Ermite fountain is very close by, at the foot of a tree on the left (sign).
From the fountain, continue along the path which climbs slightly, running parallel to the road. Ignore the two small paths on the left which join the road and continue climbing until you reach a path junction.
(6) Take the small path on the left to join the D65 road. Continue along the left-hand side of the road with caution, ignoring the first road on the right near a forest house (the Balingue forest road leading to the dam) and arriving at the La Balingue crossroads.
(7) La Balingue crossroads: there is a bakery and pastry shop on the left at the crossroads with tables available for customers. The water tower is clearly visible on the other side.
Walk past the bakery and take the wide path at the end of the car park on the left. Continue along this wide path and ignore the first lane on the left.
(8) Take the first path on the right. Walk along the boundary wall of the Château du Mazeau, which can be seen on the left through the ruins of the wall. Join the D65 departmental road.
(9) Cross the road carefully, follow it to the left for about 50 metres, then take the first path on the right, which leads to a small forest road further on.
(10) Turn left onto this road, leaving the large, beautiful driveway leading to Puy Chabot (the former hunting lodge of the Chabot family) on your right a little further on, then continue straight ahead at the next crossroads, leaving the road to the village of Orbrie on your left. Pass a large pylon on your left.
(11) Take the first road on the right before the first houses. Continue along this road which descends to the Vendée, turn right along the river to reach the Sauvaget footbridge.
(12) Cross the recently restored footbridge and follow the river on the right-hand side along a wide path that becomes a small road. Fishing areas on the left. Arrive at a car park.
(13) Just before the car park entrance, take the path on the right which climbs up to the hamlet of Saint-Luc.
(14) This will take you to the road that passes in front of the Saint-Luc forest house and leads straight to the arrival car park (S/E).
Visorando member
Association / Club / Walk leader
Difficult 
Easy 
