En passant par le Bois de la Folie et le Lac de l'Espérance

Promenade-découverte de Pouzauges de son centre ville, du Bois de la Folie et du Lac de l'Espérance.

Details

389025
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 7.44 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 35 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 152 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 159 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 277 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 134 m
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ District: Pouzauges (85700)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 46.78301° / W 0.836706°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 1426E
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Photos

Description of the walk

(S/E) From Place de l'Eglise, walk past the Tourist Office and then the Town Hall and take Rue de l'Aubépin. At the crossroads, turn right onto Rue des Remparts, then walk up to the castle.

(1) Turn left and take a look at the orientation table, then, after walking along the ramparts, take Rue de la Ragoille and continue to the crossroads. Then go up Rue du Bois de la Folie on the left, to the sports hall, then climb the few steps that lead to the small car park. Cross it and you will reach Rue du Terrier Marteau.

(2) Take the footpath on the left, then, at the car park, take the path on the left that enters the Bois de la Folie and continue straight on to the viewpoint.

(3) At the viewpoint, after taking a break to admire the bocage landscape, head back down the pine tree-lined path on the right until you reach Rue du Bourg Belard, then turn right. Cross Avenue des Moulins and take the small road opposite.

(4) About 50 metres to the left, go down Route des Soriettes to the crossroads, then turn left again and quickly take the path on the right.
Follow this path to Rue des Écluses, stay on this street until the next crossroads. Turn right onto Rue de Véziers.
At the stop sign, turn right onto Rue de la Pierre Blanche, then after 150 metres turn left onto Chemin des Ruines and continue along Rue des Romains.

(5) Then take the first street on the right and at the end of it, follow the path to reach the lake car park.

(6) Cross the small bridge on the right to go around Lac de l'Espérance, then on the way back, take the first path on the right which goes up towards Route du Lac and then Avenue des Sables. Follow this road until the third roundabout.

(7) Turn right onto Rue des Lilas, then after 200 metres turn left onto Rue du Vigneau. At the end of this street, follow the footpath, cross Rue Ferchaud de Réaumur to reach Rue Émilie Angelotz, then follow this street to the stop sign.

(8) Turn left and then walk up Rue de l'Aumônerie for about 100 metres, then turn right and walk up Venelle des Trois Piliers. Cross Rue Catherine de Thouars and walk up Rue Rémondière, then turn left. Immediately after, turn right to arrive at Place de l'Église (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 221 m - Place de l'Eglise
  2. 1 : km 0.38 - alt. 238 m - Orientation table at the Old Castle
  3. 2 : km 1.31 - alt. 265 m - Rue du Terrier Marteau
  4. 3 : km 1.69 - alt. 274 m - Bois de la Folie viewpoint
  5. 4 : km 2.36 - alt. 197 m - Route des Soriettes
  6. 5 : km 3.97 - alt. 171 m - Turn right onto Rue des Romains
  7. 6 : km 4.5 - alt. 139 m - Small bridge
  8. 7 : km 6.29 - alt. 181 m - Rue des Lilas on the right
  9. 8 : km 7.08 - alt. 180 m - On the left is Rue de l'Aumonerie
  10. S/E : km 7.44 - alt. 221 m - Place de l'Eglise

Notes

(3) A fitness trail and nature trail have been created in the Bois de la Folie. Picnic tables have also been installed.

Worth a visit

(S)Saint Jacques Church. The 11th-century Saint-Jacques Church is a blend of Romanesque and Gothic styles. It was remodelled during the 15th century.
(1) The castle grounds are open all year round for self-guided tours
The wash house opposite No. 50 Rue du Bois de la Folie is a beautifully restored wash house.
(3) From the Bois de la Folie viewpoint, you have a magnificent view of the Vendée.

Reviews and comments

4 / 5
Based on 7 reviews

Reliability of the description
3.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
3.9 / 5
Route interest
4.4 / 5
Denis26
Denis26 ★

Thank you, manuuher, for pointing that out. I have just modified the hike accordingly.

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manuuher
manuuher

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

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

Same comment as above: there is an error between point (2) and point (3): do not turn left after leaving the road, but continue straight ahead to go directly to the viewpoint (3).
What's more, the detour adds nothing. Worse still, you end up in a playground that you can't leave because of a fence that has been put up to "preserve" the forest. It would be great if a moderator could correct this.
As for the rest, I admit that I didn't pay attention to the description with the street names; I followed the GPX track.
Otherwise, the route is nice between the city and this beautiful stretch of water.

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User 6863651

Overall rating : 2.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 29, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful hike but unclear route with several crossroads where you don't know which way to go. For example, you shouldn't turn left at the first clearing but right to get to the viewpoint. You also shouldn't turn into the first street on the right into Rue des Romains but the second, etc.

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User 21080131

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 23, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful ride with some elevation gain around the lovely town of Pouzauges, offering stunning panoramic views.
Just so you know, save some energy for the end, it's uphill!

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Francoise25320
Francoise25320

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 09, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Very pleasant route, easy to follow (GPS)

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grandin
grandin ★

I don't see any discrepancy between (4) and (5). Could you be more specific, marche fpycéder?

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marche fpycéder
marche fpycéder

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 25, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A few errors in the directions for points (4) and (5). Otherwise, a very nice route that we discovered.

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leonchevrier
leonchevrier

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 29, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

This route is very interesting. I did it with a group on 29 March, but it's best to do it between June and September.

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MP DUB
MP DUB

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 24, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Lovely walk, very satisfied.
Don't forget to bring a bag because there are so many chestnuts!

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