Between the Èvre and the Loire

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Take a walk to discover the riverine landscape along the Èvre and the Loire. Follow theGR®3along the left bank of the Loire to Le Marillais, taking in the rich heritage of Saint-Florent-le-Vieil: the abbey and abbey church, the Promenade Julien Gracq and the Chapel of Notre-Dame du Marillais. On your return from your walk, enjoy the panoramic view of the Loire Valley from the Montglonne esplanade.

Details

n°4090056
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.14 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 20 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 131 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 141 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 157 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 26 ft
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Photos

Church of Notre Dame du Marillais
Evre
Abbey of Saint-Florent-le-Vieil

Description of the walk

Follow the yellow markings.

Start from the Coteaux abbey farm

(S/E) From the abbey farm, head towards Saint-Florent-le-Viel Abbey via the path running alongside the sports fields.

(1) At the panoramic viewpoint over the Loire, next to the abbey, two paths open up before you. Take the one that descends to the left, which will lead you to the Promenade Julien Gracq.

(2) Once on the Promenade Julien Gracq, continue to the left and follow the Loire towards Notre-Dame du Marillais. Pass in front of the Champ des Martyrs.

(3) Just after that, turn left before the Impasse des Lusses. Turn right at the next junction to continue along Rue du Vieux Bourg. Carry straight on, passing the Sanctuary of Notre-Dame du Marillais on your left. At the roundabout, turn right and cross the bridge over the Èvre.

(4) At the end of the bridge, turn immediately right and go down the stairs. At the first junction, continue straight ahead.

(5) A few metres further on, at the second junction, take the small path on the right to follow the yellow markings and walk along the banks of the Loire for about 3 km.

(6) At the junction, leave the banks of the Loire and turn left towards Île Poulas. Continue straight on along the road, then, at the T-junction, turn left to stay on the main road.

(7) At the entrance to Marillais, turn left onto Rue du Seil. At the third junction, turn right onto Rue des Gabelous.

(8) Continue straight on to the Chapelle de la Blardière, then turn right. Follow the road, then turn left onto Rue de la Géjuère. Ignore a turn-off on the left and cross the D751. Continue straight ahead onto a small road.

(9) At the junction, turn left onto Chemin des Potiers. A little further on, cross the road to continue along the same path and pass in front of the Croix de Navarre.

(10) At the three-way junction, veer slightly to the left to continue along Chemin d’Huneau and carry on straight ahead.

(11) At La Lande Pivin, turn right to join the dirt track between two houses. Continue straight ahead, turn right onto Route Les Brosses, then immediately left to cross the hamlet of Les Brosses. Follow the track until you reach the banks of the Èvre.

(12) Follow the Èvre northwards to the bridge you crossed on the way out.

(4) Cross the bridge to return to Notre-Dame du Marillais. At the roundabout, leave the route you have already taken and continue straight on along Route du Marillais for about 400 m.

(13) At the junction, turn right into the small lane and follow the path to the housing estate. Once in the estate, turn left and then cross Route du Marillais. Continue straight ahead along Rue des Coteaux to reach the Ferme Abbatiale des Coteaux (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 148 ft - Abbatiale des Coteaux Farm
  2. 1 : mi 0.24 - alt. 148 ft - Panoramic viewpoint
  3. 2 : mi 0.36 - alt. 36 ft - Julien Gracq Promenade
  4. 3 : mi 0.83 - alt. 36 ft - Impasse des Lusses
  5. 4 : mi 1.19 - alt. 49 ft - Crossroads of the Great Circular Route - barrage sur l'èvre pour moulin à eau
  6. 5 : mi 1.6 - alt. 33 ft - Crossroads - La Loire
  7. 6 : mi 3.89 - alt. 33 ft - Crossroads
  8. 7 : mi 4.77 - alt. 33 ft - Rue du Seil
  9. 8 : mi 4.99 - alt. 85 ft - Chapel of La Blardière
  10. 9 : mi 5.47 - alt. 85 ft - Chemin des Potiers
  11. 10 : mi 6.84 - alt. 95 ft - Chemin de Huneau
  12. 11 : mi 7.02 - alt. 85 ft - Dirt track
  13. 12 : mi 7.63 - alt. 39 ft - barrage sur l'èvre pour moulin à eau
  14. 13 : mi 8.53 - alt. 62 ft - Passage
  15. S/E : mi 9.14 - alt. 148 ft - Abbatiale Farm on the Hillsides

Worth a visit

Saint-Florent-le-Vieil Abbey and Abbey Church:
The abbey is said to have been founded around the tomb of the hermit Florent d’Anjou. Abandoned during the Viking invasions, it was re-established by monks from the Abbey of Saint-Florent in Saumur. Inside the abbey church lies the tomb of the Vendée general Bonchamps, for whom David d’Angers sculpted a true masterpiece, “The Pardon of Bonchamps”. The building is a listed historic monument.

The mouth of the Èvre:
The mouth is unique in that it flows against the current of the Loire. A dyke was built to help the Èvre flow out during river floods. To see it, take the path on the right at the point indicated on the map. Repeated flooding is likely to have led to the abandonment of the site, which was occupied in the 1st and 2nd centuries. Archaeological excavations have revealed numerous fragments of large amphorae and vases.

Notre-Dame du Marillais Sanctuary:
A place of pilgrimage since the apparition of the Virgin to Saint Maurille in 430, the old chapel was replaced by a sanctuary of majestic proportions built between 1890 and 1913 by the architect Beignet. The 40-metre-high square tower, which dominates the surrounding landscape, was built after the First World War. It also features several references to the Vendée’s past, notably the stained-glass window depicting the ‘Champ des Martyrs’.

Croix de Navarre:
This cross-shaped tree was a local curiosity situated in the heart of the countryside, far from any dwellings, at a crossroads from which five dirt tracks led to farms. It is said to have been pruned into this shape by a young farmhand around 1860. As the Croix de Navarre was damaged by the storm in February 2010, a new tree was planted on 16 April 2010.

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

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Reviews and comments

4.1 / 5
Based on 5 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.2 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.2 / 5
Route interest
4 / 5
Petipas
Petipas

Re,
Thank you for your message... This route, which we enjoy – because it's a bit like "our hike" – often receives positive reviews!
Petipas

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general11
general11

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 19, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike along the Loire River, crossing the Evre to reach Le Marillais and returning through the countryside.
St Florent is a historic site of the Vendée wars and pilgrimages to Le Marillais. An easy, well-marked hike that can be enjoyed by the whole family.

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Maminini49
Maminini49

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 30, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : Yes

The walk was a bit too monotonous, though; towards the end, the banks of the Évre are very pleasant

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Petipas
Petipas

Hello!
The “Entre Evre et Loire” route is clearly marked in yellow along its entire length, but it also overlaps with the GR 3 and the Montglonnais trails, marked in white, on certain sections. It is always very busy, especially in summer; in winter, flooding of the Loire makes it impassable...
Petipas.

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kartavan
kartavan

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 02, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

This route allows you to explore Old St Florent and its surroundings.
The description is fairly comprehensive, despite a few inaccuracies. Nevertheless, we were able to follow the yellow markings for a good part of the route.

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Pomme72
Pomme72

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 25, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

It’s a shame it doesn’t say to follow the yellow markings all the way… that would have helped make up for some of the lack of clarity and uncertainty… we’re new to hiking, just to clarify… regarding point 6: we didn’t see the ‘Ile Poulas’ sign, and at point 9 there was no information to indicate we were on the Potters’ Trail… Thank you

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Petipas
Petipas

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 31, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Hello.

This route has been in existence for over 20 years; the YELLOW markings and maintenance are carried out by the municipality of Mauges-sur-Loire.
For your information, a route called “Le Montglonnais” was established in 2019. Also starting from Les Côteaux, it partly follows the “Loire et Evre” trails, but leaves the Loire at the second junction to head south, rejoining the Loire et Evre at Chemin de l’Humeau. It then extends eastwards, skirting the town, joins the Loire via Rue Moret and returns towards the Abbey Church through the narrow streets and paths to the Esplanade. This 11.6 km route is marked with WHITE signposts.
To enhance the Evre and Loire trail (and the Montglonnais), it is possible to join the Chemin Gracq by taking the path that starts at the corner of the football pitch, to the left of the Colonne.
Another point to note is that the route of the GR 3 has been altered and now runs close to the Abbey Church and the Column, before merging with the Montglonnais route. Further on, at Notre Dame du Marillais, the GR 3 no longer follows the Loire but the Evre, rejoining its original route after the Seil...

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