Between Ligueure and Chambon in Azay-le-Brûlé

The car park is located at the Roman bridge, which can be reached via the D8 (the road linking Saint-Maixent-l’École to Cherveux), then by turning right just after the Bédane bridge, having travelled approximately 1.5 km from Cerzeau.

(S/E) Set off along the access path to the Roman bridge heading north-west. At the road, turn left, then at the bend, take the path opposite leading uphill, which is closed to all motorised vehicles. Ignore the path on the right and continue to the road. Turn right and follow this road carefully for 250 m until you reach the first unpaved track on the right.

(1) Follow this track straight on to La Rochette.

(2) Head left towards Coutant. At the entrance to the village, take Rue de la Forge, then, at the next junction, turn right onto Chemin des Borderies and walk downhill to the wash house.

(3) Turn right, walk past the wash house, then cross the Ligueure via the footbridge.

(4) At the dirt track, go straight on, negotiate the left-hand bend, then keep to the right at the Fork in the road. Reach La Cotinière, continue along the small road to the junction with the access road to La Folie. Turn right onto the descending track until you reach a crossroads.

(5) Follow the path on the left until you reach the road. Turn right towards La Rénolière, continue straight on along the uphill road, ignoring the path on the right at the bend, and you’ll reach Mautré.

(6) Turn right onto Chemin des Champs Baudière until you reach the next junction. Turn left onto Rue de la Rénolière. Walk past the pesticide-free area and turn right onto Chemin des Filatières until you reach the T-junction, ignoring the road on the left.

(7) Turn left onto Rue de la Grande Cheintre, cross the road carefully and head straight on down the path. Ignore the path on the right and continue to the small road. Turn left onto it and, opposite No. 34, take the path on the right leading downhill. Pass a wash house on the right and continue until you reach a dirt track after passing between large stones twice.

(8) Turn right, then left opposite the bins to rejoin the road. Cross the bridge over the Chambon and carry on to the first path on the left, which you take. At the next three-way junction, turn right until you reach the next three-way junction.

(9) Take the path on the left which climbs up to the road. Just before the road, you can visit the Puy Belin wash house, situated at the end of the path on the left. At the road, turn left, ignore the Impasse du Beugnon, then turn right onto the Chemin du Pommier.

(10) Take the path on the right towards the Chemin du Procheteau. Walk past the Fosse aux Loups and continue to the road, which you follow to the right.

(11) Turn left, then immediately keep left onto Rue des Champs Chartier. Ignore the road on the right and continue along a path lined with walls until you reach a four-way junction. Turn right.

(12) Carry on straight ahead along the path which will soon overlook Le Chambon. At the next junction, continue downhill until you reach the Roman Bridge (S/E).

As this walk takes place on paths, some of which may be quite wet in wet weather, and also on stony sections, you should wear suitable footwear.

You’ll be walking along a short stretch of the D8, so please take care.

This route is not signposted. If you come across any yellow signposts, ignore them. It is safer to follow the written description.

There are no water points or toilets, though there may be a shelter at Mautré.

(5) In wet weather, you can avoid this section by turning right and then immediately left onto the path leading up to the road.

Azay-le-Brûlé is a commune with a population of almost 2,000, covering an area of 22 km². It is known as the ‘commune of 12 villages’.
There are around twenty wash houses. The priory church of Saint-Barthélémy is no longer used for worship. The Roman bridge spanning the Chambon not far from Valette replaced a ford on the route linking Poitiers to the sea and was restored in the early 1990s.
The site of the former Ricou quarry has been developed as part of the ‘Man and Stone’ project and is open to the public free of charge.