Between the Loire and the hillsides in Parnay

A hilly route combining the Loire, vineyards, forest and troglodyte dwellings.

Please note: part of the route along the Loire is impassable in the event of flooding. Take care during the hunting season.

Details

945235
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 11.94 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 40 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 88 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 86 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 100 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 28 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Departure: Parnay (car park on the banks of the Loire) - Markings: Yellow

(S/E) From the car park, take the D947 road on your right, then turn right at the first road. Continue to the banks of the Loire.

(1) Turn right, follow the Loire for about 1.2 km and then turn right at the fourth road. Pass the water treatment plant and continue to the D947.

(2) Turn right, and after the La Gabelle restaurant, turn left. At the crossroads, continue straight on to the wash house.

(3) Turn left onto Rue Bideaux, then take the second right. After about 50 metres, the road gives way to a path. Follow this path and continue straight ahead at the next two intersections. Return to the road.

(4) Turn left, then take the path directly on your right and continue straight ahead until you reach the Pierre Percée crossroads.

(5) Turn right, then left. Follow this path until you reach the road. Cross over and continue to the intersection.

(6) Turn left, then right. At the next four crossroads, continue straight ahead. Continue to the houses in the hamlet of Le Marconnay.

(7) Turn left, then right and return to the D947 road.

(8) Turn right and take the second street on your right.

(9) Turn left onto La Basse Rue. At the intersection, continue straight ahead and then leave the road for the path.

(10) Turn slightly right, then left and right again. Return to the road and turn left. Continue to the next intersection.

(11) Turn left, then left again onto Rue André Sanzay. At the next intersection, take the small path on the left. Return to the starting point (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 32 m - Car park on the banks of the Loire
  2. 1 : km 0.82 - alt. 29 m - Path along the banks of the Loire - La Loire
  3. 2 : km 2.35 - alt. 32 m - On the right D947
  4. 3 : km 2.87 - alt. 40 m - Wash house
  5. 4 : km 4.22 - alt. 78 m - Wine Route on the left
  6. 5 : km 5.87 - alt. 100 m - Carrefour de la Pierre Percée
  7. 6 : km 7.76 - alt. 85 m - Path on the left
  8. 7 : km 10.37 - alt. 48 m - Marconnay
  9. 8 : km 10.57 - alt. 32 m - Rue des Ducs d'Anjou
  10. 9 : km 10.89 - alt. 33 m - On the left, La Basse Rue.
  11. 10 : km 11.31 - alt. 45 m - Rue du Montoir
  12. 11 : km 11.56 - alt. 63 m - Rue de l'église
  13. S/E : km 11.94 - alt. 32 m - Car park on the banks of the Loire

Notes

Worth a visit

Places to see
- Saint-Pierre Church (11th century)
- The stately homes: Château de Parnay, Château de Targé, Château du Marconnay
- The "Saumur-Champigny" appellation vineyard
- Le Clos d'entre les Murs, listed as a historic monument
- The troglodyte houses on the hillside
- The flora and fauna of the banks of the Loire

Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 8 reviews

Reliability of the description
5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.9 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
Maqroll
Maqroll

Overall rating : 4.5 / 5

Date of your route : May 29, 2025
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Walk done at the end of May 2025. The route is very varied, and that's its strong point: the banks of the Loire (which you don't see much of anyway), crossing the village of Parnay, vineyards and forest. Nothing exceptional either... An anecdote that may be of interest to some: the route crosses the Greenwich meridian. It's very easy to follow the route without getting lost; the only slight ambiguity concerns the starting point, as there are four successive car parks along the road. All are well located on the route but I suggest you park in the bakery car park, the largest of the four.

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CACOIN
CACOIN

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 15, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant stroll along the drystone shelter of the Loire with its birds to the vineyards of Saumur-Champigny, ending with the forest and a few troglodyte houses in Parna.

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Localumoma
Localumoma

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 10, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Very beautiful landscape. The Loire, the vineyards, the forest. Very pleasant.

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Michel Garet
Michel Garet

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 03, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Problem with the location of the starting point. Very confusing on the map, no precise details or landmarks.
Following the QR code location, we ended up 300 metres from the intended point.
We found the starting point... on the way back from the walk.

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mvaban
mvaban

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 08, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very varied landscapes (banks of the Loire, vineyards and forest). No particular difficulty.

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Claudia49
Claudia49

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 16, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very beautiful walk, with views of the hillsides and the Loire, passing through the vineyards. Highly recommended.

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Géraud de BOISSET
Géraud de BOISSET

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 21, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very beautiful walk in autumn on a sunny day. The route is not difficult. It is well marked in yellow and the description is reliable. I highly recommend this hike, which I would rate 3 stars.
We particularly enjoyed walking along these paths, alternating between the banks of the Loire, vine-covered hillsides, wooded areas and moorland, almost all of which were unpaved. Be careful in the height of summer, as it can get very hot along much of the route, which is exposed.
After point 6, we took a slight detour by turning left at the third crossroads and then right onto the Jean Brevet path. This takes you past the beautiful 15th and 16th century church of Souzay (with benches in the shade). It's only slightly longer, and the little church is well worth the detour. Then, after crossing the D947, we took the Loire embankment eastwards until we reached point No. 1 and returned to the town hall car park.

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calou49
calou49

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 16, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A beautiful walk alternating between vineyards and woods.
Beautiful views of the surrounding hills and vineyards, a beautiful forest trail to revisit in autumn when the colours will be magnificent. Passage through interesting troglodyte areas
It's very varied, I recommend it.

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