Country:
District:
Driving to start: Arriving via the A85, follow the D347 then, at the roundabout Rond-Point du Fleuret, do not follow the Saumur direction but follow Saumur Nord (Avenue des Fusillés, D347E). Always go straight until crossing the Loire River and arriving on Saumur Island. At the roundabout just past the bridge, turn left towards the "Camping" and go to the end of the street to find a large car park, adjacent to the campsite.
(S/E) From the car park and opposite the campsite, go right to find a path on the the Loire riverside, more precisely the arm of the Loire between the island and the center of Saumur, and the Quai du Marronnier.
(1) Turn right to follow the arm of the Loire River on the left, on the Quai du Marronnier. Ignore all streets on the right. Further on, continue towards the bridge either via Rue de la Marine or on the Chemin Quai de la Marine (if it is not flooded). Meet at the foot of Pont Cessart (bridge) and go up the stairs. At the top, take the bridge on the left.
(2) On the other side, go around the roundabout to take Place de la Bilange opposite, on the right side of the theater. Turn onto the second street on the left, Rue Saint-Jean. Go straight on this street, arrive at a square with a quarter-circle fountain, turn right and find yourself on Place Saint-Pierre, in front of the eponymous church.
(3) Go around the church on the left then return to Place Saint-Pierre.
(3) Head left, then keep left again to pass in front of the half-timbered houses, then turn left at the corner of these houses to follow Montée du Fort. The alley makes a turn to the right, passes over a street and continues with steps to reach Rue des Remparts. Continue straight on Rue Duplessis Mornay then, at the end of the street, follow the Chemin des Remparts, turning left at the end to take the bridge above the street to enter the castle grounds.
(4) In the castle, go straight then go around the castle to the left. Do not return to the bridge taken on arrival but, to leave the castle walls, take the footbridge to the south, on the left when returning from the castle. At the end of this footbridge, go down the stairs on the right to reach a path which passes below the footbridge, and follow it to the right. Pass under the footbridge and, at the intersection with a path, Montée du Petit Genève, follow it to the left to go down and arrive at Rue Jean Jaurès, after a flight of steps. Turn right, then follow the second street on the left, Rue du Relais, to reach Quai Mayaud.
(5) Follow the quay on the left, on the sidewalk or along the Loire riverside (when possible because the sidewalk is unfortunately more of a parking lot than anything else). At the roundabout, continue straight ahead.
(6) At the Place de la République, head left to pass on the left of the small castle which houses the town hall, follow Rue Bonnemère for a few metres then enter the courtyard of the town hall on the right. Coming out through the main entrance, on the Loire side, continue left, pass in front of the theater facade and return to Quai Lucien Gauthier, follow left to arrive, very quickly, at the roundabout.
(2) Take the bridge again then continue to follow, in the opposite direction, the outward route to return to the parking lot and campsite.
(1) Once the discovery of the city itself is complete, it is possible to stop this hike here by returning directly to the (S/E) parking lot on the left. The route proposes to extend the pleasure along the banks of the Loire River, continuing straight on the path, the Loire on the right hand and the campsite on the left. Arrive at the end of the island, at the level of the dam.
(7) Take this opportunity to find yourself in the middle of the river, and walk a hundred meters on the dam, to the footbridge, then retrace your steps.
(7) Continue the path to the right with, this time, the campsite on the left and the Loire River on the right. Arrive at the motorhome area and cross it to find the car park. (S/E)
Tourist office
Moderate 
Visorando member
