Fontaine-Chalendray walks

A walk created and signposted by the Randonneurs du Pays de Matha association. This 7km route winds through the countryside and vineyards to the south of the small town of Matha.

A walk created and signposted by the Randonneurs du Pays de Matha association. This 11km route winds through the countryside and vineyards to the south of the small town of Matha.

A pleasant walk offering a variety of scenery around Paizay-le-Chapt. This route offers beautiful views of the countryside as you approach the Forest of Aulnay further south, the lovely Bois de la Griffière, the hamlet of Les Rompis – a remnant of 15th-century land clearing – the Chemin de la Rochelle, which follows the route of an ancient major thoroughfare, and the Puits de Pouffond.

This walk, combining heritage and nature, allows you to discover one of the finest surviving Romanesque churches, a superb dovecote, wash houses and the keep of the old castle.

At the edge of the Aulnay Forest, the history of the Knights Templar, pilgrims, salt workers and winegrowers comes to life through the old paths, vineyard plots and the Commandery. This walk takes you past the rest areas at La Chaume and La Chauvière, the church at Ensigné, the Chemin de Contré and the Chemin Saunier, the Templar Commandery, the oaks of Fief-Louis, the stork well at Le Lac and the Trou de l’Ormeau.

A walk in the commune of Courcerac, a circular route starting from the nature area and its pond, winding through the vineyards and along a few forest paths.

A lovely walk through the bocage countryside south of Javarzay, with its castle, and Lusseau. This walk, which takes you on both sides of the River Boutonne, is very pleasant and offers a lovely escape into the countryside right on the outskirts of Chef-Boutonne, a small town that is also well worth a visit.

A pleasant walk in the Boutonne Valley near Fontenille-Saint-Martin-d’Entraigues. Its moderate length and very gentle gradient make it a family-friendly walk. This route passes through an area of significant biodiversity, particularly at the Chaumes Pelés, which is a nature reserve home to a diverse range of wildlife and several species of orchids.

Here is an easy walking route through the countryside around the village of Aujac. Vineyards, meadows, hedgerows and copses – a peaceful, bucolic setting.

A pleasant walk across the plains, partly along the course of the Bellesebonne. The route is particularly flat (less than 9 m elevation gain). It passes through the villages of Villefollet and Maillé.

A very pleasant walk with little elevation gain across the plain around the villages of Lusseray, Chérigné and Luché-sur-Brioux, offering views of beautiful wash houses and fountains flowing into the River Dauphin. The quality of the paths (over 50% of the route) and the quiet country lanes (over 30% of the route) make for a peaceful walk, allowing you to enjoy the shade and the scenery throughout the journey.

A pleasant route through varied terrain. Moderate elevation gain. Offers the chance to discover two traditional regional wash houses and historic water-based structures, as well as the resurgence of the Somptueuse.

A pleasant walk through a bocage landscape of open fields and woods. There are some wonderful discoveries to be made, both in terms of the scenery and the heritage of the Poitou region, including, amongst others, the magnificent Château de Jouhé and the church at Pioussay with its wall frescoes. In the villages along the route, there are beautiful traditional houses, some of which have been restored and others currently undergoing restoration.

A pleasant hike to discover the southern part of the Chizé forest. This route offers a peaceful and shaded moment in nature in a forest with remarkable trees.

A route to explore the Charente wine-growing landscape of the Fins Bois and traces of the past (Gallo-Roman era, 12th-century church, lime kiln, porches of Charente properties).

A short walk across the plain between Vernoux-sur-Boutonne and Périgné. It offers the chance to discover the traditional architectural heritage of Vernoux-sur-Boutonne and the natural heritage, such as the Foncoubert wash house and fountain, and the landscapes of the plain.

A pleasant little walk along both banks of the Béronne between Vernoux-sur-Boutonne and Vilaine (de Périgné). Beautiful scenery and some lovely discoveries, such as the wash house at Foncoubert (Foucambert according to other sources), fine examples of traditional architecture and a delightful natural environment.

A pleasant walk through a little-visited part of the Mellois plateau, starting from Saint-Génard. Along the route, you’ll discover the Berlande springs at Puyberland, as well as a lovely view of Melzéar Castle beyond Paizay-le-Tort.

Perched on the heights of Romanesque Saintonge at an altitude of 78 metres, this small village lies at the heart of the Cognac vineyards. Scattered around the village centre, fifteen hamlets share the 271 inhabitants amidst the tranquillity of the countryside. The landscape consists mainly of farmland, vineyards and woodland. As the seasons change, discover a rich botanical and wildlife heritage worth preserving.

A pleasant walk combining heritage discoveries with a chance to enjoy nature.

Saint-Sulpice-de-Cognac is pleasantly located between the marshlands of the Antenne River and limestone hillsides. There, are hidden the remains of the Agrippa Roman road as well as forgotten local railroad. Cherves-Richemont is graced with the Antenne River and offers an unexpected diversity of landscapes. Its historic heritage is particularly rich: Romanesque churches, Château Chesnel, watermills, manor houses….

A beautiful walk that takes you across three rivers: the Coudrières stream, the Berlande and the Marseillaise. The route offers varied landscapes, combining the Mellois plateau with its diverse crops and the valley floors as you cross the three rivers that cut through the plateau in this area.

A short walk combining heritage discoveries with a chance to enjoy nature. It takes in several wells, a pond, bread ovens, remarkable trees and a beautiful viewpoint.

A pleasant route in a little-known corner of the Mellois plateau. It allows you to discover varied landscapes, partly by following an old railway line converted into a path, crossing hamlets (Le Petit Beauvais, La Rorserie, Etrochon) with traditional buildings, sometimes running alongside the Berlande with its Moulin de Génebrie mill, and ending at the Cure du Prieuré de Mazières sur Béronne and its wash house. This walk follows part of theGR®655, one of the routes to Santiago de Compostela.

This walk takes you along the path used by the people of Melleran to reach Les Alleuds via ‘le Chemin de l’Abbaye’. The route takes you through the Bois du Juge, past the villages and their limestone buildings characteristic of the Pays Mellois, whilst also allowing you to discover a rich heritage of trees: lime, chestnut, oak and walnut, amongst others. For your information, the word ‘alleu’ dates back to the 10th century and refers to land without a lord.

This pleasant route will take you through several charming little villages that have retained their character. The first part of the route follows quiet, little-used roads, ideal for enjoying the peaceful landscape. The second part mainly follows dirt tracks, closer to nature. Throughout the hike, you will regularly follow the Belle and the Béronne, two rivers that bring freshness and gentleness to the route. You will also discover some traces of the local heritage, such as mills, wash houses and other water-related structures, which bear witness to the rural history of the region. A varied route, combining villages, nature and heritage, perfect for a rejuvenating walk.

A lovely walk on the Mellois plateau. Very little elevation gain. An easy route offering a glimpse of the countryside surrounding the town of Périgné. This walk follows good farm tracks, often shaded, and offers a lovely glimpse of a still-wooded area of the Mellois plateau. The quality of the paths also makes this hike suitable for mountain biking.

A route designed to help you discover springs and wash houses located near the River Belle between Périgné and Montigné. The route alternates between farm tracks and quiet country lanes (as evidenced by the grass growing there). The walk passes close to the Château de la Forge and alongside the Château de la Guittonnière

This walk offers the chance to explore the varied hedgerow landscape around Périgné between the rivers Belle and Béronne. It is also an opportunity to see Saint-Martin’s Church in Périgné, the wash houses at La Fontaine, Paillette and La Grésolle, the Belle Valley, the Prérault Pond, and the châteaux of La Guittonnière and La Grésolle. The route mainly follows farm tracks, with a few sections along quiet roads.

A very nature-oriented walk in the Chizé Forest, starting from the Maison Forestière du Pas Trop Fort. The heavily shaded route allows you to explore a well-structured forest in the first section, with forest lanes, paths, etc. The second section follows a path that winds more, breaking up the monotony one sometimes feels in the forest.

In order to preserve the richness of its environmental heritage, the Grand Boussseau Forest has been designated a Sensitive Natural Area. As such, it benefits from the Deux-Sèvres Departmental Council's environmental preservation and education policy. This short trail invites you to discover this protected environment.

This beautiful, undulating walk will take you from the fountains of Ladoux, Les Guérinauds and La Faye to the Charente.

At the westernmost tip of Charente, Louzac-Saint-André, with its two villages and numerous hamlets, is a typical commune of the Borderies region in Saintonge. These rural paths wind through alternating wooded areas and vineyards. From valleys to hills, in addition to beautiful views of the Romanesque churches of Saint-Martin de Louzac and Saint-André, walkers will discover two remarkable natural landscapes, the Ri Bellot Valley and the Vallée de La Croix.

Follow the Voie Verte, the former P'tit Rouillat railway line. Walk through vineyards, small woods and farmland before reaching the Nouère in the charming village of Gouthiers.

The banks of the Charente will greet you at the start and end of this route, which is quite hilly and open. Along the way, the beautiful Tonne fountain invites you to take a pleasant, refreshing break.

A very natural route, crossing the northern tip of the Chizé Forest in the first section and the countryside to the west of Marigny in the second. This route, with its varied and relaxing landscapes, offers a peaceful experience. You may spot does or roe deer and birds in this area. Marigny was the birthplace of a great Poitevin bard: Yves Rabaut.

A pleasant walk through the countryside around Marigny, taking in the northern edge of the Chizé Forest. This route offers a chance to get close to nature away from major roads, with varied scenery. It’s a place where you might spot roe deer or birds.