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Fontenay-le-Comte walks
Urban circular in Fontenay le Comte
Visorando Member
6.93 mi
+112 ft
-131 ft
3h 15
Moderate
Departure from Fontenay-le-Comte (Vendée)
A superb hike that allows you to discover some of the town centre's attractions and trails, mostly along the Vendée, before returning along a small stream and then an old railway line. There is little elevation gain, making it a very easy route.
From Orbrie along the Vendée
Association / Club / Walk leader
6.96 mi
+577 ft
-597 ft
3h 40
Moderate
Departure from L'Orbrie (Vendée)
A lovely circular walk along the River Vendée and through the Mervent Forest. This circular walk will take you to the Mervent Dam, following part of the Mélusine GRP®.
Around Pissotte
6.83 mi
+413 ft
-410 ft
3h 30
Moderate
Departure from Pissotte (Vendée)
A relatively easy hike with an initial open section along the Vendée towards Fontenay-le-Comte, then back along an old disused railway line. The second section begins with a crossing of vineyards, then immediately enters the forest with paths and trails.
Jean dôs Bois Trail
7.45 mi
+535 ft
-554 ft
3h 55
Moderate
Departure from Saint-Michel-le-Cloucq (Vendée)
Starting from Saint-Michel-le-Cloucq, 5 km north of Fontenay-le-Comte, you will first walk along shaded paths around the Vendée and its tributary, the Ruisseau de la Cornelière. (difficult section, uneven path) then, passing by the Fontaine à l'Ermite, you will cross part of the Mervent forest and reach Saint-Michel via quiet paths and small roads, with beautiful panoramic views.
Le Gué Verdon
6.95 mi
+240 ft
-230 ft
3h 25
Moderate
Departure from Saint-Michel-le-Cloucq (Vendée)
At the start, quiet country lanes with panoramic views of Fontenay-le-Comte and the surrounding countryside; then, after passing through the village of Meilleraie, shaded paths and tracks running alongside the Vendée river not far from the Albert dam, before climbing up to Saint-Michel-le-Cloucq.
The Père de Montfort Cave in the Mervent Forest
6.25 mi
+554 ft
-558 ft
3h 20
Moderate
Departure from Pissotte (Vendée)
From the Saint-Luc roundabout, you will walk along long forest paths to a trail overlooking the Vergnes stream and leading to the Pierre Brune dam. You will then climb stone steps to the Grotte du Père de Montfort and finish the ascent via a wooden staircase. You will then walk along the Mère to the Diet Bridge and join theGR® de Pays de Mélusine, which will take you back to your starting point.
In the Mervent forest along the Vendée
9.89 mi
+643 ft
-617 ft
5h 05
Moderate
Departure from Pissotte (Vendée)
After exploring the Mervent National Forest, a lesser-known but slightly wilder route along the Mervent dam reservoir. Let's set off to explore the banks of the Vendée, passing by the Fontaine à l'Ermite, the Balingue and the Sauvaget site. Quite a programme.
Discovering the Mervent State Forest
10.23 mi
+883 ft
-883 ft
5h 30
Moderate
Departure from Pissotte (Vendée)
A superb hike through the largest forest in the Vendée. The terrain is varied but not particularly difficult, making it a hiker's paradise. Beautiful paths, a dam lake, a climbing site, a leisure park, a hidden cave, remarkable bridges and trees, and a forest that has been explored for many years: this is what I invite you to discover.
Between the plains and the forest at La Meilleraie and Saint-Michel-le-Cloucq
10.36 mi
+522 ft
-492 ft
5h 15
Moderate
Departure from Saint-Michel-le-Cloucq (Vendée)
Set between the plains and the forest, this walk should appeal to keen walkers, both for its length and the variety of terrain it covers. It should also appeal to nature lovers thanks to the different landscapes encountered: plains, hedgerows, forest… The first half of the route is relatively easy (with little elevation gain); the section running alongside the river is a little more technical but doesn’t last very long; and the final section presents no particular difficulties.
The Mervent Dam
6.78 mi
+486 ft
-476 ft
3h 30
Moderate
Departure from L'Orbrie (Vendée)
Circular route through the forest, passing through rolling meadows, then along the Vendée to the dam and the lake shore, on paths and trails that are sometimes a little steep but pleasant in all seasons.
The Hermit's Fountain Trail
3.67 mi
+184 ft
-180 ft
1h 50
Difficult
Departure from L'Orbrie (Vendée)
Starting from the Fontaine-à-l'Ermite roundabout, the trail joins the lake shore and then follows the left bank of the Vendée river up to the Perrure bridge, before climbing up to the Allée de la Fontaine à l'Ermite, which will take you back to the starting point.
Please note that the trail is uneven and involves climbing over rocks along the Vendée.
Le Jaulard and La Fontaine à l'Ermite in the Mervent Forest
5.89 mi
+459 ft
-453 ft
3h 05
Moderate
Departure from L'Orbrie (Vendée)
A circular route that takes you off the beaten track in the heart of the Mervent State Forest, suitable for all seasons. Shortcuts are possible. The GPX track can be very useful.
Meilleraie loop to Saint-Michel-le-Cloucq
4.65 mi
+177 ft
-148 ft
2h 15
Easy
Departure from Saint-Michel-le-Cloucq (Vendée)
Hike around La Meilleraie with a mostly shaded first section and some unpaved paths, forming a pleasant green tunnel in summer. The second part of the circuit is more open, with a section on the plain. This second part can be avoided by going directly from point (6) to point (9).
Around Auchay-sur-Vendée
7.19 mi
+92 ft
-92 ft
3h 25
Moderate
Departure from Auzay (Vendée)
Starting from the Eiffel-style bridge linking Auzay to Chaix (now merged into the commune of Auchay-sur-Vendée).
This route through lush countryside (steep, wooded hillsides, vast fields and meadows) will take you to the Moulin de la Boissière (in the commune of Velluire-sur-Vendée) before reaching the banks of the Vendée at the Massigny Dam.
Discovering Montreuil’s heritage
Tourism professional
4.77 mi
+56 ft
-52 ft
2h 15
Easy
Departure from Montreuil (Vendée) (Vendée)
Montreuil has preserved some traces of its past, including its Romanesque church, the courtyard gate, the Écoué porch, the homes of local dignitaries, wells, and so on. Its landscape of plains and marshes invites you to explore. The town was known as Montreuil-sur-mer until 1945, due to its former location on the edge of the Gulf of Pictons. The former gulf is now occupied by the Marais Poitevin, hence this woodcarving of a heron taking flight, the bird emblematic of wetlands. It is accompanied by the names of the hamlets within the commune: Écoué, Baude, Fraigneau.
Sentier de la Citardière - Mervent Forest
6.87 mi
+600 ft
-584 ft
3h 40
Easy
Departure from Mervent (Vendée)
A short walk in the Forest of Mervent and along the River Mère.
The tour of La Mère via the Grotte du Père de Montford
7.67 mi
+577 ft
-571 ft
4h 00
Moderate
Departure from Mervent (Vendée)
This hike is accessible to all hikers, with a few minor difficulties and one section off the trail, but no major hazards.It starts in the village of Mervent, which overlooks the River La Mêre. A superb viewpoint at the top of the castle ruins offers a view of the meandering river and the surrounding forest.
Massigny circular route via the Auzay marshes and Les Gazettes
5.54 mi
+13 ft
-13 ft
2h 35
Easy
Departure from Le Poiré-sur-Velluire (Vendée)
A circular route partly along the Vendée river, passing through the Marais d’Auzay: a mix of flatlands and marshland!
Lake Mervent - Citardière Château - Pont du déluge
4.41 mi
+174 ft
-174 ft
2h 10
Moderate
Departure from Mervent (Vendée)
There are many pedestrian paths to discover in Mervent forest.
Circular path in the wet marshes of Doix-lès-Fontaines
7.03 mi
+16 ft
-16 ft
3h 15
Easy
Departure from Doix (Vendée)
An easy hike that takes you along the levees created four centuries ago by man to protect the drained marshes from river flooding. You will walk through a landscape entirely created by man, with plantations of pollarded or topped ash trees and rows of trees (poplars) lining the canals.We are in the wet marsh: the route may be impassable in late autumn and winter on a small section. (see practical information).
The Autise and the Xanton dolmens
6.49 mi
+217 ft
-187 ft
3h 10
Moderate
Departure from Xanton-Chassenon (Vendée)
This route offers a wide variety of landscapes. A circular route through the fields on the heights of Xanton, with a 360° panoramic view, joins theGRP® Tour du Pays de Mélusine, which runs alongside rolling meadows before descending back towards the valley. It then joins the signposted Vallée de l’Autise route.
Pierre Brune and Pierre Blanche
6.39 mi
+509 ft
-486 ft
3h 25
Moderate
Departure from Vouvant (Vendée)
A hike best enjoyed in the warmer months on shaded trails in the heart of the Mervent Forest.After a steep climb up the Rocher de Pierre Brune, you’ll reach the viewpoint overlooking the Pierre Blanche climbing site via forest paths and a short stretch of road. You will then descend to the banks of the river known as the Mère, before following the course of the Ruisseau des Verreries to reach the Maison Forestière of the same name. You will discover the Cinq Jumeaux before reaching the Pierre Brune Dam by following part ofthe GRP® Tour du Pays de Mélusine.
La vallée de l'Autise à Xanton
3.20 mi
+33 ft
-33 ft
1h 30
Easy
Departure from Xanton-Chassenon (Vendée)
Une petite boucle sans difficulté avec des sentiers et des chemins qui traversent des prairies en longeant l'Autise jusqu'à Denant puis retour par une piste cyclable à travers les champs.
From Hermenault to the Bois de Saint-Maixent
4.88 mi
+279 ft
-253 ft
2h 30
Moderate
Departure from L'Hermenault (Vendée)
A very pleasant walk in the Hermenault countryside, offering a variety of landscapes ranging from plains to undergrowth and bocage.
Montreuil Marsh Trail
5.57 mi
+7 ft
-10 ft
2h 35
Easy
Departure from Montreuil (Vendée) (Vendée)
Montreuil, in the 85 department, situated between the plains and the marshes, was once located on the shores of the Gulf of Pictons, hence its name Montreuil-sur-Mer until 1945. The commune consists of a market town and four hamlets. Thefirst part of this trail follows small roads and runs alongside three old ports where there are small jetties that once provided access by boat to the cultivated plots: these are the ports of Baude (the most visible), Écoué and, finally, Fraigneau.
The trail is marked in yellow.
Circular route around the Étier du Marais d’Écoué, starting from Baude
5.89 mi
+7 ft
-10 ft
2h 45
Easy
Departure from Montreuil (Vendée) (Vendée)
Starting from the Baude de Montreuil municipal trail, the walk leads into the commune of Vix. The outward and return journeys follow the embankment between the drained marshes of Vix and the wet marshes of Baude. Part of the route follows the path that crosses the drained marshes, protected by the Écoué dyke or embankment
La Cornelière
6.50 mi
+102 ft
-131 ft
3h 05
Moderate
Departure from Mervent (Vendée)
Covering an area of 5,518 hectares, the Mervent-Vouvant forest complex includes a 2,530-hectare state-owned forest. It is home to a rich variety of plant species. The most common species, the sessile oak, can reach a height of 35 metres at 200 years of age.
The suggested route follows paths and forest lanes in the north-eastern part of the forest.
The multitude of existing paths allows you to extend or shorten this walk as you wish.
Around the Jeune Autise in Maillezais
6.94 mi
+46 ft
-46 ft
3h 15
Moderate
Departure from Maillezais (Vendée)
This path between the "wet" and "dry" marshes, passing by a characteristic feature of the marsh (the Aqueduct), will take you from the Romanesque church to the majestic Abbey of Saint-Pierre de Maillezais.
Route des Vals d'Autise 