François walks

This hike will take you along the meandering Chambon, Musson and Sèvre Niortaise rivers, passing through villages with beautifully restored stone houses and paths that cross vast plains of cereal crops stretching as far as the eye can see.

A pleasant hike in the Sèvre Niortaise Valley, on the outskirts of Niort. Despite the city being quite close, this route allows you to discover a preserved natural area with good paths. The alternating passage between small hills and valley bottoms offers beautiful landscapes. Along the way, you will get a beautiful view of the Château de Vandelaigne and a few other architectural gems.

A pleasant hike around the Lambon, which is crossed several times via magnificent stone bridges. It begins with a bucolic route between old stone walls, traces of the laborious work of our ancestors.

This hike takes place in the commune of La Crèche, along dirt tracks and tarmac sections. The trail runs alongside and crosses the Sèvre Niortaise river several times. It passes through several villages in La Crèche. You will come across several family cemeteries, some of which are buried under brambles. Along the route, there are four wash houses: Pairé near the football stadium, Ruffigny, Saint-Martin and at the Barilleau mill. In Breloux, there is an old temple and a deconsecrated church.

A beautiful hike to discover Cherveux with its temple, castle, well and Ripe-Cul staircase, the Plan pump (1880) and a sundial (1836). Along the route, you will find several family cemeteries, the Trousse Chemise wash house, the Mousson valley, the old Truite windmill, the Cherveux - Saint-Christophe lake, hundred-year-old chestnut trees and the Logis de Seneuil.

A bucolic route with some elevation, partly following the paths marked out by the municipality around the Brangeard, Marcusson and Musson rivers. Some sections are steep and others may be flooded depending on the season.

A route along shaded paths, between mossy stone walls and on white paths or small, quiet roads, around the Hermitain stream and the Sèvre Niortaise. Stone footbridges, a 12th-century bridge, renovated old mills and many other points of interest make this hike well worth the effort. This route, marked in yellow, has been modified and shortened due to the closure of the Grand Moulin footbridge, which is awaiting restoration.

This hike starting from the Pont de Sainte-Néomaye car park (on the banks of the Sèvre Niortaise) is an excellent suggestion. It is a route that allows you to discover the rural charm of the Deux-Sèvres, between valleys and small typical hamlets, while remaining accessible to all levels. Dirt tracks, forest paths and small tarmac roads (local roads). The Chemin de la Crépinière is a green introduction that runs partly along wooded areas. The gradient is very gentle, ideal for warming up your legs at a leisurely pace. The circular hamlet route: Mons, Fenioux and Kadoré. The route then revolves around three authentic villages: Mons: A peaceful passage where you can appreciate the local stone architecture. Fenioux: A central crossing point that often offers beautiful views of the surrounding countryside. Kadoré: The last hamlet before heading back down to the valley. Gently descend towards the banks of the Sèvre Niortaise.

A pleasant hike on either side of the Lambon at the gateway to Niort in a little-known, peaceful countryside with varied landscapes. This route also allows you to discover a high-quality ancient built heritage with beautiful properties, a dovecote, etc.

Mélusine accompanies you near her castle in Coudray-Salbart, along the peaceful banks of the Sèvre Niortaise, towards old hamlets and ancient dwellings with imposing dovecotes.

Hike starting from Ricou. The trail first joins the approximately five-hectare Ricou quarry geosite, located on the right bank of the Sèvre Niortaise river in the commune of Azay-le-Brûlé. It consists of an open-air quarry formerly exploited for its limestone of varying types used as building material (rubble stone). Leaving the site, the route descends into the Sèvre Niortaise valley and leads to Veillon, before turning right onto the other bank of the river to reach the first houses of Sainte-Néomaye. You will then have to cross the Sèvre again to return to Ricou after passing through La Corbelière.

A short route in the countryside, near the water, with beautiful monuments, including wash houses.

This unmarked hike will first take you through the village of Augé and its narrow streets, then along paths that will lead you to the Montbrune stream via several footbridges and through a few pretty villages with their wash houses. The end of the route is on the old Deux-Sèvres tramway line (TDS).

A pleasant hike around Aigonnay, offering a wonderful opportunity to discover a rich architectural and natural heritage. In particular, the Logis du Breuil, the wash houses and fountains of Arrignon, Trébot, etc., and beautiful landscapes along the Aigonnay river.

A pleasant hike in hilly terrain around the Egray River and its tributaries. It offers beautiful landscapes and allows you to discover a rich heritage of ancient buildings (Château de la Pimpelière, houses, farm buildings, etc.). The natural heritage is not to be outdone, with the Planche de Rochard and the Rochers de la Chaise, for example.

This route allows you to discover: the church of the former parish of Mairé, the porch of an old farm in Haut-Mairé, the old wash house in Bas-Mairé, the Motte Saint-Denis, the Saint-Pierre church and the 12th-century Hosannière Cross. All this while travelling through the countryside on pleasant flat paths that cross the Guirande (a tributary of the Sèvre Niortaise).