(S) Starting point from Saint-Germain Church.
Facing the church, head to your left. Go straight on to the D148 walking past Rue du Lavoir on your left. On the D148, turn right until Rue des Guimblots, on your left. Head down this road and at the end, turn left and then an immediate right.
Keep heading straight along Chemin de la Tour which goes right-left before arriving at a place called ‘La Tour’. Turn right at a 90° angle while remaining on Chemin de la Tour, until you reach a crossroads with the D148. Turn left, then around 100m further down the road, turn onto the lane on the right (1).
After around 500m, head to the left (2). Walk straight on for about 1km and carry on on the other side of the first junction. Keep heading straight at the next three crossings until you reach Route de Pruneau(3).
There turn right. Walk straight ahead for about 1km, cross “Haut-Pruneau” hamlet and at the other end (do not go as far as “Bas-Pruneau”), turn left on to Chemin de la Bonne Chauffe.
After 150m, turn right and go straight on for around 900m until Route de la Chagnée (D151). Cross over and follow Chemin de Mauriac which will veer to the right towards a junction (4).
There, take a left and keep heading straight at the next two crossings. At the 3rd crossing (5), turn right. At the next fork (6), turn left. Head straight on then go left and at the next crossing (7), go right.
Keep heading straight until you reach the place called ‘Chez Guérin’, then go right on to Route de Coulonges. Carry straight on then take the second white path to your right. Turn left after 100m then head right where several paths cross each other.
Walk about 100m then turn left. You'll go past Moulin (Mill) de Fanaud (8).
Keep heading straight along Chemin du Moulin de Fanaud until you reach the road, then turn left (9). . Head 300m up the road, then turn right on to Route de Coulonges returning to your starting point in front of the church.
Gimeux was built on a hillside overlooking the valley and marshlands of the river Né and enjoys a flourishing farming activity: meadows and cereal fields in the valley, vineyards on the hills. Ancient burial sites and the outline of the old Roman road called ‘Chemin Boisné’ are revealing of the ancestral occupation of the land. The parish church dates back to the 12th century. Also marking the landscape are an old chapel as well as the remains of a windmill on the Fanaud hillside.
Technical sheet
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Activity: Walking
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Distance: 10.37 km
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Calculated time: 3h 15
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Difficulty: Easy
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Return to departure point: Yes
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Vertical gain: + 115 m
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Vertical drop: - 114 m
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Highest point: 76 m
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Lowest point: 10 m
Description
Waypoints
- S/E : km 0 - alt. 13 m
- 1 : km 1.36 - alt. 39 m - D148
- 2 : km 1.85 - alt. 30 m - Junction, turn left
- 3 : km 3.9 - alt. 65 m - Route de Pruneau, turn left
- 4 : km 7.14 - alt. 12 m - Junction, turn left
- 5 : km 7.43 - alt. 11 m - Junction, turn right
- 6 : km 7.58 - alt. 22 m - Fork, go left
- 7 : km 7.92 - alt. 11 m - Bend, go right
- 8 : km 9.45 - alt. 61 m - Moulin de Fanaud
- 9 : km 10.07 - alt. 33 m - Junction, turn left
- S/E : km 10.37 - alt. 12 m
Practical information
Follow the blue waymarks. Route also suitable for mountain bikes.
In the nearby area
(S) Saint-Germain Church – 12th century (see information on the façade of the church)
(8) Moulin de Fanaud: windmill probably dating back to the 18th century
Chapel at the north entrance of the village, called chapel Notre-Dame de Pitié and probably dating back to the 17th century.
Reviews and comments
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The GPS track and description are the property of the author.