The Hyrôme and its old mills in Chemillé-en-Anjou

Stroll along the meandering Hyrôme river in a picturesque, steep-sided valley and discover the remains of the many mills that line this trail. An ideal hike for combining heritage and nature!

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 15.70 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 55 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 150 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 157 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 92 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 41 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Depart from Saint-Pierre Church in Chemillé en-Anjou, next to the Château des Cloîtres. Follow the blue markings.

(S/E) Go down Rue de Valbourg and join the D160.

(1) Turn right after the bridge, then cross the meadow along the river and over the footbridge.

(2) Go around the water treatment plant on the left and turn left into the meadow (view of the Château de l'Écho) to join the winding road that descends to the old mill at Roche Jeannette

(3) Cross the river and turn right after opening the gate. Follow the Hyrôme to the site of the Girôme mill, where you cross the river.

(4) Turn right and continue between the river and the Étang de Sénéchaux pond on your right to reach the Sénechaux mill.

(5) Cross the Hyrôme twice. Turn left until the next crossroads, then turn right.

(6) Follow the path uphill to the right and continue along the tarmac road. At the next crossroads, turn left, then right along the path for about 100 metres and left again. Descend towards the Hyrôme via a steep path.

(7) Continue right towards Moulin de l'Étang and Petit Débit until you reach Moulin Neuf. Cross the river and go up the tarmac road for 100 m.

(8) Take the path on the right to reach the old Moulin d'Argogne. Pass under the Hyrôme Viaduct (A87).

(9) Pass by the Moulin de Drapras (now a guest house) and continue to the Pont de Couton.

(10) Go up the path on the left and pass by the Épinay farm and the bridge over the motorway. Continue along the tarmac path to La Ferté.

(11) At the Segré crossroads, take the stone path opposite and then turn left to rejoin the Hyrôme via a steep-sided valley. Follow the river (view of the Vienne site) to return to the outward route.

(6) Turn right in the opposite direction to the outward route (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 86 m - Eglise Saint-Pierre (Chemillé-en-Anjou)
  2. 1 : km 0.36 - alt. 64 m - Bridge
  3. 2 : km 0.86 - alt. 67 m - Wastewater treatment plant
  4. 3 : km 1.56 - alt. 59 m - Moulin de la Roche-Jeannette
  5. 4 : km 2.26 - alt. 58 m - Girôme Mill
  6. 5 : km 3.09 - alt. 54 m - Sénéchaux Mill
  7. 6 : km 3.62 - alt. 60 m - Crossroads of the circular
  8. 7 : km 4.81 - alt. 75 m - Fork towards Moulin de l'Étang
  9. 8 : km 6.29 - alt. 69 m - Fork towards the old Argogne Mill
  10. 9 : km 7.38 - alt. 50 m - Moulin de Drapras
  11. 10 : km 7.83 - alt. 41 m - Couton Bridge
  12. 11 : km 10.09 - alt. 90 m - Segré crossroads
  13. S/E : km 15.7 - alt. 86 m - Eglise Saint-Pierre (Chemillé-en-Anjou)

Notes

Alternative route:
(5) There are two options for returning to (S/E).

  • return via the reverse route of the outward journey, following the attached map.
  • take the road on the left and arrive at Saint-Pierre Church in Chemillé.

21% paved trail.

Worth a visit

Saint-Pierre Church
At the start or end of your hike, take a detour to Saint-Pierre Church, which has preserved some elements of its 11th-century Romanesque architecture and its 13th-century portal. It overlooks the old village of Saint-Pierre and houses the stained glass window of the "Pater des Vendéens", a scene that took place on the square on 11 April 1793, during the Wars of the Vendée. Next to it, the Château des Cloîtres and its adjoining trail is the starting point for a 5 km interpretive trail on the textile industry in the Chemillois region.

The mills and bridges
The Hyrôme river rises in Saint-Georges-des-Gardes and flows into the Layon 28 km further on. It once powered 29 mills, the remains of which can be seen along the route: La Roche-Jeannette, Girôme, Sénéchaux, Argogne, Drapras, etc.
You will also have the opportunity to cross some very old bridges, including the Couton bridge, which is very photogenic with its three arches and marks the furthest point of the walk.

The Camifolia Garden in Chemillé (just a 12-minute walk from Saint-Pierre Church).
In the heart of lush natural surroundings, you will touch, smell, taste and certainly discover strange species of plants previously unknown to you across 3.5 hectares!
Explore the six themed gardens: the scent garden, the local crops garden, the toxic and medicinal plants garden, the flavours garden, the fibres and colours garden and, last but not least, the botanical garden.

Reviews and comments

4.1 / 5
Based on 7 reviews

Reliability of the description
3.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
User 15472473

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 10, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A very scenic route along the river. The signposting could be more precise.

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Michel PASSELANDE
Michel PASSELANDE

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 27, 2025
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

I would like to add to my review dated 13 October 2025. Do not rely on the elevation gain indicated in the description of this hike. It is not 150 m but more than 300 m of elevation gain and loss. This information is consistent with several people with whom I completed this route on 12 October 2025.
This is so that hikers are not caught off guard when embarking on this route.

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Michel PASSELANDE
Michel PASSELANDE

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 13, 2025
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A superb hike along the Hyrôme, done as a group and enjoyed by everyone. I would recommend doing the circular in the opposite direction so that you do the paved section first, which is naturally less interesting.
We were lucky enough to do this route in dry weather. It's a real treat. It is very well maintained. It has relatively frequent ascents and descents and is very varied.
I have nothing in particular to say about the description as we followed the GPX track on my watch.
I highly recommend it.

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manuuher
manuuher
• Edited:

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 15, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike along this stream: the Hyrôme!
You cross this stream countless times, allowing you to admire the waterway from several angles. But in other places, vegetation covers a large part of it. Not to mention the water lilies!
There are also beautiful rocks, and some sections are almost reminiscent of the mountains!
The only regret is that the GPX track is very approximate in some places.
For example, at point (7) (and not (6)), you have to go down the steep path to follow the stream and not follow the GPX track, which seems to say that you should stay on the balcony. This is tricky because a path does seem to be forming.
At point (8), there is no need to join the road, and the route takes you through private property. The path shown on the map is the correct one and allows you to continue the route.
However, there is little chance of getting lost, as the path is very well marked and clearly defined.
The highlight of the walk is this magnificent bridge.
The return journey is along the road, which is less pleasant, but there is a very clear view of the region, allowing you to enjoy the landscape.

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SOURICE
SOURICE

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 06, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

a very beautiful, well-marked walk, made interesting by its mills

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FrançoisAngers
FrançoisAngers

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 10, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

PLEASE NOTE: error in the route: at point number 6, you must descend along the stream and not continue to point 7; otherwise, you will have to turn back 200 metres after point 7
So: follow the blue markings throughout the hike
Otherwise, it's a very beautiful hike!
Well done!

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jb2tine
jb2tine

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 19, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Hello,
The hike is superb and accessibility is good up to the Hyrome viaduct (2 km from the end of the route), which is closed for repairs, leaving a good part to discover.
You can return via the same route, which avoids a section of road that is not very interesting.
Kind regards

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