Layon (rivière) à compléter walks

A lovely walk alternating between streams, vineyards, hillsides and historical discoveries. It's also a great way to learn interesting facts about the vineyard thanks to the information boards dotted along part of the route. The route is marked in yellow by the Communauté de Communes des Coteaux du Layon, which offers this circuit.

Discover a magnificent, rugged landscape with exceptional panoramic views and a wealth of flora and fauna all along the Layon. You are in the Coteaux du Pont-Barré Nature Reserve and among the vineyards of the Layon hillsides of Saint-Lambert du Lattay. Discover Pont-Barré, famous for the victory of the Vendéens against the Republicans on 18 and 19 September 1793.

Discover the Layon, the surrounding vineyards and an episode from the Vendée wars.

A lovely walk along pleasant paths. Must-sees: panoramic views, vineyards, the beautiful village of Chaudefonds-sur-Layon, La Tranchée and the Malécots Mine, the village of La Haie Longue, the Sainte-Barbe-des-Mines Chapel… A lovely day out in store. Suitable for all seasons (unless the Layon river bursts its banks).

A superb hike on the slopes of Layon, among the vineyards, between Louet and Layon. This hike follows theGR®3trail, which is very well marked in red and white.

A pleasant walk, starting from Beaulieu-sur-Layon, heading towards the Beaulieu Forest. Along the way, discover the Château de l’Orée. In the forest, the route follows various types of paths, from a wide avenue to a narrow track. The rest of the route offers breathtaking views of the Layon hillsides as it descends to the village of Rablay-sur-Layon via the steep Sillanderie path. On the way back to Beaulieu-sur-Layon, the route passes the Château de la Mulonnière, then takes the Rue du Moulin des Cinq, which offers magnificent views of the surrounding countryside.

A lovely, easy walk through the vineyards on the hillsides of Concourson-sur-Layon. A few windmills and vineyard huts can be seen along the way, and the walk ends at a lovely spot near the river, the Layon, which has given its name to the local sweet wine: Coteaux du Layon.

The Puss in Boots Walk in Cléré-sur-Layon takes its name from a rather unusual local legend. The route, which stretches for 17 km between Anjou and Poitou, passes through the neighbouring village of Passavant-sur-Layon. It is said that this village inspired Charles Perrault to write his famous tale. The nave of Passavant church houses a tomb bearing the name ofthe Count of Caravas, which is said to have directly inspired the famous title of the cat’s master: the Marquis of Carabas.Cléré-sur-Layon, a small rural village, is situated in the south of the Saumur region, on the border with the Deux-Sèvres. The Layon, a tributary of the Loire which flows through the commune from west to east, has carved out a steep-sided valley here, through which a picturesque footpath winds, offering a perfect vantage point from which to explore the village: its vineyards, its bocage and its quarry (see the ‘Places to Visit’ section for further historical information on the area).

Set amongst the banks of the Loire, the GR®3 trail and the Layon valley, this stage offers spectacular views of the rivers, all punctuated by local heritage sites against a backdrop of vineyards characteristic of the Anjou region.

An easy route combining tarmac and paths. We will pass through the village of Maligné (one of the largest hamlets in Martigné-Briand), then walk alongside the Stade de Girondeau, before returning to the narrow streets of Martigné and its château.

This loop offers a chance to discover the rivers that flow through the south of Angers, and the vineyards that have colonised the area. In three stages, starting in Angers, you first travel down the Maine as far as Bouchemaine, then follow the north bank of the Loire, with an incursion onto the island of Béhuard. The first stage ends at Montjean-sur-Loire, on the back roads around the island of Chalonnes. The next day, the route heads for Chalonnes-sur-Loire and the Corniche Angevine before descending to the Layon. Stop off at Beaulieu-sur-Layon. Finally, we follow the Layon again as far as Faye d'Anjou. After the Layon hillsides, you enter the Aubence hillsides, whose wines are no less renowned. After Brissac-Quincé and its astonishing château, you return to the Loire, passing through the villages along its banks until you reach Les Ponts-de-Cé. Crossing over to the north bank, we leave the vineyards for Angers, which we return to after three busy days.

This is the third stage of a cycle tour in southern Anjou. The route first follows the Layon between Beaulieu and Faye d'Anjou, then heads towards Brissac-Quincé through forests and vineyards. Leaving the imposing castle behind, you then join the string of villages that line the Loire, before descending to Les Ponts-de-Cé. Crossing the river marks the end of the vineyards and the entrance to the Angers conurbation, the end of the three-day journey.

Starting from Montjean-sur-Loire, the second stage first follows the river upstream, passing by the Île de Chalonnes. In this town, you cross to the south bank to climb the Corniche Angevine, which you follow for a few kilometres before descending into the Layon valley. Following the greenway that runs alongside the river, you will reach the Pont Barré, the site of a battle in the Vendée and the end of this stage.