The Chemin du Buisson in Rouillon

Park in the sports centre car park.

(S/E) From the car park, take the path on the left which runs alongside the tennis courts, then go round the football pitch, keeping to the right. At the end of the path, turn left onto the Chemin de la Pointe, which will take you to the Route de la Vove.

(1) Turn right onto this road and carry on straight ahead. At the junction with Boulevard Nature, turn left onto it to reach Rue de Beaugé. Take the pavement on the right and, at the roundabout, turn right onto Rue Georges Auric, then continue straight on between the business premises until you come out onto Route de la Vove again. Follow it to the left, passing in front of the Vaujoubert cultural centre, and rejoin Rue de Beaugé.

(2) Continue to the right without changing pavements and, a little further on, keep to the right to join Chemin du Vieil Hêtre, which runs between the houses. At the end of this path, turn left onto Chemin de la Pavillonnière to rejoin Rue de Beaugé once more.

(3) Turn right and continue on the right-hand pavement until you reach the roundabout.

(4) Cross Rue de Beaugé at the pedestrian crossing (watch out for traffic) and take the path opposite which runs downhill alongside Route de Beaugé. When you come out onto Route de Beaugé, continue downhill on the left-hand pavement and cross over the bypass. At the first set of traffic lights, cross the road at the pedestrian crossing to continue towards the town.

(5) After a few dozen metres, take the first street on the right (Rue Colin Thomas) and carry on, turning left (leaving the dead-end Chemin Colin Thomas opposite you). At the end of the street, turn right into Rue du Happeau. Walk past the Ardriers nursery school, then turn right into Rue du Buisson, followed by Rue Georges Boucher, which narrows into a small alleyway before opening out onto Rue des Ardriers. Turn right, walk under the ring road, then immediately afterwards turn right and walk alongside the ring road.

(6) Turn left onto Chemin du Buisson, then carry on straight ahead to reach Route des Ardriers.
Along the way, you’ll see the Château de la Futaie on your right (the site of the former agricultural college).

(7) Cross the Route des Ardriers (caution: danger – traffic) and take the path opposite. On your left, you’ll have a view of Le Mans. At the end of the path, turn right onto the Chemin de la Chouanas, then at the end, turn left onto the Chemin du Clos Marteau. A few dozen metres further on, turn right onto the Chemin des Grandes Pavillonnières, which takes you back to the Route des Ardriers.

(8) Cross the Route des Ardriers (caution, take care, danger, traffic) and follow the path opposite. At the end of the path, veer right to pass in front of the Ferme de l’Épine (village lodge). Turn right and walk alongside the gardens of Vaujoubert, then keep left at the three-way junction to continue straight on.

(9) In front of the “Sœurs Pénitentes” house, turn left to go round the woods. At the bottom, turn left and cross the small wooden bridge to come out onto Boulevard Nature (retention basins). Turn left onto Boulevard Nature until you are near Route des Ardriers, then, just before the road, take the path on the right running parallel to the road which leads back up to Rouillon. At the first roundabout, go straight on, past the care home, and at the second roundabout, turn right (at the children’s playground) onto Rue des Charmes, which takes you back to the starting point (S/E).

- Vaujoubert Cultural Centre.
- Chapel of the Saint-Pavin Orphanage.
- The Domaine de la Futaie, built in the 18th century.
- L’Épine Farm.
- House of the Sisters known as the Penitents.