The Route des Rochers in Chauvigné

Car park: Rue Sainte-Anne, behind the church.

(S/E) Leave the car park heading towards the church.

Red and white^GR®39markings

Take the first street on the right and continue southwards. After the last house, the street becomes a stony track and then a tree-lined path. Just before reaching the houses at La Connuaie, turn right and continue along this path.

Yellow markings

(1) Turn left (the^GR® continues to the right) onto the D22 road, then, after 50m, turn right. Pass the Saint-Georges wayside shrine on your right. Continue along this road.

(2) Take the path on the left. Cross the Ritort stream via the footbridge and continue eastwards to reach the village of Le Fretay.
Do take a stroll through the village’s narrow streets to admire the beautiful houses
Leave the village heading due north and reach the D18 road.

(3) Cross the road, first turning left then right, and continue along the path slightly to the right. Keep going along this path.
If you look carefully through the trees, you can see several ponds. These are the sites of the old granite quarries at a place called Les Rochers de Renaisières.
A few hundred metres past the site, the path bends to the right. Follow it eastwards.

(4) Do not miss the path on the left (not shown on IGN maps) and follow it as it winds its way. After a 90° bend to the right, it joins a wider path. At the fork in the path, take the left-hand one and, at a left-hand bend, continue straight ahead. (This is also not shown on IGN maps but, as it is very well marked, presents no difficulty).

(5) Turn left onto a track. When you reach a road, turn right and cross the hamlet of La Vairie. At the crossroads, continue left to reach La Noë.

(6) Turn left onto the road, then take a stony track on the right. Continue straight ahead along a path which widens as you approach several houses.

(7) At the crossroads, continue to the left. Pass La Jucquelais on your right and turn right at the next crossroads. Cross Le Rocher Métayer and continue to the left along a path heading due west.

(8) When you reach a stony track, head west and continue left onto a tarmac road.

(9) Turn right and continue straight ahead along a tree-lined path. Cross the D97 road and continue straight ahead along a path running alongside a field.

(10) Turn left and go round a field on your left on three sides. On the road leading to Les Bordes, take the path on the right (hard to see at first).
Please note: The path is poorly maintained and there are numerous ruts.

(11) When you reach the road, turn left towards the cemetery. Cross in front of the town hall and continue past the wash house on your right. In the village centre, keep right towards the church and the car park where you started (S/E).

The entire route is marked in yellow under the name "Le Circuit des Rochers". Please note that some sections are shared with other^PR® routes and the markings may be misleading. Walkers are therefore advised to follow the description above carefully.

Village of Le Fretay: a very pretty little village where some spectacular houses feature turrets.

Les Renaisières site: the old quarries have been transformed into lakes.