Le Coin du Bousseau

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In order to preserve the richness of its environmental heritage, the Grand Boussseau Forest has been designated a Sensitive Natural Area. As such, it benefits from the Deux-Sèvres Departmental Council's environmental preservation and education policy. This short trail invites you to discover this protected environment.

Details

n°3202600
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 4.20 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 1h 15 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 9 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 9 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 61 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 52 m
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Photos

Start and end of the route
Orchid
CNRS trapping cage
Forest Road No. 16

Description of the walk

(S/E) Take Forest Road No. 16 heading northeast. Go past a barrier and immediately turn left onto the path that leads into the woods (northwest). Continue until you reach a crossroads.

(1) Turn right onto the path, which runs partly through the woods and partly along the edge. The path heads northeast, roughly parallel to Forest Road No. 16 further south.

(2) At a crossroads, turn left to go to the edge of the woods to an observation point (hut). The path arrives there near an intermittent stream called Les Alleuds. Continue left along this wide grassy path. Follow it until you reach a right-angle turn to the right.

(3) Follow the wide grassy path to the right until you reach a T-junction. Then follow theGRP® de la Sylve d'Argenson (red and yellow markings) to the right. You will soon reach Forest Road No. 14 (white path).

(4) Turn right and continue to the Chaume à Dupont crossroads.

(5) Take thefirst right, Forest Road No. 16 (white path). Continue straight ahead (south-west) until you return to the Grand Bousseau Forest House (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 52 m - Grand Bousseau Forest House
  2. 1 : km 0.45 - alt. 52 m - Crossroads
  3. 2 : km 1.83 - alt. 59 m - Crossroads
  4. 3 : km 2 - alt. 55 m - Observation point
  5. 4 : km 2.34 - alt. 58 m - Forest Road No. 14
  6. 5 : km 2.55 - alt. 58 m - Carrefour de la Chaume in Dumont
  7. S/E : km 4.2 - alt. 52 m - Grand Bousseau Forest House

Notes

The parking area is located at the Maison Forestière du Grand Bousseau, close to the D53 road.
At Prissé-la-Charrière on the D650, take the D53 departmental road towards Villiers-en-Bois for 3 km. Longitude: 0° 26' 51.2'' W Latitude: 46° 08' 54.8'' N

This hike covers varied terrain and requires sturdy footwear.

This route is marked because it is based on the "Prissé-la-Charrière Forêt du Grand Bousseau" Sensitive Natural Areas file. In its second part (from point ), it follows theGR® de Pays de la Sylve d'Argenson. Nevertheless, it is advisable to follow the directions in this description and on the map, while also taking in the landscapes you pass through. The distance indications from the starting point, and even the GPS coordinates of the waypoints (including the starting point), can also help hikers find their way.

Alternative route: at point (2), take the path on the right, which quickly joins Forest Road No. 16. When you reach it, turn right and follow the forest road to the Grand Bousseau Forest House. The route is then 3.3 km long .

Note: this is an observation site for the CNRS in Chizé. It is therefore essential to keep dogs on a leash and to disturb wildlife, including birds, as little as possible.
On the day of the survey, there were bird traps set up for observation purposes.

Hike completed by the author on 28 May 2020.

Worth a visit

Grand Bousseau Forest
Part of the vast Chizé-Aulnay forest, the Grand Bousseau Forest is owned by the Deux-Sèvres Department. In prehistoric times, this forest was part of the vast Sylve d'Argenson forest , now highly fragmented, which stretched from the Gulf of Pictons (now the Marais Poitevin) to the forests of the Dordogne.
In this fragment of forest, long managed by the National Forestry Office and now used for educational activities by Zoodyssée, the General Council wishes to promote the free evolution of afforestation and the maintenance of dead and senescent trees.

The Grand Bousseau forest is an ancient forest managed for the production of beech wood. You can observe them, sometimes in the shade of oaks and hornbeams, sometimes in the shade of wild cherry and apple trees.
Today, these plantations are partly left to Mother Nature, while the plantations in the north of the site will be exploited by humans. As a result, the diversity of the environments will allow for a greater wealth of fauna and flora!

In order to preserve the richness of its environmental heritage, the Grand Boussseau forest has been designated a Sensitive Natural Area. As such, it benefits from the Deux-Sèvres Departmental Council's environmental preservation and education policy.
Source: Sensitive Natural Area information sheet published by the Deux-Sèvres General Council

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

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Reviews and comments

4.3 / 5
Based on 8 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.4 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.5 / 5
Route interest
3.9 / 5
pyrene79
pyrene79

Overall rating : 2.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 23, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : No

A circuit with little interest. The first part is in the shade, and the return along the white path, in the sun, is not really great.
The observatory is easy to find, but unfortunately the openings are hidden by vegetation. As a result, you can't see anything!
Something to do when you have nothing else to do. It's a shame.

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Coco l'asticot
Coco l'asticot

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 31, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful trail that is easy to follow and truly enjoyable in this forest.

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Suzel et Christian FLAMENT
Suzel et Christian FLAMENT
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 21, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely little route through the woods with shortcut options if needed.

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Adelai
Adelai

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 28, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant little hike. We did it in winter and were worried it would be wet and muddy, but not at all! The paths through the woods were perfectly passable and enjoyable.

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i3abass
i3abass

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 01, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Route following a bridle path.
A very beautiful walk in the woods ending with a white forest path.
Thanks once again to Visorandonneur pgetrochon.

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randonnée79270
randonnée79270

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 23, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

We couldn't find the observation hut, so we improvised our route.
Otherwise, this short route is pleasant, especially in autumn.

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MARTIN FX
MARTIN FX

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 12, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Overheating in direct sunlight on the way back.
But I don't hold you responsible for the weather conditions and the disappearance of the forests following the storm of 1999.

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LoJP
LoJP

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 05, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant little walk
We walked to the wooded area and back instead of doing the circular route because it was nearly 30°C and we weren't keen on walking along that long straight stretch in the blazing sun. We'll definitely do it again in autumn or spring
It was a good decision because we missed some beautiful trees on the way there and we really enjoyed the relative coolness of the undergrowth.

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