The Dolmen de Coutures and the Château de Montsabert

A beautiful walk through the vineyards where you can see two splendid dolmens and numerous troglodyte dwellings.

Details

384265
Creation:
Last update:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 7.28 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 10 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 44 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 45 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 81 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 40 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park on the dirt track leading to the dolmen located near the D55, on the right-hand side of the road when coming from the Bois Brinçon crossroads, or on the left-hand side when coming from Bourg Diori (blue sign marked "Dolmen").

(S/E) Go down the path and turn right at the T-junction. The path runs alongside meadows and vineyards.

(1) At a place called La Pièce Saint-Jean, turn left and head south-southeast towards the hamlet of Les Forges, ignoring the side roads. Cross the hamlet, ignoring the dead end on the right.

(2) At the next crossroads, turn right onto the road that passes through Bois Mazé.

(3) Then turn left towards Les Touches (on the right-hand side, note the remains of troglodytic dwellings).

(4) Just before the D751, follow the path that branches off to the left, runs alongside the road and rejoins it 200 metres further on. Follow the D751 then take a path below.

(5) At the crossroads, leave the D751, turn sharply left onto a small road and then immediately turn right (do not continue straight on towards La Martinière).

(6) After a right-hand bend, take the first path on the left heading north and continue straight on until you reach the crossroads you took earlier.

(2) Turn right towards La Caillière.

(7) At La Caillière, note another fine example of a dolmen on the left near the houses. Continue east and take the first road on the left. As you climb La Guéretterie, admire the Château de Montsabert in the distance on the right.

(8) At the T-junction, turn right. At the fork, turn left, then take the first left towards Étiau. Follow the road and turn right with it to cross the hamlet. After the small road on the right coming from Les Rochers, take the path on the left. At the next junction, turn right onto the dolmen path and return to the starting point (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 69 m - Dolmen path
  2. 1 : km 0.52 - alt. 77 m - La Pièce Saint-Jean
  3. 2 : km 1.4 - alt. 50 m - Crossroads
  4. 3 : km 1.96 - alt. 66 m - Crossroads after Bois Mazé
  5. 4 : km 2.64 - alt. 75 m - Path along the edge of the D751
  6. 5 : km 3.07 - alt. 59 m - Leave the departmental road
  7. 6 : km 3.72 - alt. 40 m - Fork
  8. 7 : km 4.84 - alt. 49 m - La Caillière - Dolmen
  9. 8 : km 5.51 - alt. 62 m - La Guéretterie
  10. S/E : km 7.28 - alt. 69 m - Dolmen path

Worth a visit

Reviews and comments

4.3 / 5
Based on 14 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.3 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.3 / 5
Route interest
4.4 / 5
User 27943461

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 27, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk, but the section on the D751 is really dangerous and the part between points 6 and 7 lacks charm (dull plain).

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User 16416587

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 22, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

After Bois Mozé, you have to take a short stretch of the main road to reach the D 751, which is very busy and dangerous. That's the only downside. Otherwise, it's pleasant.

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JY;MART
JY;MART

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 18, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

This is a very pleasant route, but it is essential to follow the map and ignore any markings you come across that belong to other routes.
At point 4, the indicated path does not exist and if you follow the edge of the vineyard, you will come across closed gates. You will need to go through the hedge. The solution is to follow the road, which is relatively dangerous, especially in a group.

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jean-marie stern
jean-marie stern

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 21, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant walk through nature, dolmens and beautiful cave dwellings.

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feeclochette63
feeclochette63

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 21, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Pleasant route through the vineyards. Beautiful views. Very sunny path.

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Pascale et Marco
Pascale et Marco

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 03, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Varied route: vineyards, plains. Only a small section of the route is uninteresting.

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sgal
sgal

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 11, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Great hike, beautiful scenery, lovely view of the castle
Definitely worth doing.

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soimeqchau
soimeqchau

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 24, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

It is always interesting to discover new aspects of areas you think you know well.
Thank you.

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Corentin C
Corentin C

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 05, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very charming walk in Anjou. In two hours, you have time to see a wide variety of things, so don't hesitate to give it a go!

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crys49
crys49

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : May 01, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A few marking errors, especially at point 4: there is no path running alongside the road, you have to stay on the road. Otherwise, the route is very pleasant with a nice surprise: the opportunity to visit Richard Rak's troglodytic workshop and gallery. Definitely worth a visit.

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LaPaimpolaise22
LaPaimpolaise22

This hike will take place from 19 to 21 May 2018 during a family reunion in Coutures.

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oural4902
oural4902

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 12, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A pleasant route, but note that there is a rather tricky section on the road. There is a small marking error between points 2 and 3 on the map, where there is a cross on the signpost, but that is where you need to go. There are two dolmens on this route, which is very interesting, as well as some troglodytic sites.

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jleroi
jleroi

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 29, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

This route allows you to discover beautiful landscapes typical of the region. It's a shame that there are many roads and too few (if any) small paths.

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menut c
menut c

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 21, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Picturesque landscape. Easy route. The only slight concern is having to follow the road for a short stretch when travelling in a group of a dozen people.

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