The Trousse Chemise wash house

(S/E) Head to Rue des Écoles and follow it to the left, passing alongside the temple. Opposite No. 3, turn right onto Chemin de la Pingauderie (beautiful view of Château de Cherveux on the left). At the end, turn right onto Rue du Portail Rouge (caution).

(1) Take the^first right towards La Bigaudière. At the fork, turn left. Shortly afterwards, turn right onto a shaded gravel path and leave the property on your left. Follow this path to a small road. Follow this road to the left and immediately, just before a house, take a narrow gravel path downhill to the right. This leads to another road; follow it carefully to the left.

(2) At Moulin de Lussais, turn left and carefully follow the road up to Lussais.
Go straight through the village of Lussais until you reach the Champ Barreau cul-de-sac on the right-hand side. Then take the path known as Chemin des Hommes diagonally to the right (west). Climb gently until you reach an intersection just before a road.

(3) Then turn right. Ignore a turning on the left and walk along the left-hand side of the Bois des Clavelles. You will come to a road; follow it straight ahead (north-east). At the first crossroads, turn left towards La Logette. Cross the hamlet and note the old Truite windmill on your right. At the end of the road, follow the D122 road to the left for about 100 metres (take care).

(4) At the intersection, turn right and then immediately left onto a slightly uphill path. At the T-junction, turn right. Ignore a turn-off on the left and continue straight ahead at the next two crossroads. Cross a small road and continue straight ahead onto a path that forms one side of a triangular crossroads.

(5) After about 20 metres, follow a path on the left (south-west). When you reach a railway line, turn left with the path and follow the railway line below on the right. The path gives way to a tarmac road and reaches the D7 road at a place called Moque-Souris.

(6) Follow the road to the left and immediately turn left onto a path called Chemin du Colombier. You will come to a road; follow it carefully to the left towards La Gondinière. At this place, when the road turns to the left, take a small shaded path downhill to the right (century-old chestnut trees).

(7) At the T-junction, turn left. At the next intersection, continue in the same direction (east-southeast).

(8) At the end of the path, at a place called Senueil, first turn right then left and follow another path (south-east).

(9) At the end, turn right onto Rue du Portail Rouge. At the crossroads, turn left onto the narrow Rue des Douves. Further on, take the^first left, a short alleyway that leads to Place de l'Église Saint-Pierre. Turn right and walk past the church.

(10) Then turn left onto Rue des Halles and shortly afterwards left again onto Rue du Parquet. At the end, follow the Grand Rue (D7 road) to the left, using the pavement on the left-hand side (very narrow for the first 20 metres or so: take care). When the road turns right, continue straight ahead until you reach the Temple and the car park (S/E).

The parking area is located between the temple and the football field.

This hike covers varied terrain and requires suitable footwear.

The route is marked in yellow. It is the route of the same name developed by the Deux-Sèvres Departmental Hiking Committee, and the information sheet is published by the Deux-Sèvres General Council in accordance with the provisions of the "Randonnée en Deux-Sèvres" quality charter. Other routes cross this route. The description and map provided by Visorando, combined with a good reading of the landscape, can help you to clear up any ambiguity.

This hike was completed by the author on 13 March 2020.

Cherveux
Cherveux Castle
Historically, the first Château de Cherveux was one of six fiefdoms confiscated by Saint Louis from Hugues de Lusignan in the 13th century.
Today, no traces of this building remain.
The current Château de Cherveux was built by the Scotsman Robert Cunningham, who fought the English at Formigny alongside Arthur de Richemont, Lord of Parthenay. He later became captain of Louis XI's guard. Accused of treason, thrown into prison, then rehabilitated by Louis XI, he died in 1479.
The château passed to one of his two sons, Joachim, captain of the keep at Niort. Louis de Saint-Gelais, his great-grandson and admiral of the Protestant fleet, made Cherveux, which had been captured three times by the Catholics, a centre of the Reformation in Poitou. The château was then gradually abandoned by its owners before being sold as national property during the Revolution and converted into a farm.
The keep of Cherveux is a masterpiece of its kind, visible from afar. Surrounded by moats, it has a star-shaped layout with a parapet walk on machicolations, topped by a high roof. Six levels, with monumental fireplaces, a series of sconces and decorative elements of the highest quality.
This castle, which is still haunted by the Scottish ghosts of the "Old Alliance" and has been listed as a Historic Monument since 1929, is well worth a visit.
For more information
Source: website [http://www.grandsudinsolite.fr/1630-79-deux-sevres-le-chateau-de-cherveux--a-voir-absolument.html]

The church of Cherveux
The church is dedicated to Saint Peter Auxilius (feast day on 1 August). It underwent a complete reconstruction in 1901-1902, based on plans by Alcide Boutaud of Poitiers.
The series of stained glass windows installed in the church in 1902-1903 is very interesting and features a long list of saints, largely inspired by the patron saints of the donors.
Source: official website of the municipality

The Cherveux lake - Saint Christophe
A leisure and relaxation site open 7 days a week, where you can enjoy the fresh air of the Musson valley.
Source: official website of the municipality