The Montbrune stream and the village of Augé

The walk starts from the car park between the town hall and the temple.

(S/E) Head towards the old post office located at the crossroads opposite a restaurant. Turn left onto Rue de la Poste and then immediately left onto the picturesque Ruelle des Passeroses. At the end, turn left onto Rue du Lavoir Saint-Grégoire until you reach the wash house. At Grand'Rue, walk along the small car park and take Sentier des Rocailles on the right. At the next junction, turn right onto Rue de la Croisée until you reach the crossroads with Rue Mélusine, passing an old hand pump.

(1) Take the latter on the right. On the way down, ignore the next four streets on the right until you reach Ruelle Saint-Grégoire, not far from the church, opposite a pretty green gate. At the end, turn left, pass in front of the church canopy and continue to Rue de la Poste, turning left. Continue along Rue de la Drouillette until you reach Route du Plessis (D142).

(2) Carefully take this road on the left until you reach a small bridge over the Ruisseau de Montbrune.

(3) Just before the bridge, turn onto the path going uphill on the left. Walk straight ahead, ignoring a path on the left. You will reach Les Vignes Blanches. Continue along the tarmac road, pass Viré and you will come to a fire hydrant.

(4) Take the path downhill. Cross the stone footbridge and reach the road opposite a transformer. You are now at Moulin du Plessis with its pond. Take the small road on the left, walk along a pond and large stones. At the left-hand bend, continue straight on towards La Vérolière until you reach the post box before the houses.

(5) Take the path and footbridge on the right, then climb the path, which is sometimes crossed by a stream in winter. The path soon widens and becomes a dirt track. You will reach the D130.

(6) Carefully head along the road on the right until you reach a bend with an electrical building.

(7) Head towards La Chavagnerie until you reach the D142 at La Coutolière. Carefully turn right towards the old school. Turn right onto the green path between the houses. When the path becomes tarmac, continue straight ahead. At the end, at the D130, turn right until you reach the first path on the left opposite a metal shed.

(8) Turn onto this path until you reach a bend in a small road running alongside the ruins of Château de la Roche. Go down this small road on the right until you reach the bend and turn left onto the path leading down to the road, which you take on the left opposite the transformer. You will reach the D142. Cross the road carefully and continue opposite towards La Bernerie until you reach the crossroads.

(9) Turn right towards La Bernerie. In the hamlet, ignore the first path on the left. Take the second path down to the wash house on the left. Continue to the right until you reach the small road, which you take to the left. Continue along the road until you reach the D142 again opposite La Magnerie.

(10) Turn left and proceed with caution along the road until you reach the junction with the road to Champmargou, just before the bridge you encountered on the way there.

(3) Turn left, cross a^second bridge and pass La Touche. The road climbs up to Champmargou and you will see the château on your right after going around the buildings. Continue along this road, skirting the woods on your left, until you reach another road, which you should take on your right. Opposite the sign indicating the junction with the D6, turn left onto the path that runs alongside the gardens and the hedge and you will come out onto the D6.

(11) Cross carefully and head towards Le Patrouillet via the street of the same name. Turn right into Rue du Puits, then right again into Chemin de la Treille until you reach Rue de la Folie, which you take to the right until you reach the bus shelter and the green container.

(12) Turn left onto Rue des Plantes. You are now on the old railway line from Parthenay to Saint-Laurs. Continue until you reach Augé via the old bridge over the Ligueure. Walk along the D6 and you will return to the car park where you started (S/E).

In winter, the paths can be wet, so you will need to wear suitable footwear.
Take the D142, where caution is advised. The other small roads are fairly quiet.
Depending on the day and time, the village restaurant can provide food and drink.
Water point (in summer) and picnic tables next to the stele.
Public toilets are available next to the temple or next to the old post office.

Augé is a rural commune with just under a thousand inhabitants.
The main architectural attraction is the 10th and 12th century Saint-Grégoire Church, parts of which are listed as historic monuments. It is partially fortified.
The commune also has 19 listed wash houses, the remains of the old railway line (TDS) that never operated (including the old station), several châteaux (Champmargou, l'Houmelière) and a Resistance site (memorial near the old bridge over the Ligueure).
On the outskirts of the village (towards Champdeniers) is a wooden packaging factory that has been in operation since 1947.
After the hike, you can explore the other narrow streets and alleys of the village of Augé.