The Aubigny Botanical Trail

Nowadays, there are numerous marked trails criss-crossing Aubigny, so we can forget about this old path, which no longer has any botanical interest. To reach the starting point, which is common to all these marked trails, you need to go to the sports hall car park, which is undergoing renovation (winter 2025/26) near the stadium.
As for the deer, we encountered six of them at the end of December 2025, around 5 p.m., one kilometre north-north-east of Le Plessis (on the other side of the Route des Sables). Always a magnificent sight.
Thank you!

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Date of your route : Jan 21, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A small detail about the description: you won't encounter any does on this trail, but rather roe deer (female roe deer are called does), as deer and does are more commonly found near the Mervent Vouvant forest. Please note that the trail becomes wet in winter due to rainfall, and the markings do not comply with FFR standards, so please be careful.

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Date of your route : May 08, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk. It took us 1 hour and 25 minutes at a normal walking pace. At this time of year, some of the ponds along the route are enhanced by beautiful flowers. There were a few muddy patches (3 or 4) as it had rained a little two days earlier, but it was still passable. The rest of the route consists of well-maintained paths. We didn't meet anyone, except behind the housing estate on the way back.
The starting point is easy to find using the "get there" function. At the entrance to the path, there is parking space for one car. It is located next to a rubbish bin. Opposite, the verge is wide enough to park there too, but it is close to the road.
Just a quick note: shortly before reaching crossing point no. 4, follow the green signs (right-hand path) as you will come to a fork in the road without knowing which direction to take, as this fork does not appear on the map.
There you have it. We hope you enjoy your walk if you decide to take this route.

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Date of your route : Mar 31, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Access is via GPS coordinates or via the Allée de l'Épine Blanche, as there is a housing estate. Otherwise, park at the entrance to the residence and follow the small footpath.
A very beautiful and easy walk. Please note that this area can be very wet after rainfall.
Time respected.

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Date of your route : Jul 19, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A pleasant little hike.
However, the "botanical trail" aspect is of very limited interest.

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Date of your route : Aug 08, 2016
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Hello,
A very pleasant walk with lovely scents!
We had a bit of trouble finding the starting point, because the car park isn't a real car park, or we got off to a bad start lol
Otherwise, it was well marked.
Best regards
Martine

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Good evening, jocedom.
For your first post, I think you're being a bit harsh. A hike needs to be prepared for, and there is no shortage of information about the starting point. You have a link that gives you the route to get there, you have the GPS coordinates on the information sheet, you have a 1:25,000 map... what more could you ask for?
Did you have the PDF file for the hike with the description and map?
The moral of the story, and I repeat myself, is that it's best to prepare your outing in advance. Missing or not finding the starting point is a real shame.

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Date of your route : Apr 04, 2015
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

By the author To return to Aubigny, you can still follow this route, but it is no longer part of the official routes, details and maps of which can be found in the car park of the Maison des Associations (below the church).
It has also completely lost its botanical character, and the ugly little concrete bridge installed in 2014 has not solved the drainage problems (some sections are impassable as soon as it rains).
In short, if necessary, you can refer to the other routes (various lengths). Enjoy your walk in Aubigny!

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Date of your route : Mar 15, 2015
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Interesting route, but do not attempt before mid-April due to muddy sections.

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Hello,
Thank you for your comment. The "botanical trail" is a fairly old 5.6 km hiking trail, and for the past three years, new trails have been "under construction". As they intersect with the first trail, confusion is not far off, not to mention the quality of the markings, which do not always meet FFR standards, so that some friends have gotten lost or walked twice as long as expected.
This trail is taken from a guidebook (no longer published by the Vendée General Council) which listed more than a hundred hikes (from 4 to 25 km) in the Vendée (coastal, bocage, marshland) of varying interest.
The botanical trail is no longer of any "botanical" interest, as the signs have disappeared (along with the plants themselves) and it has been disfigured by a small concrete footbridge that is as massive as it is ugly. The trail remains easy to follow, with not too much traffic.
The starting point of the trail is located at the GPS coordinates mentioned.
As soon as I have time, I will add the official trails (route to be consulted near the Aubigny community centre, I believe).
B.

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Date of your route : Jul 06, 2013
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

The starting point is incorrect because a new housing estate has been built and you have to search a little to find the first path through the estate.
However, the return route is well signposted.
The route (green) is well signposted and you won't get lost. But it does not correspond to the one shown on the map.
We have 2½ hours with our 7- and 10-year-old daughters.

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