The Puy-Notre-Dame vineyard

de fr

Le Puy-Notre-Dame stands at 106m on a tuffeau hill. The name ‘puy’ derives from the Celtic word ‘peuch’ (small mountain). Centred around an early church and a Cluniac priory founded by William VIII, Duke of Aquitaine, the village grew, welcoming pilgrims on their way to Santiago de Compostela and those who came to venerate a relic brought back from the Crusades: the Holy Belt of the Virgin.

Details

n°1227342
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 2.87 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 1h 25 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 92 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 92 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 331 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 220 ft
Downloads
Open in the mobile app
Download GPX GPX
Download PDF PDF

Photos

Hike to Le Puy-Notre-Dame

Description of the walk

Start: Puy-Notre-Dame (town hall car park) - Signposting: follow the signs for the Sentier d’Interprétation

(S/E) From the car park, cross the town hall grounds and head towards the junction of Rue du Parc and Rue du Stade. Cross the road and take the path opposite which leads through the vineyards. At the end of the path, turn right and at the junction continue straight ahead. Follow the path to the end.

(1) Turn right and return to the road. Cross over to the other side and then immediately turn left onto Chemin du Bois Morin. Follow the path.

(2) Turn right and continue along this path to rejoin the road.

(3) Cross over and take the path opposite. Continue to Rue Saint-Nicolas (D87). Turn right and then immediately left. Continue to the junction.

(4) Turn right onto Rue de Compostelle, then take the first left. Next, turn right, then left and right again onto Rue Sainte. Continue to the crossroads.

(5) Turn left onto Rue de la Collégiale, then right twice. Follow Rue des Hôtels to the junction with Rue des Picards. Turn right and, at the crossroads, continue straight on along Rue de la Mairie to return to the town hall car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 312 ft - Town hall car park
  2. 1 : mi 0.62 - alt. 308 ft - Path on the right
  3. 2 : mi 1.32 - alt. 220 ft - Turn right
  4. 3 : mi 1.85 - alt. 223 ft - Road crossing
  5. 4 : mi 2.34 - alt. 246 ft - Rue de Compostelle
  6. 5 : mi 2.57 - alt. 295 ft - Rue de la Collégiale
  7. S/E : mi 2.87 - alt. 312 ft - Town hall car park

Notes

Worth a visit

- Interpretive trail
- Collegiate church
- The Living Mushroom Cellar
- Puy-Notre-Dame wine estate

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 6 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.2 / 5
Claude-Meignen
Claude-Meignen

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 05, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Enjoy a stroll through the vineyard with its informative signs! Discover Puy-en-Dame!

Machine-translated

Anmas
Anmas

From the car park, walk along the back of the town hall (path), cross the children's playground until you reach the wall, stay on the path...
until you reach the park exit... through a gate, which is open, of course.

Machine-translated

Dominique4459
Dominique4459

Thanks, but I didn't see any way out along the wall at the side of the road...!

Machine-translated

Anmas
Anmas

Yes, the path through the park has not been cleaned and is therefore not visible, so you have to walk along the wall to get to the park exit.

Machine-translated

Dominique4459
Dominique4459

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : May 16, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant, easy route.
Difficulties at the very beginning to find your way...we are told to leave the park by taking a path whereas this park is enclosed by a large wall...!!!
Apart from that little mishap, no problem!

Machine-translated

Anmas
Anmas

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 15, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Thank you for this lovely walk, which was well signposted, with explanations about the vineyards and wine, and a village steeped in history.
We thoroughly enjoyed it!

Machine-translated

JYK
JYK

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

A short, very pleasant stroll before sunset.

Machine-translated

DUFEE
DUFEE

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 05, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A pleasant walk with lovely views of the vineyards.

Machine-translated

Pili3
Pili3

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 26, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

An easy walk I went on with my grandchildren (aged 6 to 10)

Machine-translated

Other walks in the area

Walking The Argentay hill

Tourist office
La butte d’Argentay
↔5.09 mi ↗+135 ft ↘-105 ft ◔2h 25 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Les Verchers-sur-Layon (Maine-et-Loire)
Verchers-sur-Layon has an unusual history, comprising 15 hamlets, some of which are actual villages. It was formed in 1818 by the merger of three parishes: Saint-Just, Saint-Pierre and La Lande. This union was marked by architectural richness, with a rather exceptional heritage (the church of Saint-Just, the châteaux of Échuilly and Bussy-Fontaine, etc.) and renowned wine-growing. A journey through the heart of the vineyards.

Walking Around Asnières Abbey

Tourist office
↔6.93 mi ↗+102 ft ↘-95 ft ◔3h 15 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Cizay-la-Madeleine (Maine-et-Loire)
This pleasant walk through farmland and the Brossay forest allows you to discover the region's rich architectural heritage.

Walking Vineyards and woods around Les Ulmes

Tourist office
Vignes et bois autour des Ulmes
↔7.14 mi ↗+164 ft ↘-138 ft ◔3h 25 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Les Ulmes (Maine-et-Loire)
The name comes from the Latin word ulmus, meaning elm tree, and was given to the village because of the presence of this tree. The surrounding woods and estates were entrusted to the monks of Saint-Maur Abbey, and the village developed around a priory and its church. The priory, which was remodelled in the 16th and 17th centuries, is still attached to the Church of Saint Vincent of Spain, which features beautiful remains from the 11th and 12th centuries.

Walking At the confluence of the Thouet and Dive rivers in Brézé

Tourist office
À la confluence du Thouet et de la Dive à Brézé
↔6.54 mi ↗+72 ft ↘-66 ft ◔3h 05 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Brézé (Maine-et-Loire)
The village of Brézé lies in the shadow of a castle steeped in history. It was to a member of the Dreux family, the owners of Brézé, that Mirabeau addressed his famous retort on 23 June 1789: ‘We are here by the will of the people and we shall only leave by the force of bayonets.’ Grassy or stony towpaths along the Thouet and the Canal de la Dive.

Walking The Château de Berrie through the vineyards and fields

Visorando Member
Le Château de Berrie par les vignes et par les champs
↔6.85 mi ↗+279 ft ↘-259 ft ◔3h 25 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Pouançay (Vienne)
A circular route in the heart of the Loudunais vineyards (AOP Saumur) and along the canalised Dive river. You can enjoy a beautiful panorama from the ruins of a windmill, pass through pretty villages with troglodyte cellars and walk past the foot of an ancient fortified castle with moats that are still visible. Route designed and marked by the Loudunais Community of Communes, and certified by the Vienne departmental committee of the FFRP (French Federation of Hiking and Rambling).

Walking Route of Bellevigne to Brézé castle

Association / Club / Walk leader
Circuit des châteaux de Bellevigne à Brézé
↔4.67 mi ↗+164 ft ↘-148 ft ◔2h 15 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Brézé (Maine-et-Loire)
A walk that will take you through the vineyards and past the châteaux of Brézé, Grand Fond, Fouquet and La Ripaille.

Walking Pressoir and Thouet valleys from Sainte-Radegonde

Visorando Member
Vallées de Pressoir et du Thouet depuis Sainte-Radegonde
↔12.41 mi ↗+817 ft ↘-794 ft ◔6h 25 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Sainte-Radegonde (Deux-Sèvres) (Deux-Sèvres)
Route passing through the Vallée du Pressoir (classified as a Natura 2000 site since March 2025) then the left bank of the Thouet valley from Pommiers to Sainte-Radegonde. Pass through Saint-Jacques-de-Thouars on the left bank of the Thouet, then Saint-Jean-de-Thouars, the Cirque de Missé and return to Thouars on the right bank of the Thouet via the GR®36. The hike also offers views of the town of Thouars, with its historic monuments and rich heritage.

Walking Left bank of the Thouet from Sainte-Radegonde to Missé

Visorando Member
Rive gauche du Thouet de Sainte-Radegonde à Missé
↔12.03 mi ↗+682 ft ↘-663 ft ◔6h 10 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Sainte-Radegonde (Deux-Sèvres) (Deux-Sèvres)
Leaving Sainte-Radegonde, you will discover the Pressoir valley, newly classified as a Natura 2000 nature reserve, then the west and south facades of Thouars, located on the promontory with the Thouet river flowing at its feet. Next, pass through Saint-Jean-de-Thouars, which overlooks the Thouet valley, the fortifications, the castle on its rocky spur, and the three large and remarkable natural meanders: Saint-Jean, Le Châtellier and Missé. Enjoy the superb valley and then enter Thouars at the foot of the castle ramparts.

For more walks, use our search engine .

The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.