The banks of the Loire and Chenailles Castle

A pleasant and easy hike offering varied landscapes. We walk along the Loire for over a kilometre before turning away from it to enter the forest, admire the beautiful Château de Chenailles, then return to Saint-Denis-de-l'Hôtel via the ponds.

Details

27313065
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.70 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 1h 55 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 14 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 14 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 119 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 102 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the Crébezeaux sports complex car park. Walk to the back of the car park along the road, near the underpass.

(S/E) Take the underpass and continue straight south to reach Parc Henri Coulaud

(1) When you reach the banks of the Loire, continue through the park, turning left and following the river as closely as possible.

(2) Leave the banks of the Loire and head left, crossing the hamlet of Faux Juif until you reach the D960.

(3) Cross the departmental road with caution and walk opposite on the small road leading to Château de Chenailles. A sign indicates this direction. This small road has very little traffic. Pass in front of the château, a private residence built at the very beginning of the 17th century by the Vallée family.

(4) Just after the castle park wall, turn left onto the dirt track, pass between the ponds and join the D411.

(5) Turn left onto this road, which also has very little traffic, and continue for 600 metres until you reach Saint-Denis-de-l'Hôtel.

(6) Turn left again onto a wide dirt track running alongside a railway carriage depot on the right. In the distance on the left, you can see the velodrome.

(7) Turn right onto the road leading back to the sports complex. A wide path along this quiet road allows you to walk safely. Cross the railway line and return to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 116 m - Sports complex car park
  2. 1 : km 0.36 - alt. 115 m - Bord de - La Loire
  3. 2 : km 1.7 - alt. 114 m - Fork in the road
  4. 3 : km 2.08 - alt. 105 m - Route D960
  5. 4 : km 3.35 - alt. 115 m - Château de Chenailles
  6. 5 : km 4.74 - alt. 118 m - Route D411
  7. 6 : km 5.39 - alt. 118 m - Dirt track on the left
  8. 7 : km 6.03 - alt. 117 m - Road junction
  9. S/E : km 6.7 - alt. 116 m - Sports complex car park

Worth a visit

Château de Chenailles, built by the Vallée family. Members of this family held important administrative and financial positions. They were ennobled and subsequently bore the title of Lords of Chenailles.
The château was acquired by the town in early 1986 and has since been sold to an American family.

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 7 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.9 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
pierre1er
pierre1er

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 06, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The first two-thirds of the route from the park are very good, very beautiful.
The last third, when you return to town from the factory, is of no interest except to those seeking boredom. They will be well served.
However, it is not very busy during the week, with just a few cyclists and joggers
The length makes it more of a Sunday stroll than a hike, but you probably realised that before reading this message.

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Patandre
Patandre

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 22, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

a lovely short walk with varied landscapes

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Adénine
Adénine

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 10, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hike done during the week, outside of school holidays, at 25°C, in full sun.
Its "real" name is the PR® des Fleurs et Bois (okay for the woods, but what about the flowers? I don't know ).

No major difficulties, I plan to try it with my two-and-a-half-year-old son (and an "almost" all-terrain pushchair to help!) with a break for lunch at the castle (very beautiful, worth seeing!).

The map is well drawn and the description is perfect. It's impossible to get lost, even with a GPS that does its own thing for three quarters of the route – I'm living proof of that, haha!

Between points 5 and 6, you cross another major road, which must be crossed with caution.
From point 6 onwards, sunscreen is essential for sensitive skin on sunny days. Before that, there is quite a lot of shade.

For those who love the peace and quiet of the forest, bear in mind that the aerodrome is not far away and there are very (too?) frequent small planes flying overhead.

As for cars, I saw a few, but I didn't find them bothersome.

There are a few shaded spots in the gym car park where you can rest before setting off again.

Thanks for the route!

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User 21016117

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 02, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Once you leave the ponds area, there are a lot of passing cars. Otherwise, the walk is pleasant.

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domutel
domutel

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 04, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk ending at the Maurice Genevoix area.

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Isabelle45
Isabelle45

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 30, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hike suitable for our beginner level

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Rando GPS
Rando GPS

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 06, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant walk, corresponding to the walking time described on the route (2 hours). We encountered a few people along the Loire, but once we passed Chenaille Castle, it became much quieter.

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