Les Épesses and the Puy du Fou Park

The circular route starts at Les Épesses and heads towards the Bois des Jarries. After reaching the summit, you will pass through Saint-Mars-la-Réorthe and walk alongside the Puy du Fou Park to return to the starting point.
The walk is not difficult, except in the Bois des Jarries where you need to keep your bearings due to the many paths.

Details

494246
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 17.71 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 45 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 245 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 249 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 258 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 123 m
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ District: Les Epesses (85590)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 46.883571° / W 0.899541°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 1425E, 1425O
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Description of the walk

Park in the Town Hall car park.

(S/E) With your back to the town hall, turn right to walk past the church, then take the first right onto Rue de l’Église. Cross Rue Jeanne d’Arc and continue straight ahead along Rue du Pas Girou.

(1) After the cemetery, take the path on the right and continue straight on until you reach Route des Chatelliers. Turn left.
At the three-way junction, turn right into Rue Jeanne d'Arc and then follow Route des Trois Chênes, which turns right at a right angle before joining Route de Saint-Michel-Mont-Mercure.

(2) Cross the road (take care) and continue straight on towards the hamlet of La Loge. At the crossroads, turn left onto the footpath and pass a junction.

(3) After a small pond on your left, cross the D752 (take care) then take the path on the left towards La Perverie. Continue following theGRP® (yellow and red markings). When you reach a road, take the path just to the right towards the Bois des Jarries.

(4) Leave theGRP® after 300m and turn right to head for the top of the Bois des Jarries. Descend on the other side. The path, which initially heads north, turns left twice and heads west. Pass a path on your left and then, on your right, the access road to the hamlet of La Renaudière. At the next junction, turn right towards the hamlet of La Charrière.

(5) At the crossroads, turn left and follow the Route de la Renaudière, which further on becomes Rue des Puits. At the junction with Rue des Jarries, turn right towards the church of Saint-Mars-la Réorthe.

(6) Pass the church and continue right onto Rue du Petit Gué, then take the second right, Rue du Pré Clos. At the T-junction, turn left, cross La Guichardrie and continue straight on until you reach a crossroads.

(7) Take the path on your right. Cross the D11 (take care), pass the hamlet of Le Fossé on your left and head towards Puy du Fou.

(8) Walk around the park, keeping it on your right, and continue to the junction with theGRP® Sèvre et Maine.

(9) When you reach the car park, follow theGRP® straight ahead. Continue round the park, leaving La Ménanterie on your left, then turn left at a right angle. Cross the D27 (take care) and, immediately afterwards, take the first right. Keep left at the next fork.

(10) At the junction, continue straight ahead along the path, leaving the hamlet of La Ganache on your left. Continue along theGRP®, turning left at the fork shortly afterwards. Cross the Aujardière and arrive at the D752.

(11) Cross over (take care) and head straight ahead. Pass the La Bretêche leisure centre on your left, walk past the swimming pool and continue along the wide path which bends to the right before leading to Rue du Stade.

(12) Follow this street to the right, then take the first left, Rue Mozart (you can also continue straight on towards the D752). At the right-hand bend, continue straight on to take Rue du Sacré Coeur and join the D11.

(13) Cross the main road (take care) and head slightly left across the road. Continue along the path which crosses a road, bends sharply to the right and joins Rue du Pas Girou. Turn right and retrace your steps to return to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 188 m - Town Hall car park
  2. 1 : km 0.4 - alt. 170 m - Path on the right
  3. 2 : km 1.57 - alt. 174 m - Crossing the D2752
  4. 3 : km 2.59 - alt. 200 m - Crossing the D752
  5. 4 : km 4.7 - alt. 241 m - Leave the GRP to climb up to the Bois des Jarries
  6. 5 : km 7.48 - alt. 168 m - Crossroads, turn left
  7. 6 : km 8.45 - alt. 141 m - Church of Saint-Mars-la-Réorthe. Near the - Petit Lay (rivière) Affluent du Lay
  8. 7 : km 9.46 - alt. 123 m - Crossroads, path on the right
  9. 8 : km 11.37 - alt. 238 m - Puy du Fou Park
  10. 9 : km 12.27 - alt. 230 m - Puy du Fou car park, GRP junction - Puy du Fou (parc)
  11. 10 : km 13.96 - alt. 212 m - Crossroads, opposite
  12. 11 : km 15.38 - alt. 188 m - Crossing the D752
  13. 12 : km 16.17 - alt. 188 m - Rue du Stade, on the right
  14. 13 : km 16.82 - alt. 184 m - Crossing the D11
  15. S/E : km 17.7 - alt. 188 m - Town Hall car park

Notes

A lovely viewpoint at the top of the Bois des Jarries.
Places to eat in Saint-Martin-de-la-Réorthe.
You’ll find everything you need for a picnic at the Bretèche leisure centre.

Worth a visit

(4) A beautiful view of the Épesses hill and the valley.
(8) Puy du Fou Park.

Reviews and comments

3.6 / 5
Based on 8 reviews

Reliability of the description
3.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4 / 5
Route interest
3.1 / 5
User 19427601

Overall rating : 2.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 16, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : No

To be honest, it’s not worth the trip; it’s quite a long way, but there’s not much in the way of countryside – just lots of tarmac and built-up areas.

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User 19427601

Overall rating : 2.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 16, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : No

To be honest, it’s not worth the trip; it’s quite a long way, but there’s not much in the way of countryside – just lots of tarmac and built-up areas.

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heralys
heralys

Overall rating : 2.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 20, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : No

The route follows many roads or footpaths alongside the road. A map is essential, and a compass may also be useful
Nevertheless, it offers beautiful scenery.

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elisabelle
elisabelle

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 22, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : No

A rather uneventful walk, apart from the section through the woods; lots of roads; better suited to cycling

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RAY2285
RAY2285

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 21, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Fortunately, the route on the map and the GPX data were reliable, as there are gaps in the on-ground markings in places along the route, particularly in the Bois des Jarries, where you really need to keep your bearings due to the numerous paths.
Otherwise, there are very few, if any, attractions along the route...
I think this route is ideal for mountain bikers....

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jacques.echasseriau@free.fr
jacques.echasseriau@free.fr

A superb hike, ideal for trail running training in the Bois du Jarrie.👍

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manuuher
manuuher

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 11, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely stroll around the park, but don’t expect to see any attractions, even from a distance – the park is well guarded .
At best, the bird balloon.
I got a bit lost between (4) and (5) in the forest. So much so that I took a route across the hill. No big deal.
Can be done by mountain bike as there are some lovely stretches of road. A few forest trails are less suitable.

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jacques.echasseriau@free.fr
jacques.echasseriau@free.fr

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 15, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A great hike, well signposted.

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Friparo
Friparo

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 15, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A lovely walk.

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