The Sentiers de la Pierre between Crazannes and Port d’Envaux

The entire route is marked with a yellow line.

Starting point: Crazannes Church; GPS 45°50'49.0"N 0°42'09.7"W

(S/E) Head in the opposite direction to the church, pass the cemetery and follow the road to the left (former railway line), arriving at the junction leading towards Crazanne Castle. The route that follows includes a section alongside the Charente, which is damp and prone to flooding: avoid this in winter, during high tides and periods of heavy rain (no mountain bikes or horses permitted). See the ‘Practical Information’ section for an alternative route.

(1) Turn left towards Crazanne Castle. Continue along the marsh road and turn right, heading towards a road.

(2) Take the path on the left, then turn right and follow the Charente on your right. View of Panloy Castle on the right.

(3) Follow the quay. Cross the ditch marking the boundary of a property and follow it to reach Port-d’Envaux. (You can start the walk here: geographical coordinates in the practical information.) Keep to the left at all times to reach the harbour. 

(4) Turn right and cross a car park. Take the street on the right to reach the D128 at Les Rivauds.

(5) Continue to the right. Before the bridge, turn left, then right onto a grassy path, and continue until you reach a road.

(6) Take the road on the right. Turn left onto the path down into the valley. Cross the D237E3 to the left.

(7) Continue along the stony track, keeping to the left until you reach a T-junction.

(8) Turn right to enter the Bois Muré (the only remaining trace of the castle: a low wall running alongside the path as it crosses the woods). Continue straight on until you cross the bridge over the A837.

(9) Turn right and walk alongside the motorway. Take the D119E2 on the right.

(10) Cross the bridge, then take the path on the left, then turn right. Carry on straight ahead until you enter a second woodland: turn left to rejoin the road. You’ll reach a junction before the sawmill.

(11) Take the path on the left. It leads past the quarries, then runs alongside a car park before reaching a junction with a church in view.

(12) Turn right, cross the D128, pass the town hall and walk through the park on the right to return to the car park (S/E).

After (1), the route that follows includes a section running alongside the Charente, which is damp and prone to flooding: avoid this in winter, during high tides and periods of heavy rain (private property: mountain bikes and horses not permitted). Follow the straight railway track for 1 km ( ... ), then turn left onto the street leading into Port-d’Envaux and head down towards the quay.

Alternative starting point (4): Pré Valade in Port-d’Envaux; GPS 45°50'04.5"N 0°40'34.6"W

The church at Crazannes dates from 1874 and was built in the Neo-Gothic style.

Crazannes Castle is a listed historic monument; it was built at the end of the 15th century. In the grounds, you can explore a Romanesque chapel, a keep and a dovecote. Guided tours of the castle are available.

Panloy Castle comprises two Renaissance pavilions flanking a Louis XV-style main building. In the grounds, there is a perfectly preserved 17th-century dovecote (guided tours available).

Les Échappées Nature museum complex: toilets, free self-guided tours; guided tours of the Pierre de Crazannes.