Nieul-lès-Saintes walks

Set amongst woods and Saintonge hamlets, the villages of Nieul-lès-Saintes and Soulignonnes exemplifythe small-scale heritage of Romanesque Saintonge. The14th-century medieval castle, the11th- and12th-century churches and a15th-century watchtower add to the charm of this walk steeped in rural character.

Discover Saintes, a town steeped in history, cradled by the waves of the Charente.

Following in the footsteps of the famous writer and through the forest, you’ll discover Saint-Porchaire and its surroundings. Typical examples of the Romanesque heritage of the Saintonge region, the12th-century church, the Château de La Roche-Courbon and the Marie Bon house are sure to satisfy the curiosity of walkers.

A walk around Bussac-sur-Charente. The route passes through the small gorge carved out by the Rocheffolet. You will also see watermills and a windmill.

This hike offers the opportunity to discover the woods of Port d'Envaux, as well as the Roman church of Saint-Saturnin de Séchaud. In a mineral, green and wooded setting, you will discover a typical natural heritage that is timeless.

Set against a backdrop of rocky outcrops and woodland, the banks of the Charente and the villages of La Pierre de Crazannes and Port-d’Envaux come into view. Typical of the Romanesque Saintonge region, the 19th-century church, the 15th- and 18th-century castles, and the Sentiers de la Pierre enhance this tree-lined, natural route.

The old quarries of Crazannes offer a striking landscape of steep rock faces and narrow gorges. The hard white stone was used in the construction or restoration of monuments such as Fort Boyard.Les Lapidiales is a site offering visitors an open-air museum, with free admission, where the excavations left by the quarrymen give the impression of being in the middle of a giant labyrinth and where visitors enjoy discovering the sculptures.

This route is characterised by the diversity of the landscapes encountered: a wooded section crossed by a wide path following an old railway line, a hilly landscape with patches of vineyards, and finally a dry hillside overlooking a wetland.

Amidst woods, fields and small hamlets, the countryside around the villages of Nancras and Balanzac unfolds. A typical example of Romanesque Saintonge heritage, the13th- and16th-century churches and the16th-century castle evoke a heritage rich in history.

A circular route around the pretty, peaceful little village of Geay. The route takes you along well-maintained paths through forests and wooded countryside. You will also ride alongside the marsh. The Charente is not far away but remains invisible. The route has been surveyed on the ground, making it very reliable.

This route allows you to discover Sablonceaux Abbey in the middle of the fields from several angles. The route passes through woods, fields, vineyards and horse farms, giving you an insight into the diversity of agricultural activities around Sablonceaux.

Amidst woods, marshes and small hamlets, you can discover the rural landscape of the villages of Romegoux and Geay. A typical feature of the Romanesque Saintonge region, the 16th- and 12th-century churches adorn a tree-lined, natural trail through the Bruant marshes.

This hike will take you to the heights of the commune of Chaniers to discover the view of the hillsides on the other side of the Charente, before returning along the river.

This 10 km circular will show you the very diverse landscapes of Saintonge. Two-thirds of the route is shaded by woods, one-third is through vineyards (we are in the "Fins Bois" area of the Cognac appellation) and a small third (thank you Pagnol) is in the two villages at the start and finish. The route is sometimes complicated, but the paths are well marked. The route was surveyed on site, so it is very reliable, even if it sometimes seems to stray from the paths marked on the IGN map (especially at the start).

A countryside walk that follows the paths of the Chagnolais countryside through vineyards and fields, forming a circular route that approaches the Domaine de Lavoissière to the north and leads to the Bossuet distillery to the south. You can visit the distillery before heading west to the Domaine de Nancrevant, where you can also stop off.

The hike is mostly in the woods, on dirt tracks as they say here. There is little elevation gain and very little tarmac. You are guaranteed to be surrounded by nature, with flora and fauna.

A hike through the rolling, wooded landscape of Saintonge. Upon arrival, you can admire the lantern of the dead and the Romanesque portal of the church of Fenioux. Information panels provide details about these two monuments. You will follow part of theGR®655(a route to Santiago de Compostela, via Tours) and theGR®360, but there are no reliable markings along the route.

Circular discovery of the town centre and the surrounding countryside. Walk along the banks of the gentle Seudre river This route is suitable for cycling (mountain bikes, hybrid bikes) in accordance with the Highway Code.

Stroll through the town centre of Saujon and the peri-urban marshes of the Seudre. Discover the local flora and fauna, combining hiking with curiosity. This route is accessible by bicycle, mountain bike or hybrid bike, provided you follow the rules of the road.

When the Broue tower was built, it was reflected in the waters of the Gulf of Santons. The sea is now so far away that it can no longer be seen from the tower's terrace. But from the heights of Saint-Jean-d'Angle, you can still imagine the boats that once sailed here and brought wealth to the port and the village.

Near the coast and the Brouage Marsh, a circular route runs along the Massonnerie Nature Reserve and around the large ponds of the Cadeuil sandpit.

This route will allow you to discover the variety of landscapes in the Borderies region. The Coran valley from Saint-Brice-des-Bois to Saint-Sauvant runs alongside three villages where you will find places to eat as well as remarkable churches and monuments. Once past Saint-Sauvant, you will experience the secret side of the Borderies, where vineyards and farms can be discovered at the edge of a wood or in the hollow of a valley. Here, nature is less tamed than in the rest of the region.

Circular route around the Lande starting from the port of Ribérou.

A short, peaceful circular on wide paths, in a wooded and hilly setting.

A circular route that takes you round the Château du Bois Charmant and through a curious sandpit landscape. The route can also be done on a mountain bike. There are a few technical sections.

A circular starting from Trizay Abbey towards the cave and the Creux Nègre rock passage. This geological curiosity in the region is carved into the ancient cliffs that line the Arnoult valley. Half of the route is on tarmac, on very quiet roads, allowing you to discover the market gardens on the rich lands of the Arnoult valley (home of the Pont l'Abbé bean).

A pure countryside walk in the municipality of Saint-André-de-Lidon, with no difficulty and no remarkable sights to see, for those who just enjoy hiking. Please take care not to obstruct the passage by parking your vehicle(s). Please respect other people's property. Picking or gathering is prohibited on private land.

Starting from Échillais, you can first admire the beautiful 12th-century façade of the church. Then you will pass in front of "La Limoise". This residence is described at length by Pierre Loti in "Le Roman d'un Enfant" (A Child's Novel). This house belonged to the Duplais family, friends of the Viaud family (Julien Viaud being Pierre Loti's real name). He would spend his Thursdays there, walking from his house in Rochefort (now Pierre Loti's house) to La Limoise, crossing the Charente by ferry. There was no transporter bridge at the time. The Seudre Canal to the Charente (also known as the Bridoire Canal) is 27 km long and was dug in the 19th century from Saint-Hippolyte to Marennes. You will also cross Île Maurice, although it is much smaller than the one we usually think of.

This loop, starting from Tonnay-Charente, will take you across the Charente river twice via two bridges that are completely closed to motor traffic. You can admire the view from the top of the Tonnay-Charente suspension bridge and explore the quays of its sleepy port.

A pleasant walk through the medieval town of Pons, continuing into the surrounding countryside amongst vineyards, woods and fields. The start of the route offers a lovely stroll through the town of Pons, allowing you to take in its various features, culminating in its esplanade, castle and keep.

A walk in Pons along the River Seugne and through the town centre, the market and the keep. A short walk with a slight elevation gain, but without any difficulty and offering the coolness of the River Seugne’s banks.

From the transhipment bridge to the port of Rochefort, a journey through time. Rochefort was chosen by Louis XIV to restore his maritime power. Along this route, which runs close to the water in its first section, there is no shortage of remnants from that era: dry docks, the Corderie Royale, the arsenal, and, with a bit of luck, the Hermione...

Do you enjoy nature and history? You'll love this walk!