Orches walks

A short walk along field paths, forest trails and small roads, taking in a Neolithic polishing stone, a few cave dwellings and a beautiful church. This hike partly follows a route designed and marked out by the Grand Châtellerault Tourist Office.

With its many panoramic views of the villages, the pretty surrounding hamlets and its paths that are by turns wooded and undulating, this route certainly lives up to its name.

A mainly woodland walk, offering the benefit of shade from a variety of trees. It largely follows the "Sentier des Sables et des Terres Blanches", designed and signposted by the Loudunais Community of Communes.

A walk mainly through fields, offering sweeping views of the countryside. There is no shortage of heritage sites, including a church, a manor house and some beautiful houses.

Through fields and woods, a peaceful circular route that takes in two small castles and a beautiful dovecote. Route designed and signposted by the Grand Châtellerault Tourist Office, and certified by the Vienne departmental committee of the FFRP.

An easy hike that mainly takes place amongst cultivated fields and vineyard plots on the hillsides. The church in Lencloître adds a superb touch of heritage. Route designed and signposted by the Grand Châtellerault Tourist Office, under the name "Entre Vignes et Jardins" and number 24.

A short hike mainly through fields, discovering a beautiful Romanesque church (later remodelled) and a beautiful Renaissance castle. There are a few views of the countryside.

A hike mainly through fields, with two beautiful heritage sites, the Collegiate Church of Saint-Georges (12th century) at the start and a dovecote a little over halfway along the route. There are some beautiful views along the way.

You start your walk at the foot of the Haut-Clairvaux keep, built in the 11th and 12th centuries, where you can admire the many panoramic views stretching as far as the eye can see! You will then descend towards Bas-Clairvaux, where your path will cross the famous greenway cycle route, the ‘Ligne Verte’, a former railway line linking Châtellerault to Loudun, before heading back up towards your destination.

A heritage hike in the countryside and woods of Haut Poitou with two Renaissance-style castles up close and a Romanesque church. Route designed and marked by the Vienne departmental committee of the FFRP.

A hike mainly through woodland with a few sections through fields. Two beautiful châteaux mark the route: the Château de la Barbelinière, visible from a distance, and the Château de la Massardière, which you pass right by. The ruins of the Tour de Pouillé and the church in Thuré add to the heritage appeal of this hike. Hike designed and signposted by the Vienne departmental committee of the FFRP.

A lovely walk around this picturesque village. Nature is in abundance here, with its many hedgerows and varied tree species lining these diverse paths.

A short walk, mostly in the forest, on the edge of the Parc de Richelieu and alongside the Veude river.

In the heart of the Scevolles Forest and starting from the Étang de Guesnes, three trails, developed and signposted by the Communauté de Communes du Loudunais, are open to the public (except during January). The route described here is the longest of the three. It winds through the forest, allowing you to discover the diversity of its tree populations. Numerous information boards line this route, which is ideal for children or anyone with a curiosity about nature.

A lovely walk, partly through the forest. There are also beautiful views over the Ouzilly plain, with the chance to see tuffeau stone dwellings and a few cave dwellings.

Take a break in nature along these beautiful wooded paths.

This lovely route winds its way through the countryside and follows sections of the Ligne Verte, a former railway line converted into a 37km path for pedestrians and cyclists, between Châtellerault and Loudun. It also takes you along some lovely sunken lanes and leads to the rich heritage of Scorbé-Clairvaux: the keep and chapel of Haut Clairvaux, the wash house, the old market halls, the castle which houses the chess museum (over 150 sets from 70 countries), and the old station.

Route proposed by the municipality of Jaunay-Marigny and certified by the Vienne Departmental Hiking Committee. A route exploring the troglodytic landscapes, created by the exploitation of the Tuffeau quarries, with beautiful views over the Envigne valley. The route is marked in green, starting from the Marigny-Brizay town hall.

Magnificent views of Moussais Castle and Colombiers Forest. This route has it all, from botany to built heritage, from the arboretum along the green corridor to the Beaumont Tower and the Madeleine Chapel. You'll be amazed!

A short walk that climbs from the village of Luzé, offering sweeping views. In terms of heritage, the church of Luzé and a few beautiful old farmhouses are well worth a visit.

A route through fields and woods to discover a superb Romanesque abbey situated in a secluded and peaceful setting. A visit to the ruins of this abbey can be combined with a tribute to the American actor Yul Brynner, who is buried there.

This walk takes you through the Moulin Pochas falun site, which was used as a sandpit, and then continues with a short stroll across the plain through the fields. The site is not really a mill in the usual sense (such as a flour mill), but rather an ancient natural geological site consisting of falunières – quarries of ancient marine deposits (clay-sand cliffs known as faluns) – dating back some 15 million years. It is a unique testament in Poitou to the era when a shallow sea (the Mer des Faluns) covered the region. The site consists of ancient shell sand quarries containing marine fossils such as shells, corals, etc.