Via Haut Clairvaux

de fr

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.

Details

n°3149261
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.55 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 00 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 107 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 103 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 170 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 92 m
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Description of the walk

Start from the Donjon car park in Haut Clairvaux.

(S/E) From the car park, leave Rue du Chêne and head down Rue de la Tour. Turn left onto a small path, then turn right into Rue de la Source, following the gardens. At the end of the street, turn left into Rue de la Tour, then immediately right onto a path (Chemin des Fonds) until you reach Rue du Chêne.

(1) Continue left along Rue du Chêne until you reach the three-way junction. Turn right and walk past the houses for 300 m until you reach a junction (panoramic view).

(2) Turn left towards the oak woods, pass a vineyard and continue straight on until you reach the road (D23). Cross the road and continue along the path until you reach a crossroads (viewpoint).

(3) Turn left onto a tarmac path. Continue straight on at the next junction and turn right at the second junction onto the path through the fields. Continue for 250 m.

(4) Turn left, stay on this track for 350 m then turn left, before the hamlet. Continue to the end of the track and turn right onto the footpath until you reach a road. Turn left to take the greenway (Ligne Verte, voie Chavanel).

(5) Follow this greenway, crossing three junctions. Go under a bridge and, 200 m further on, take a path on the left.

(6) Take care: at the right-angle junction, turn left between the trees and follow a sandy path. Follow the Chemin des Oliviers between the houses (viewpoint).

(7) At the fork, continue straight on the road for 100 m and, at the right-hand bend, carry on straight along a grassy path bordered by fields until the next junction (viewpoint).

(8) Head up to the right towards the road, then go down the road to the right; after 250 m, turn left and head up a long lane

(9) Turn right, pass a cave dwelling and a house, then turn left onto a path between woods and meadows until you reach the crossroads. Turn left and follow the dirt track until the next crossroads.

(10) Turn left onto the stony path running alongside former mushroom farms and, after 500 m, follow the Chemin des Caves to the road. Turn right into Rue de la Tour to reach the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 132 m - Donjon car park
  2. 1 : km 0.52 - alt. 145 m - Rue du Chêne
  3. 2 : km 1.04 - alt. 164 m - Turn-off towards the woods
  4. 3 : km 2.17 - alt. 166 m - Crossroads
  5. 4 : km 3.06 - alt. 132 m - Junction (fields)
  6. 5 : km 4.3 - alt. 99 m - Ligne Verte-Voie Chavanel
  7. 6 : km 6.15 - alt. 93 m - Junction
  8. 7 : km 6.49 - alt. 98 m - Road junction
  9. 8 : km 6.97 - alt. 109 m - Junction
  10. 9 : km 7.99 - alt. 140 m - Troglodyte cellar
  11. 10 : km 8.74 - alt. 161 m - Chemin des Caves
  12. S/E : km 9.55 - alt. 132 m - Donjon car park

Notes

Alternative route:
(8) On the left, option to reach the car park 600 m away.

- Bakery.
- Relais Les Mousquetaires grocery store.
- Autour des Halles restaurant.

Worth a visit

Reviews and comments

3.9 / 5
Based on 7 reviews
Reliability of the description
3.9 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.1 / 5
Route interest
3.6 / 5
User 944558

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 26, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Pay close attention to the signs on the route, as the vegetation can sometimes cause you to lose your way. Change direction right in the middle of the path!

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nicole.l
nicole.l

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 08, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very varied route taking in open countryside, wooded areas and a section of the Green Line. Well-maintained paths.
A few lovely views and the finish at the Donjon is magnificent.
I met very few other walkers, except on the Green Line.

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marieetmichel
marieetmichel

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 12, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

It’s a bit tricky to find the start. As for the first path on the left, it looks like a small tarmac road...
The route descriptions aren’t very clear... Otherwise, an interesting route.

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jbBUARD
jbBUARD

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 30, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : No

This route is not suitable for hiking. It is suitable for a hybrid bike ride or a 10km trail running training session.
However, the view of the hamlet of Haut-Clairvaux and its keep is well worth the trip; you can do a short 3 km circular route there (alternative route).

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jfcousty
jfcousty

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 24, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Tip: instead of making a detour to the uninteresting La Jarrie, head straight towards La Bouchardrie and, after following part of the cycle path, turn off at the small bridge over the pedestrian tunnel and head towards the covered market and the castle, then rejoin the cycle path through the centre and head towards Sossais

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Roro86
Roro86

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 15, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant walk combining historical heritage (the ruins of Haut Clairvaux Castle and the chapel) with railway heritage, including a short detour along the greenway. Take a short detour to see the beautiful wash house at Haut Clairvaux at the start of the walk.

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Grand Châtellerault
Grand Châtellerault

Hello Danielle AYRAULT,
Thank you for your comment. This walk starts at a heritage site, the Haut-Clairvaux keep, runs alongside the woods with views over the Envigne valley, and joins the Ligne Verte, a former railway line where information boards will be installed by the start of the tourist season. You then head back up towards Haut-Clairvaux, passing in front of Haut-Clairvaux Castle

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AYRAULT DANIELLE
AYRAULT DANIELLE

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 20, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

NOTHING SPECIAL TO SEE!!! EXCEPT FOR THE VIEW__

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